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D-

Is Greenville, South Carolina Safe?

Population 75,310 · Safer than 13% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Greenville 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 280.1 per 1,000 residents. Theft is the most common offense at 2,122 per 100K, which is well above the national average.

Greenville Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricGreenvilleSouth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate384.0339.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2416.92029.81,832.3
Murder Rate8.0--5.7
Assault Rate263.0--268.2
Theft Rate2122.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate266.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

280.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

384/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2417/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Greenville

Violent crime in Greenville is close to the national average. The rate of 384.0 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2416.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 2,122 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Greenville Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder8
01.4x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault263
098% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery87
01.4x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary386
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft2,122
01.5x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft266
084% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Greenville Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Greenville
384.0
State
339.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Greenville
2416.9
State
2029.8
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Greenville Safety

Is Greenville safe?
Not especially. Greenville earns a D- with a crime rate of 280.1 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 Greenville?
280.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 384.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2416.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Greenville safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Greenville's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (2,122 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Greenville?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Greenville generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Greenville police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Greenville?
Crime rates have held steady in Greenville, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D- grade.
How does Greenville compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Below average for the state. Greenville ranks behind about 78% of South Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Greenville 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 Greenville?
Bad. A D- grade and 280.1 per-thousand rate put Greenville below 87% of US cities. Violent crime at 384 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Greenville?
384.0 per 100,000, which is 6% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (263), robbery (87), and murder (8.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in South Carolina

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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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