Have you ever wondered what are the most dangerous places in South Dakota? Though South Dakota is a wonderful place to call home, as we all know, there are some towns where the crime rates are just a bit higher than the rest of the state. According to Road Snacks and their research of FBI crime data, these are the 10 most dangerous towns in South Dakota.

1. Rapid City (Population: 78,492)
Rapid City, SD, USA
flickr/Todd.vision
Violent crime rate in Rapid City is a big factor when looking at the safety of the city. With the U.S. average being 22.7, Rapid City's is 33.7. Add to that a much higher than national average property rate, and Rapid City is one of the most dangerous cities in South Dakota. Though Rapid City's crime rate has been decreasing in in recent years, its crime rate earns it the number one spot on the list.
2. Chamberlain (Population: 2,364)
Chamberlain, SD 57325, USA
tripadvisor/Management
Chamberlain earns second place on our list overall because it ranks second in both violent and property crime. With an overall crime rate that is 66% higher than the national average and the chances of being involved in a violent crime higher than 75% of the rest of the country, Chamberlain is one of the most dangerous place in South Dakota.
3. Pierre (Population: 13,888)
Pierre, SD 57501, USA
Alanscottwalker, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Pierre is the second smallest capital city in the US and yet the third most dangerous town in South Dakota. This statistic comes mainly from looking at Pierre's property crime rate, which is well above the national average.
4. Yankton (Population: 14,712)
Yankton, SD 57078, USA
Ammodramus, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Both violent and property crime have been on the rise in Yankton in recent years. There is a 1 in 33 chance someone will be a victim of property crime. Though the town is mostly peaceful, it still earned a spot on the most dangerous places in South Dakota list.
5. Sioux Falls (Population: 187,370)
Sioux Falls, SD, USA
AlexiusHoratius, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Sioux Falls is home to nearly 30% of the population of South Dakota. That being said, the rate of violent crime has increased significantly over the past few years. In 2013, residents had a 4 out of 1,000 occurrence of violent crime. Its crime rate is higher than 94% of other towns in South Dakota.

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6. Mitchell (Population: 15,555)
Mitchell, SD 57301, USA
flickr/Eric Fredericks
Coming in at number six is Mitchell. The town ranks poorly in both property and violent crime, giving residents a 1 in 247 chance of becoming a victim and making it one of the dangerous places to avoid in South Dakota. Mitchell not only has one of the highest crime rates in South Dakota, but in the nation!
7. Box Elder, South Dakota (Population: 10,402)
Box Elder, SD, USA
Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Box Elder on the western border of South Dakota is a military town. However, it still ranks high in crime. The town reported 292 property crimes in a year, which is a lot given the town's smaller population.
8. Aberdeen, South Dakota (Population: 28,494)
Aberdeen, SD 57401, USA
Joel Bradshaw, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Aberdeen in South Dakota is a small community that, unfortunately, has seen high crimes rates. It is the 11th most dangerous for property crime in the state, and there a violent crime rate of 558 out of 100k residents.
9. Spearfish, South Dakota (Population: 11,902)
Spearfish, SD, USA
Magicpiano, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Spearfish, South Dakota has a crime rate that is higher than 86% of the rest of the state ! That statistic makes it one of the most dangerous places in South Dakota.
4. Huron (Population: 12,956)
Huron, SD 57350, USA
Ammodramus, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Huron may not be one of the biggest towns in South Dakota, but its property crime rate is extremely high. Between 2012-2013, property crime increased by 34%. In that same period of time, violent crime dropped by 29%. On a side note, the town is also home to the world's largest pheasant.

Were you surprised by these 10 most dangerous towns in South Dakota? Let us know what you think!

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most dangerous places in South Dakota

Christina Arrascaeta | August 05, 2022

What are the worst things about living in South Dakota?

If you ask a local what are the worst things about living in South Dakota, the answer will most likely include the weather. South Dakota braces itself each year for a minimum of five months of wintery weather. In addition to colder temperatures and long-lasting snowy conditions, the state is prone to being hit with natural disasters like floods, blizzards, and even earthquakes and tornados. South Dakota also has low average wages when compared to that of the national average.

What is the worst place to live in South Dakota?

Crime is an ongoing issue in South Dakota, and one of the main reasons for avoiding certain dangerous towns and cities in the state. Places like Mitchell, South Dakota have much higher than average crime rate, both property and violent, than the national average.

Where is the best place to live in South Dakota?

South Dakota has wonderful places to live, retire, or raise a family. Some of the safest cities include Brandon, Brookings, and Belle Fourche. Don’t forget Hot Springs, South Dakota, a scenic town nicknamed the “Southern Gateway of the Black Hills.”

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