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C

Is Brookings, South Dakota Safe?

Population 25,355 · Safer than 38% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Brookings is a smaller community of 25,355 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 208.1 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,400 per 100K.

Brookings Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricBrookingsSouth Dakota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate347.7325.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1733.32020.61,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate261.0--268.2
Theft Rate1400.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate332.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

208.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

348/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1733/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Brookings

Violent crime in Brookings is close to the national average. The rate of 347.7 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1733.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,400 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Brookings Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault261
097% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery57
090% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary193
072% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,400
0100% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft332
01.0x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Brookings Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Brookings
347.7
State
325.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Brookings
1733.3
State
2020.6
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Brookings Safety

Is Brookings safe?
Not especially. Brookings earns a C with a crime rate of 208.1 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 Brookings?
208.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 347.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1733.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Brookings safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Brookings has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Brookings?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Brookings generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Brookings police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Brookings?
No. Crime in Brookings has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Brookings compare to other cities in South Dakota?
Below average for the state. Brookings ranks behind about 64% of South Dakota cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 0.9x the national rate.
How safe is Brookings 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 Brookings?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 38th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Brookings?
347.7 per 100,000, which is 4% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (261), robbery (57), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

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View all South Dakota 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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