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D

Is Aiken, South Carolina Safe?

Population 33,808 · Safer than 19% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Aiken has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 259.2 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,517 per 100K.

Aiken Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricAikenSouth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate393.1339.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2198.72029.81,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate296.0--268.2
Theft Rate1517.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate364.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

259.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

393/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2199/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Aiken

Violent crime in Aiken is close to the national average. The rate of 393.1 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2198.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,517 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Aiken Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault296
01.1x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery57
090% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary334
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,517
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft364
01.1x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Aiken Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Aiken
393.1
State
339.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Aiken
2198.7
State
2029.8
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Aiken Safety

Is Aiken safe?
Not especially. Aiken earns a D with a crime rate of 259.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Aiken?
259.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 393.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2198.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Aiken safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Aiken's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,517 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Aiken?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Aiken generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Aiken police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Aiken?
Crime rates have held steady in Aiken, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D grade.
How does Aiken compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Below average for the state. Aiken ranks behind about 82% of South Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Aiken to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Aiken?
Bad. A D grade and 259.2 per-thousand rate put Aiken below 81% of US cities. Violent crime at 393 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Aiken?
393.1 per 100,000, which is 8% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (296), robbery (57), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

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View all South Carolina city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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