5 South Dakota Cities With the Highest Violent Crime Rates
Rapid City has the highest violent crime rate in South Dakota, reporting 719 violent crimes per 100,000 residents — 98% above the statewide rate of 362. Sioux Falls ranks second at 527, followed by Pierre at 506, Box Elder at 350, and Watertown at 303. Figures reflect FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data for 2024, the most recent full year available.
| Rank | City | Population | Violent crimes / 100k | vs. state rate | Total crimes / 100k | Victim odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rapid City | 79,549 | 719 | +98% | 4,511 | 1 in 139 |
| 2 | Sioux Falls | 185,812 | 527 | +45% | 3,442 | 1 in 190 |
| 3 | Pierre | 14,450 | 506 | +40% | 2,496 | 1 in 197 |
| 4 | Box Elder | 10,205 | 350 | −3% | 1,542 | 1 in 286 |
| 5 | Watertown | 22,909 | 303 | −16% | 1,328 | 1 in 330 |
1. Rapid City — 719 violent crimes per 100k
Rapid City reports 719 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, the highest rate in South Dakota and 98% above the statewide rate of 362. With 79,549 residents, Rapid City recorded 582 violent crimes in 2024 and gives residents a 1 in 139 chance of victimization. Assault accounts for the large majority of that total.
- Rate breakdown per 100k: 473 assault, 136 rape, 104 robbery, 6 homicide
- In absolute terms: roughly 376 assaults, 108 rapes, 83 robberies, and 5 homicides
- Total crime rate: 4,511 per 100,000 — also the state’s highest
2. Sioux Falls — 527 violent crimes per 100k
Sioux Falls reports 527 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, ranking second statewide at 45% above the South Dakota rate. As the state’s largest city with 185,812 residents, Sioux Falls carries a 1 in 190 chance of victimization. Its total crime rate of 3,442 per 100,000 is the second highest on this list.
- Absolute volume: roughly 980 violent crimes a year — the most of any South Dakota city
- Share of state population: about 20%, which pulls the statewide rate upward on its own
- Caveat: the citywide rate masks wide district-to-district variation
3. Pierre — 506 violent crimes per 100k
Pierre reports 506 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, ranking third in South Dakota at 40% above the state rate. South Dakota’s capital city of 14,450 residents faces a 1 in 197 chance of becoming a violent crime victim. Pierre’s total crime rate of 2,496 per 100,000 is the highest among South Dakota cities under 20,000 residents.
- Absolute volume: roughly 73 violent crimes a year
- Gap vs. state rate: third widest in South Dakota
- Volatility: small incident counts make year-to-year swings large
4. Box Elder — 350 violent crimes per 100k
Box Elder reports 350 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, ranking fourth in South Dakota despite sitting about 3% below the statewide rate of 362. Box Elder’s 10,205 residents face a 1 in 286 chance of victimization, with roughly 36 violent crimes reported across the year. Assault accounts for most of the total.
- Rate breakdown per 100k: 267 assault, 69 rape, 7 robbery, 7 homicide
- Total crime rate: 1,542 per 100,000 — roughly a third of Rapid City’s
- Population factor: smallest city here, adjacent to Ellsworth Air Force Base
5. Watertown — 303 violent crimes per 100k
Watertown reports 303 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, ranking fifth in South Dakota while running 16% below the statewide rate. Home to 22,909 people, Watertown recorded roughly 69 violent crimes and carries a 1 in 330 chance of victimization. Its total crime rate of 1,328 per 100,000 is the lowest of the five cities listed here.
- Total crime: scores better than Mitchell, Yankton, Huron, and Spearfish
- Cited pressures: higher-than-average poverty, shortage of well-paying local jobs
How were these rankings calculated?
These rankings order South Dakota cities by violent crimes per 100,000 residents — assault, robbery, rape, and homicide — using FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data for 2024, released in October 2025. South Dakota’s statewide violent crime rate that year was 362 per 100,000, ranking 20th among states. Percentage comparisons below measure each city against that figure.
Three caveats matter. First, only 13 South Dakota cities report to the UCR program, covering roughly half the state population, so this ranks reporting cities rather than every community. Second, Box Elder and Watertown both sit below the state rate and appear here because they rank high among those reporting cities, not because their rates are extreme. Third, per-capita rates swing hard in small cities — in Box Elder, five or six incidents can move the rate by dozens of points.
Do these rankings mean the whole city is unsafe?
No. Citywide rates average conditions across every neighborhood, and violent crime in South Dakota concentrates in specific districts. Before relocating, pull neighborhood-level data, request the latest annual report from the local police department, and weigh crime alongside schools, housing costs, and employment access. Rankings describe cities, not streets.
Sources: FBI Crime Data Explorer · AreaVibes — Most Dangerous Cities in South Dakota
Data reflects the 2024 reporting year. Last reviewed September 2026.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only. Information and conditions are subject to change. Verify current details directly with the relevant source before making any decisions.
