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D

Is Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Safe?

Population 38,196 · Safer than 17% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Hilton Head Island 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 265.5 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,977 per 100K.

Hilton Head Island Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricHilton Head IslandSouth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate415.5339.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2240.02029.81,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate245.0--268.2
Theft Rate1977.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate500.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

265.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

416/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2240/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Hilton Head Island

Violent crime in Hilton Head Island is close to the national average. The rate of 415.5 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2240.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,977 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Hilton Head Island Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault245
091% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery48
076% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary300
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,977
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft500
01.6x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Hilton Head Island Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Hilton Head Island
415.5
State
339.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Hilton Head Island
2240.0
State
2029.8
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Hilton Head Island Safety

Is Hilton Head Island safe?
Not especially. Hilton Head Island earns a D with a crime rate of 265.5 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 Hilton Head Island?
265.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 415.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2240.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Hilton Head Island safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Hilton Head Island's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,977 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Hilton Head Island?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Hilton Head Island generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Hilton Head Island police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Hilton Head Island?
No. Crime in Hilton Head Island has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Hilton Head Island compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Below average for the state. Hilton Head Island ranks behind about 83% of South Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Hilton Head Island to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Hilton Head Island?
Bad. A D grade and 265.5 per-thousand rate put Hilton Head Island below 83% of US cities. Violent crime at 416 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Hilton Head Island?
415.5 per 100,000, which is 14% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (245), robbery (48), and murder (6.0) 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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