C+
12%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
33%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
21%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleSpearfish/100k peopleSouth Dakota/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime327n/a (estimate)2,6122,1142,324
Murder1n/a8.04.36.3
Rape16n/a127.855.840.0
Robbery1n/a8.025.366.1
Assault13n/a103.9292.0268.2
Violent crime31n/a (estimate)248377370
Burglary26n/a207.7263.0269.8
Theft252n/a2,013.31,231.81,401.9
Vehicle theft18n/a143.8242.2282.7
Property crime296n/a (estimate)2,3651,7371,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Spearfish, SD

The Spearfish crime rates are 12.4% higher than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 31 violent crimes in Spearfish (248 per 100,000 people), which is 33% lower than the national average and there were a total of 296 property crimes (2365 per 100,000 residents) which is 21% higher than average.

When assessing the total crime rate in Spearfish per 100,000 people, it stands in the median range among all cities with reported crime data. Our analysis of total incidents, encompassing both violent and property crimes within Spearfish, underscores the close alignment of reported crime rates with the national average as reported by other areas.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Spearfish?

What do the local residents think about crime in Spearfish? Well, based on a recent survey of 5 people (conducted by AreaVibes), 60% of Spearfish residents said that there was virtually no crime and that they felt safe walking at night. Another 40% of respondents said that there was too much crime in the area and they did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Spearfish a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Spearfish, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Spearfish presents a total crime rate that is 12% higher than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Spearfish experiences an average of 0.9 daily crimes, comprising 0.08 violent incidents and 0.81 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Spearfish Increased Since Last Year?

Examining year-over-year crime data provides insights into short-term trends with regards to the crime activity in Spearfish. This analysis involves comparing crime rates from one year to the next, enabling the identification of patterns and fluctuations in crime. Such information proves invaluable to residents seeking to make well-informed decisions about their choice of residence. In the most recent year, compared to the previous one, total crime in Spearfish has increased by 29.8%. Specifically, violent crime has increased by 47.6%, while property crime has increased by 28.1%. This data empowers individuals with a clearer understanding of the evolving safety landscape in Spearfish.

Potential Causes for Crime in Spearfish

In Spearfish, the poverty rate currently stands at 12.6%, which contrasts with the national average of 15.1%. It's essential to recognize that the economic status of a city's inhabitants could be a pivotal factor influencing crime stats. Communities grappling with high poverty rates and income inequality are often susceptible to elevated crime levels, as some individuals may turn to unlawful activities to fulfill their essential needs. While lower poverty rates could lead to a reduction in Spearfish crime rates.

Limited employment opportunities or a prevalence of low-wage jobs can result in higher rates of unemployment and underemployment. Regions where individuals grapple with joblessness or meager wages may exhibit greater vulnerability to an uptick in crime due to financial instability. While areas that have strong employment rates, often will see a reduction in overall crime. Spearfish, for instance, reports an unemployment rate of 1%, which differs from the national average of 4.7%.

The quality of housing and neighborhood conditions can influence crime rates. Neglected or run-down neighborhoods with poorly maintained properties may be more susceptible to criminal activities. In areas with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves residing in cramped or inadequate housing settings, amplifying stress levels and potentially fostering domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. It's worth noting that the median home price in Spearfish stands at $223,200, a contrast to the national average of $184,700.

Spearfish crime map



The Spearfish crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Spearfish as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Spearfish crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Spearfish crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Spearfish, SD Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Spearfish crime rates are 12% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Spearfish are 33% lower than the national average
      • In Spearfish you have a 1 in 39 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Spearfish is safer than 37% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Spearfish has increased by 25%

      Spearfish, SD Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Spearfish

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        See all Spearfish poll results

        Daily Crime In Spearfish (per 100,000 people)

        The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Spearfish, SD per 100,000 people. In Spearfish, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 1.24 times more than the South Dakota average and 1.12 times more than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Spearfish is 1.52 times less than the South Dakota average and 1.49 times less than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Spearfish has a daily crime rate that is 1.36 times more than the South Dakota average and 1.21 times more than the overall daily national average.

        How Safe is Spearfish (higher is better)

        Is Spearfish safe in comparison to other cities in the state of South Dakota as well as in comparison to the rest of the areas across the United States. Using the gauges above, which compare crime in Spearfish to other cities in the state and across the country, Spearfish is 46% safer than other cities of South Dakota and 37% safer than other cities in the nation. Spearfish has a ranks below average in comparison to other cities in the country.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Spearfish

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Spearfish is 1 in 404
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Spearfish is 1 in 43
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Spearfish is 1 in 39
        Are you curious to know the likelihood of suffering from a crime in Spearfish? If you reside in Spearfish, the likelihood that you will become a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 404. Violent crimes include: murder, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. There is a 1 in 43 change that you will become a victim of a property crime. These sorts of crimes against personal property include: burglary, theft, and auto theft. In total, the likelihood of being victimized by a crime in Spearfish, is 1 in 39.

        Year Over Year Crime In Spearfish (per 100,000 people)

        An ideal indicator of whether Spearfish is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in Spearfish has increased by 43% and the rate of property crime in Spearfish has increased by 23%. The total crime rate in Spearfish has increased by 25% year to year.

        Spearfish police department

        Item Spearfish South Dakota National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)30995558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.82.23.3
        There are a total of 30 Spearfish police officers. This results in 2.8 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 25.7% greater than the South Dakota average and 13.8% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in South Dakota

        State Total offenders South Dakota /100K National /100K
        South Dakotan/an/an/a

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        North Spearfish, SD2,251126582708
        Lead, SD2,9792201,0141,234
        Belle Fourche, SD5,6281211,2761,397
        Whitewood, SD9864552,0972,552
        Fruitdale, SD975282,4322,960
        Sturgis, SD6,9144352,6263,061
        Nisland, SD2096002,7633,363
        Spearfish, SD11,7022482,3652,612

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Little Chute, WI11,7043111,4501,761
        Crossville, TN11,7046973,5084,204
        El Campo, TX11,6956053,8994,503
        Smyrna, DE11,6945162,1482,664
        Salem, OH11,6921361,6641,800
        Spearfish, SD11,7022482,3652,612
        Source: The Spearfish, SD crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.