SD · 1 city
Dangerous neighborhoods in South Dakota
South Dakota recorded 327 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, close to the national rate and down 19% since 2022. Our Sioux Falls guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off, and below you'll see how Sioux Falls compares with the state's other cities.
FBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in South Dakota, ranked
South Dakota's 6 cities of 10,000+ residents with recent FBI data, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 5 of 6 run above the state average of 327. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and our Sioux Falls guide above shows where.
- 1
Rapid City
767 violent crimes per 100k
2.3× the state average
- 2
Pierre
561 violent crimes per 100k
1.7× the state average
- 3
Aberdeen
502 violent crimes per 100k
1.3× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapid City | 767 | 3,655 | 81,185 |
| 2 | Pierre | 561 | 1,764 | 13,719 |
| 3 | Aberdeen2023 | 502 | 1,321 | 28,100 |
| 4 | Sioux Falls | 364 | 2,198 | 213,449 |
| 5 | Yankton2023 | 353 | 1,456 | 15,588 |
| 6 | Watertown2024 | 303 | 734 | 23,417 |
| South Dakota average | 327 | 1,430 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Safest cities in South Dakota
At the other end of the list, these have the lowest violent crime rates of the 6 cities in this ranking.
- Watertown303 per 100k · 15% below the state average
- Yankton353 per 100k · near the state average
- Sioux Falls364 per 100k · near the state average
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. It includes every city of 10,000+ residents with complete recent data, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
South Dakota crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in South Dakota?
Of the 6 South Dakota cities in our ranking, Rapid City has the highest violent crime rate: 767 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 2.3 times the state average. Pierre and Aberdeen come next.
What is the safest city in South Dakota?
Among the cities we rank, Watertown has the lowest violent crime rate, at 303 per 100,000 residents in 2024, 15% below the state average. Yankton follows with 353. A low citywide rate doesn't mean every block is the same, but day-to-day risk is lower.
Is South Dakota safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. South Dakota recorded 327 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, close to 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 Sioux Falls guide covers them block by block.
Which South Dakota cities have above-average crime?
5 of the 6 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the South Dakota average of 327 per 100,000 residents: Rapid City, Pierre, Aberdeen, Sioux Falls and Yankton. The other 1 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in South Dakota?
Violent crime in South Dakota went from 405 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 327 in 2025, down 19%. Property crime went from 1,873 to 1,430 over 2022–2025, down 24%.
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.