Most people researching a move to South Carolina search for the safest and best places to live. This post goes the other direction. We ranked the 10 most dangerous cities in South Carolina using the FBI's 2025 incident file for the state, sorted by violent crime rate.
This is not opinion. Every number below comes from the data, and every city on the list has at least 25,000 residents. For each city we cover the violent crime rate, what is driving it, the parts of town people genuinely love, and the nearby communities that consistently rank as some of the safest in the state.
How We Built This List
My team and I downloaded the FBI's 2025 incident data for South Carolina and ranked cities by their violent crime rate per 100,000 residents. Violent crime here means four categories: murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Nothing else went into the ranking.
We only included cities with at least 25,000 residents. Smaller towns can post extreme rates off a handful of incidents, so we left them out to keep the comparison fair.
One important piece of context before the list. South Carolina overall is a safe place to live, and it is getting safer. Violent crime in the state just hit its lowest level since 1995, and the state has now seen four straight years of declining crime. Some cities simply run higher than others, and that is what this list shows.
10. Rock Hill
Rock Hill sits in York County in the upstate, right in our backyard. Our team serves the greater Charlotte area on both sides of the state line, so we know this city well. In 2025, Rock Hill had about 293 violent crime incidents for every 100,000 residents.
The detail behind that number matters. About two thirds of those incidents happened inside someone's home, and only about 24 happened on a sidewalk or in another public space. In other words, very little of Rock Hill's violent crime happens out in public. You do not need to worry for your safety walking down the street.
Like every city, Rock Hill has areas with higher crime and areas with very little. Downtown and the area around Winthrop University are great places to be. There are also communities along Lake Wylie and the Catawba River, like Riverwalk, that our clients love. We have helped plenty of people move to and from Rock Hill, and they enjoy living there.
If the numbers still give you pause, you do not have to go far. Fort Mill and Tega Cay sit just north and are consistently ranked among the safest cities in South Carolina. Our free relocation guide covers every Charlotte-area suburb, including these, if you want to compare them side by side.
9. Aiken
Aiken sits on the western edge of South Carolina, about 20 miles northeast of Augusta, Georgia and about 55 miles southwest of Columbia. In 2025, Aiken had about 329 violent crimes for every 100,000 residents.
Aiken is one of the smaller cities on this list, with only about 33,000 residents. With a population that size, a few incidents can swing the rate noticeably. The city is also spread out over a large geographic area.
Plenty of people love living in Aiken. It has a well-known historic district and a nationally recognized equestrian scene. If you want a safer alternative nearby, North Augusta is about 15 minutes away. It is a riverfront community that routinely lands near the top of SafeWise's list of the safest cities in South Carolina.
8. Greenville
This one surprised me, because I love visiting Greenville and have helped a lot of people move to and from it. Greenville sits in the northwestern corner of the state, about 100 miles southwest of Charlotte and roughly 145 miles northeast of Atlanta. In 2025, the city had about 394 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.
The context changes the picture. About 75% of Greenville's violent crimes were aggravated assaults at restaurants, bars, and hotels. Greenville has one of the most walkable downtowns in the Southeast, and it draws a lot of visitors on weekends who come in to go out. Sometimes a few of them go out a little too hard.
I do not consider Greenville unsafe, and the data backs that up. The city reported only two murders in 2025. None of the clients we have helped move there have named safety as a real concern.
If you want to live near Greenville and prefer a quieter option, many people look at Mauldin or Simpsonville. Both are consistently ranked among the safest cities in South Carolina. Our team does not serve the Greenville market directly, but we can connect you with a strong local agent.
7. Anderson
Anderson is also in the northwest corner of the state, about 30 miles southwest of Greenville and about 18 miles from Clemson. The city has a violent crime rate of about 421 per 100,000 residents.
Anderson has a real college town feel. Anderson University sits right in downtown, and Clemson University is only about 15 minutes away. If you want a safer alternative in the area, Easley, about 20 miles north, is worth a close look.
6. Florence
Florence is in the Pee Dee region in the northeastern part of South Carolina, right where I-95 and I-20 meet. It sits about 80 miles east of Columbia and about 70 miles inland from Myrtle Beach. The violent crime rate is about 474 incidents per 100,000 residents in a city of about 41,000 people.
Florence had seven murders in 2025, one of the highest counts on this list. It also has the second highest property crime rate in South Carolina, which covers burglaries, car break-ins, and general theft. Those numbers are higher than Columbia and North Charleston, even though Florence is a fraction of their size.
Location explains part of it. Florence is a major interstate crossroads, Francis Marion University sits just outside the city, and Florence serves as the regional medical and retail hub for the entire Pee Dee region. A lot of people pass through Florence who do not live there, and that can push the numbers up.
For safer alternatives, look at Darlington, home of Darlington Raceway, about 15 minutes northwest. Hartsville is another option about 35 minutes northwest. It is a small town best known for Coker University, and it is walkable, quiet, and nice. My wife's sister went to Coker and loves the town.
5. Sumter
Sumter sits in the center of the state, about 45 miles east of Columbia, which puts it roughly halfway between Columbia and Florence. The violent crime rate is about 490 incidents for every 100,000 residents in a city of about 43,000 people.
If you want a safer alternative near Sumter, head about 30 minutes northwest to Camden. It is a great small town with a historic district.
4. North Charleston
North Charleston is in the Lowcountry, just north of Charleston, the city that has drawn so much national attention. In 2025, North Charleston had a violent crime rate of about 574 per 100,000 residents in a city of about 129,000 people.
In raw numbers, North Charleston recorded 739 violent crimes in 2025, including 13 murders and 134 robberies. That robbery count is the highest of any city in South Carolina, higher even than Columbia, which is a much larger city.
That does not make all of North Charleston dangerous. I own a home in North Charleston, so I know it well. Areas like Park Circle are great places to live. If you want safer options close by, you have plenty of choices. Mount Pleasant is one of my personal favorites, and Summerville and Hanahan are right next door.
3. Columbia
Columbia is the state capital and sits right in the middle of South Carolina, where I-20, I-26, and I-77 all meet. The violent crime rate is about 680 per 100,000 residents, with a population of about 147,000.
In raw numbers, Columbia has the most violent crime of any city in the state. It recorded 999 violent crime incidents in 2025, nearly 1,000, including 19 murders, the most on this list.
Columbia still has a lot going for it. There is a strong downtown, the University of South Carolina is right there for Gamecocks fans, and Fort Jackson and a broad industry base keep the economy active. There is also a lot of variety in the communities around the city.
If you want safer alternatives near Columbia, start with Lexington, a lake town about 15 minutes west. Irmo, about 12 miles northwest of Columbia, is another very desirable place to live.
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2. Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is the first beach town on the list, sitting on the coast in Horry County. The violent crime rate is about 886 incidents per 100,000 residents in a city of about 42,000 people.
Myrtle Beach is one of the top tourist destinations in the country. My family vacationed there every year when I was growing up, so I know how many visitors pour in. That tourism likely adds to the rate. Much of the violent crime happened in parking lots, hotels, and motels, which points to a tourist issue more than a neighborhood issue.
The timing supports that. Violent crime in Myrtle Beach peaks in April, May, and June, the busy tourist months, and drops off in November, December, and January. For a safer alternative, look a little north to North Myrtle Beach, or about 15 minutes inland to Conway.
1. Spartanburg
Spartanburg is in the upstate, about 30 miles east of Greenville and right on I-85 between Charlotte and Atlanta. The violent crime rate is about 921 incidents per 100,000 residents in a city of about 40,000 people.
One disclaimer. Spartanburg stopped reporting to the FBI in June 2025. To fill that gap, we used the Spartanburg Police Department's own annual report.
Even at number one, 2025 was one of Spartanburg's best years for crime in the past decade, meaning one of its lowest. The city finished the year about 22% below its average. That tells you city officials see crime as a priority and are actively working on it.
If you want to live near Spartanburg with a safer alternative, look just north at Boiling Springs, or about 17 miles west at Greer.
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Download NowAll 10 Cities at a Glance
Here is the full ranking, with each city's 2025 violent crime rate per 100,000 residents and the nearby communities worth considering instead.
| CITY | VIOLENT CRIME RATE (PER 100K) | SAFER NEARBY ALTERNATIVES |
|---|---|---|
| 10. Rock Hill | About 293 | Fort Mill, Tega Cay |
| 9. Aiken | About 329 | North Augusta |
| 8. Greenville | About 394 | Mauldin, Simpsonville |
| 7. Anderson | About 421 | Easley |
| 6. Florence | About 474 | Darlington, Hartsville |
| 5. Sumter | About 490 | Camden |
| 4. North Charleston | About 574 | Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Hanahan |
| 3. Columbia | About 680 | Lexington, Irmo |
| 2. Myrtle Beach | About 886 | North Myrtle Beach, Conway |
| 1. Spartanburg | About 921 | Boiling Springs, Greer |
What This List Really Tells You
I grew up in Clover, South Carolina, and wrestled against a lot of these towns in high school. Putting this list together with the FBI data was eye-opening, but the real lesson is simple. Every city has good areas and rough areas. Many of these cities are actively working on their crime numbers, and many have clear reasons behind them, from heavy tourism to large numbers of people passing through who do not live there.
A citywide crime rate is a starting point, not the full story. Before you rule a city in or out, look at where incidents actually happen, what time of year they peak, and which neighborhoods you would be living in.
Moving to the Carolinas? Let's Talk
I'm Josh Finigan, team leader at The Finigan Group powered by eXp Realty. We serve the greater Charlotte area in North and South Carolina, including Fort Mill, Rock Hill, Tega Cay, and Clover on the South Carolina side.
If you are looking elsewhere in the state, like Charleston or Greenville, we have a strong network of agents across the Carolinas and can connect you with someone who knows that market well. Grab our free relocation guide above, check what your current home is worth with our home value tool, or reach out to our team and we will help you plan the move.
