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C

Is Pierre, South Dakota Safe?

Population 13,848 · Safer than 30% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

Pierre is a smaller community of 13,848 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 226.8 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,599 per 100K.

Pierre Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPierreSouth Dakota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate244.6325.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2023.12020.61,832.3
Murder Rate2.0--5.7
Assault Rate202.0--268.2
Theft Rate1599.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate236.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

226.8 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

245/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

2023/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Pierre

Violent crime in Pierre is below the national average. The rate of 244.6 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2023.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,599 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Pierre Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder2
035% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault202
075% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery29
046% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary388
01.4x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,599
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft236
074% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Pierre Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Pierre
244.6
State
325.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Pierre
2023.1
State
2020.6
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Pierre Safety

Is Pierre safe?
Not especially. Pierre earns a C with a crime rate of 226.8 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Pierre?
226.8 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 244.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2023.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Pierre safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Pierre's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,599 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Pierre?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Pierre generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Pierre police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Pierre?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Pierre's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does Pierre compare to other cities in South Dakota?
Below average for the state. Pierre ranks behind about 62% of South Dakota cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Pierre to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Pierre?
Bad. A C grade and 226.8 per-thousand rate put Pierre below 70% of US cities. Violent crime at 245 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Pierre?
244.6 per 100,000, which is 33% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (202), robbery (29), and murder (2.0) 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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