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C

Is Watertown, South Dakota Safe?

Population 23,736 · Safer than 31% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Watertown is a smaller community of 23,736 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 223.4 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,360 per 100K.

Watertown Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWatertownSouth Dakota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate223.5325.9363.8
Property Crime Rate2010.52020.61,832.3
Murder Rate2.0--5.7
Assault Rate141.0--268.2
Theft Rate1360.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate209.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

223.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

224/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

2011/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Watertown

Violent crime in Watertown is below the national average. The rate of 223.5 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2010.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,360 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Watertown Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder2
035% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault141
053% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery40
063% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary342
01.3x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,360
097% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft209
066% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Watertown Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Watertown
223.5
State
325.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Watertown
2010.5
State
2020.6
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Watertown Safety

Is Watertown safe?
Not especially. Watertown earns a C with a crime rate of 223.4 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Watertown?
223.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 223.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2010.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Watertown safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Watertown's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,360 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Watertown?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Watertown generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Watertown police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Watertown?
Crime rates have held steady in Watertown, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Watertown compare to other cities in South Dakota?
Below average for the state. Watertown ranks behind about 70% of South Dakota cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Watertown to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Watertown?
Bad. A C grade and 223.4 per-thousand rate put Watertown below 69% of US cities. Violent crime at 224 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Watertown?
223.5 per 100,000, which is 39% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (141), robbery (40), and murder (2.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in South Dakota

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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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