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C-

Is Charleston, South Carolina Safe?

Population 159,423 · Safer than 25% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Charleston earns a C- safety grade with 240.2 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crime runs close to the national average, putting the city behind 75% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,551 per 100K.

Charleston Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCharlestonSouth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate338.9339.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2062.72029.81,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate206.0--268.2
Theft Rate1551.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate463.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

240.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

339/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2063/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Charleston

Violent crime in Charleston is close to the national average. The rate of 338.9 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2062.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,551 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Charleston Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault206
077% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery61
096% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary270
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,551
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft463
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Charleston Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Charleston
338.9
State
339.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Charleston
2062.7
State
2029.8
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Charleston Safety

Is Charleston safe?
Not especially. Charleston earns a C- with a crime rate of 240.2 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 Charleston?
240.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 338.9 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2062.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Charleston safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Charleston's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,551 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Charleston?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Charleston generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Charleston police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Charleston?
No. Crime in Charleston has been trending down, which is good news for the C--rated city.
How does Charleston compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Below average for the state. Charleston ranks behind about 65% of South Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Charleston to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Charleston?
Bad. A C- grade and 240.2 per-thousand rate put Charleston below 75% of US cities. Violent crime at 339 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Charleston?
338.9 per 100,000, which is 7% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (206), robbery (61), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in South Carolina

Similar-sized communities in South Carolina. Compare crime rates across the state.

D
See crime rates in Columbia147,035 pop · Grade D
C
See crime rates in North Charleston129,245 pop · Grade C
D+
See crime rates in Mount Pleasant95,469 pop · Grade D+
C-
See crime rates in Rock Hill75,911 pop · Grade C-
D-
See crime rates in Greenville75,310 pop · Grade D-
D-
See crime rates in Summerville53,177 pop · Grade D-
View all South Carolina city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Charleston

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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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