Is Greenville SC Safe? Crime Rate & Statistics
Personally, as a native of Greenville, SC who’s seen lots of different parts of the community, I’ve never felt unsafe being in the city. But of course, it all depends on where you grew up. So to be objective, the focus will mostly be on statistics.
In 2021, according to a National Movers Study, South Carolina was the third most popular state to move to, only behind Vermont and South Dakota. For those considering the move, Greenville has become a popular option in recent years, as noted in this 60 Minutes video.
The city has a beautiful downtown and is often said to be a nice place with friendly people. The mountains and the beach are both within driving distance from the city making it a lovely place to visit or call home.
With all that said, you’re reading this now to know if Greenville, SC, is a safe place. You want to know if you can settle down and raise a family here.
Whether you are looking to move to Greenville or are just planning a visit, knowing the crime rate will help you know if you can feel safe in this city. Here’s some data that’s important to know.
Greenville violent crime stats
According to the FBI, four offenses are considered violent crimes: homicide (murder and nonnegligent manslaughter), rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The threat or use of force is what classifies these crimes as violent.
Crime Grade reports that violent crime in Greenville is higher than the average U.S. metro area coming in at the 29th percentile. 71% of metro areas are considered safer than Greenville. Statistically, 4 out of every 1,000 Greenville metro residents will be involved in a violent crime this year.
To add my personal perspective, it’s true that when you watch the news in this area, you’ll see a violent crime story from time to time. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t say these are stories that top the news on a nightly basis. You can do a Google News search of Greenville, SC, and see there aren’t too many violent crime stories reported.
Now in 2020, there was an increase in violent crime. There were 422 violent-crime incidents reported by the Greenville Police Department, which was up from 399 in 2019. FBI Statistics are not currently available for 2021.
All of these stats aside, like with any place you live in, staying aware of your surroundings is key. It’s a good idea to be in a group when walking around downtown at night. Do your best to walk around well-lit areas and where other people are around.
Greenville property crime stats
The Greenville Police Department has also seen an increase in property crime. There were 2,807 reported incidents of property crime in 2019. 2020 saw a small jump in cases with 2,929 property crime incidents reported.
One in every 24 people in the city will become a victim of property crime. In fact, according to the FBI data, the city has one of the highest rates of vehicle theft in the nation. WYFF4 reported a 35% increase of vehicle theft in the summer of 2021.
It’s important to make sure you have your doors locked and windows closed. One source noted homes without an alarm system are 300% more likely to be burglarized.
Greenville crime rate comparison
Compared to the surrounding cities, the rate of violent crime in the Greenville metro area is about the same as the other metros. If we just look at violent crime, the Greenville metro area is safer than the South Carolina state average and is the same as the national average.
The overall crime rate in Greenville is slightly higher than the state average but is still lower than the United States average. In fact, the city is considered one of the safest cities in South Carolina.
If you are looking for more in-depth information and interactive graphs, here is a map of the crime around the Greenville metro area.
High crime areas
Maps and graphs can be helpful tools when figuring out the areas that have the highest crime rate, but they can be a bit skewed. Places with higher foot traffic such as parks and recreational areas almost always look like high-crime areas.
The more people who visit an area, the more likely it is that the crime rate will go up. This can make crime rates look higher – even for safe parks.
In general, it may be best to avoid downtown, Haywood Mall, Arcadia Hills, Southern Side, and West Greenville when looking for neighborhoods to live in. The western and northern parts of the city tend to be more troublesome.
Low crime areas
Greenville metro area residents generally say the east side is the safest. The crime map shows the crime rate going down on the east side of the metro area and up in the southwest neighborhoods.
Your chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime are 1 in 188 in the southwest neighborhoods. Those chances drop down to 1 in 447 when you move to the east.
Some of the safest neighborhoods in Greenville are Dellwood, Paramount Park, Piedmont Park, Stone Lake, and Richmond Hills. But of course, no matter where you live, you’ll always need to be aware of your surroundings and take necessary precautions.
Summary
Greenville, South Carolina, has its good qualities and its not-so-good qualities. The overall crime rate in the city is lower than the national average but higher than the rest of the state of South Carolina.
Violent crime seems to be higher on the southwest side of the city and lower on the east side. Property crime is fairly common, with one of the highest rates of car theft in the nation.
Maps and graphs can be helpful when looking at crime data, but areas such as airports, parks, and other gathering places will most likely have a higher crime rate.
Talking to the locals and getting their insight about what areas are the safest to live in is a great way to make connections, learn more about your new city, and keep your family safe.
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