These are the 10 most dangerous places in SC to be in after dark, crime statistics show
As quintessential as many believe South Carolina may be, some still might be surprised that, just like any state, there are some places you might not want to be if you like to take walks or go for a run after dark.
Only In Your State, a travel site dedicated to discovering things within every state, used NeighborhoodScout, which pulls violent crime statistics from the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department and interprets them, applying their own algorithm to each city and by neighborhood, to determine where in South Carolina by neighborhood is the most dangerous to be after dark.
Following the provided research, these 10 places are where you should statistically avoid after the sun sets. Of these 10, Anderson is the least dangerous on the list and Dillion rounds out the compilation as the statistically most dangerous place in South Carolina, according to Only In Your State and NeighborhoodScout data.
#10 Anderson
In Anderson, found in the Upstate region of the state in the Piedmont area, the areas of Toxaway, Linley Park, Westview Heights, Caldwell Village and City Center were found to be the most dangerous in the city, according to the study. It was found that your chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Anderson are 1 in 165.
This rate is higher than the state average; yet, the violent crime rate in Anderson has continuously improved within the last few years.
On another note, the safest neighborhoods found to be in Anderson include the areas of Anderson South, Concord, Hammond, Masons Cross Road/New Light, Anderson Village, Deans/Flat Rock, Autumn Oaks, Anderson Southwest, Centerville North and West Anderson.
#9 Columbia
In Columbia, the state’s capital, data found that your potential risk of being the victim of a violent crime are 1 in 142. The most at-risk areas for this occurring are reportedly Belmont, St. Andrews Terrace Road, Fairwold, the city center, Lorrick Avenue, Colonial Drive and Old Manor Road/Melo Drive.
As for the safest areas, these were found to include Jackson Boulevard/Hill Street, Leesburg, Washington Road/Knight Road, Long Pointe Lane/Lake Carolina Drive, University of South Carolina Columbia, Kilbourne Park, Pontiac, Legion Drive/Grandview Circle, Heathwood West/Historic Heathwood and Summit Hills.
#8 Walterboro
In South Carolina’s Lowcountry residing in Colleton County, Walterboro scored as having a 1 in 82 chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime with the better part of these crimes happening in the “city center,” according to the travel and discovery site. In Walterboro, your chances of becoming the victim of what the F.B.I. calls a “violent crime” are 1 in 82.
The safest neighborhoods in the area include Ruffin, Drawdy/Neyles, Walterboro North, Drigger Crossroads / Pringle Bend, Hudsons Mill /Sniders Crossroads, City Center and Walterboro East.
#7 Myrtle Beach
In the Pee Dee region, Myrtle Beach’s area of 21st Avenue N. and North Ocean Boulevard was reportedly found to be the most dangerous place to find yourself after dark in the city, with your chances of becoming a violent crime victim being 1 in 82, despite Myrtle Beach being a popular vacation destination year after year.
If you’re looking to avoid this violent statistic, the safest neighborhoods in the Myrtle Beach area include Carolina Forest, Pine Island, Osprey Cove, Peachtree Estates, Queens Harbour/Laurel Woods, Carnaby Loop/Alvina Way, West Hyde Park/Summertree Village, Tuscany Village/Members Club, Waterford Plantation/Windsor Green and Bridgecreek/Lawsons Landing.
#6 Marion
Marion’s “city center” reportedly has the worst violent crime rate in the city, according to the travel site’s analysis of the data, with the chance of becoming a victim being 1 in 79.
#5 Bishopville
Bishopville, in the Pee Dee region, was found to have one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the state, according to NeighborhoodScout and Only In Your State, which suggested the area of Browntown has a seriously high violent crime history and helped earn the area’s 1 in 78 violent crime rate.
As for the remainder of the area, the safest neighborhoods you can visit or stay in include Lucknow/Thursa and Red Hill/Spring Hill.
#4 Hartsville
Hartsville was found to have its most dangerous areas in the Hartsville South neighborhood and Auburn/Coker University, according to Neighborhood Scout, with the chance of becoming a violent crime victim being 1 in 70.
The safest areas in Hartsville reportedly include Clyde/Kellytown, North Hartsville and Pine Ridge.
#3 Spartanburg
In Spartanburg, NeighborhoodScout determined that your chances of becoming a violent crime victim was 1 in 66, with the most dangerous spot being Duncan Street/Caulder Avenue, Howard Street/Arch Street and Hilltop.
The safest places in Spartanburg includes Calico/Foster Mill, Golightly, Valley Falls East, Cannons Camp Ground/Enola, Fernwood, Fairmont/Fairmont Mills, University of South Carolina Upstate, Calvert/Hadden Crossroads, Whitney and Ben Avon.
#2 Lake City
Only in Your State and NeighborhoodScout’s algorithm put Lake City as the second most dangerous place in South Carolina, with a 1 in 56 chance of a violent crime happening to you and the city center being one of the most concentrated place for these crimes to occur.
Despite the City Center’s high violent crime rate, the areas of Cades, Lake City East and Lake City West were found to be the safest in the area of Lake City.
#1 Dillon
Coming in as the most dangerous place to find yourself in the Palmetto State was the City of Dillon.
Here, the chances of being hit with a violent crime are 1 in 39, which ranks the city as one of the most dangerous places in South Carolina, Only in Your State says. The Newtown area was considered as being the most dangerous.
However, there are some statistically safer areas of Dillon, which consist of Dillon West, City Center and Bunker Hill/Manning Crossroads. Dillon West was ranked as being the safest.
Where are the safest places?
Luckily, not every place in South Carolina is dangerous. NeighborhoodScout also listed the 10 safest cities in the state, which can be found below.
Jenkinsville
Pomaria
Salem
Martin
Mount Carmel
Gifford
Bradley
Wagener
Furman
Longcreek
