CityCheck
CitiesSafetyAskPlan
C-

Is Yankton, South Dakota Safe?

Population 15,816 · Safer than 28% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Yankton is a smaller community of 15,816 people with a C- safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 231.4 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,148 per 100K.

Yankton Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricYanktonSouth Dakota AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate407.6325.9363.8
Property Crime Rate1906.22020.61,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate270.0--268.2
Theft Rate1148.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate230.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

231.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

408/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1906/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Yankton

Violent crime in Yankton is close to the national average. The rate of 407.6 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1906.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,148 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Yankton Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault270
01.0x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery100
01.6x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary295
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,148
082% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft230
072% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Yankton Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Yankton
407.6
State
325.9
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Yankton
1906.2
State
2020.6
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Yankton Safety

Is Yankton safe?
Not especially. Yankton earns a C- with a crime rate of 231.4 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 Yankton?
231.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 407.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1906.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Yankton safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Yankton's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,148 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Yankton?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Yankton generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Yankton police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Yankton?
No. Crime in Yankton has been trending down, which is good news for the C--rated city.
How does Yankton compare to other cities in South Dakota?
Below average for the state. Yankton ranks behind about 71% of South Dakota cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Yankton 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 Yankton?
Bad. A C- grade and 231.4 per-thousand rate put Yankton below 72% of US cities. Violent crime at 408 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Yankton?
407.6 per 100,000, which is 12% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (270), robbery (100), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in South Dakota

Similar-sized communities in South Dakota. Compare crime rates across the state.

C+
See crime rates in Mitchell15,756 pop · Grade C+
C-
See crime rates in Huron14,607 pop · Grade C-
C
See crime rates in Spearfish14,154 pop · Grade C
D+
See crime rates in Box Elder13,936 pop · Grade D+
C
See crime rates in Pierre13,848 pop · Grade C
C
See crime rates in Vermillion11,720 pop · Grade C
View all South Dakota city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Yankton

Get weekly safety updates for Yankton

Weekly crime trend updates and safety grade changes delivered to your inbox.

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.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities