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D-

Is Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Safe?

Population 40,937 · Safer than 14% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Myrtle Beach 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 276.5 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,650 per 100K.

Myrtle Beach Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMyrtle BeachSouth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate413.6339.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2351.62029.81,832.3
Murder Rate8.0--5.7
Assault Rate336.0--268.2
Theft Rate1650.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate388.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

276.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

414/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2352/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Myrtle Beach

Violent crime in Myrtle Beach is close to the national average. The rate of 413.6 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2351.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,650 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 336 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Myrtle Beach Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder8
01.4x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault336
01.3x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery76
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary347
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,650
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft388
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Myrtle Beach Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Myrtle Beach
413.6
State
339.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Myrtle Beach
2351.6
State
2029.8
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Myrtle Beach Safety

Is Myrtle Beach safe?
Not especially. Myrtle Beach earns a D- with a crime rate of 276.5 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 Myrtle Beach?
276.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 413.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2351.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Myrtle Beach safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Myrtle Beach's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,650 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Myrtle Beach?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Myrtle Beach generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Myrtle Beach police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Myrtle Beach?
Crime rates have held steady in Myrtle Beach, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D- grade.
How does Myrtle Beach compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Below average for the state. Myrtle Beach ranks behind about 92% of South Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Myrtle Beach 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 Myrtle Beach?
Bad. A D- grade and 276.5 per-thousand rate put Myrtle Beach below 86% of US cities. Violent crime at 414 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Myrtle Beach?
413.6 per 100,000, which is 14% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (336), robbery (76), and murder (8.0) 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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