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Safest Cities in South Dakota — 2027 Rankings

Updated October 2026 · 14 cities ranked · Based on FBI UCR data

In the 2027 rankings, Mitchell is the safest city in South Dakota with a crime rate of 19.6 per 1,000 residents, earning a B- safety grade. Brookings (20.2/1K) and Aberdeen (21.3/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 14 cities with FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

These 2027 rankings use 2023 FBI UCR data — the most recent available. Rankings will be updated as 2024 FBI data is released.

Avg Crime Rate
22.6per 1K
Avg Violent Crime
384per 100K
Avg Property Crime
1879per 100K

All 14 Cities Ranked by Safety (2027)

#CityGradeCrime/1K
1Mitchell
B-
19.6
2Brookings
B-
20.2
3Aberdeen
B-
21.3
4Vermillion
B-
21.6
5Spearfish
B-
21.7
6Watertown
B-
21.8
7Yankton
B-
22.2
8Pierre
B-
22.2
9Huron
B-
22.8
10Harrisburg
C+
23.5
11Brandon
C+
24.5
12Box Elder
C+
24.6
13Rapid City
C+
25
14Sioux Falls
C+
25.7

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. FBI Uniform Crime Report data projected for 2027.

Most Dangerous Cities in South Dakota (2027)

1
C+
Sioux Falls25.7/1K · Moderate · Violent: 431/100K
2
C+
Rapid City25/1K · Moderate · Violent: 417/100K
3
C+
Box Elder24.6/1K · Moderate · Violent: 348/100K
4
C+
Brandon24.5/1K · Moderate · Violent: 347/100K
5
C+
Harrisburg23.5/1K · Moderate · Violent: 421/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About South Dakota Safety in 2027

What is the safest city in South Dakota in 2027?
Based on the latest FBI UCR data projected into 2027, Mitchell is the safest city in South Dakota with a crime rate of 19.6 per 1,000 residents and a B- safety grade. It ranks above 59% of all US cities.
What are the top safest cities in South Dakota for 2027?
The safest cities in South Dakota for 2027, ranked by lowest crime rate: Mitchell, Brookings, Aberdeen, Vermillion, Spearfish, Watertown, Yankton, Pierre, Huron, Harrisburg. Based on FBI Uniform Crime Report data.
What is the most dangerous city in South Dakota in 2027?
Sioux Falls has the highest crime rate in South Dakota at 25.7 per 1,000 residents, earning a C+ safety grade in the 2027 rankings.
How are South Dakota 2027 safety rankings calculated?
Rankings use 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data — the most recent complete dataset — as the baseline for 2027 projections. Cities are graded A+ through F based on combined violent and property crime rates compared to national distributions. Rankings will be updated when 2024 FBI data is released.
Is South Dakota safe to live in 2027?
South Dakota has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 384 per 100K (national: 363.8). Safety varies by city — Mitchell earns a B- while Sioux Falls gets a C+.
Back to 2027 national rankingsView current South Dakota safety gradesSafest cities in South Dakota

2027 rankings are based on 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Report data — the most recent complete dataset available. Rankings will be updated when 2024 data is released by the FBI in late 2025. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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