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D-

Is Summerville, South Carolina Safe?

Population 53,177 · Safer than 14% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Summerville 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 279 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,985 per 100K.

Summerville Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSummervilleSouth Carolina AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate394.8339.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2395.32029.81,832.3
Murder Rate8.0--5.7
Assault Rate237.0--268.2
Theft Rate1985.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate589.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

279 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

395/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2395/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Summerville

Violent crime in Summerville is close to the national average. The rate of 394.8 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2395.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,985 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Summerville Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder8
01.4x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault237
088% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery68
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary458
01.7x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,985
01.4x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft589
01.9x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Summerville Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Summerville
394.8
State
339.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Summerville
2395.3
State
2029.8
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Summerville Safety

Is Summerville safe?
Not especially. Summerville earns a D- with a crime rate of 279 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 Summerville?
279 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 394.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2395.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Summerville safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Summerville's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,985 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Summerville?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Summerville generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Summerville police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Summerville?
No. Crime in Summerville has been trending down, which is good news for the D--rated city.
How does Summerville compare to other cities in South Carolina?
Below average for the state. Summerville ranks behind about 94% of South Carolina cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Summerville 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 Summerville?
Bad. A D- grade and 279 per-thousand rate put Summerville below 86% of US cities. Violent crime at 395 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Summerville?
394.8 per 100,000, which is 9% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (237), robbery (68), 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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