SC · 3 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in South Carolina
South Carolina recorded 390 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.2 times the national rate and down 22% since 2022. We cover Charleston, Columbia and North Charleston. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Charleston
Columbia
North CharlestonFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in South Carolina, ranked
The 3 South Carolina cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 2 of 3 run above the state average of 390. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia | 791 | 3,157 | 147,021 |
| 2 | North Charleston | 670 | 3,457 | 128,751 |
| 3 | Charleston | 281 | 1,613 | 159,360 |
| South Carolina average | 390 | 1,717 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2025 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
South Carolina crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in South Carolina?
Of the 3 South Carolina cities in our ranking, Columbia has the highest violent crime rate: 791 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 2.0 times the state average. North Charleston and Charleston come next. Even in Columbia, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Columbia guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in South Carolina?
Among the cities we rank, Charleston has the lowest violent crime rate, at 281 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 28% below the state average. North Charleston follows with 670. A low citywide rate doesn't mean every block is the same, but day-to-day risk is lower.
Is South Carolina safe to visit?
Most visits go without trouble, but South Carolina has more violent crime than the US as a whole. South Carolina recorded 390 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.2 times the national rate of 330. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 3 city guides cover them block by block.
Which South Carolina cities have above-average crime?
2 of the 3 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the South Carolina average of 390 per 100,000 residents: Columbia and North Charleston. The other 1 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in South Carolina?
Violent crime in South Carolina went from 500 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 390 in 2025, down 22%. Property crime went from 2,355 to 1,717 over 2022–2025, down 27%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.