South Dakota’s Safest Cities of 2025

See crime rates for the safest cities.

If you call The Mount Rushmore State home, chances are you don’t spend a lot of time worrying about crime and safety. In our State of Safety survey, people living in South Dakota reported some of the lowest levels of concern nationwide, and they were among those least likely to report first-hand experiences with any type of crime. 

We didn't have enough viable data to accurately calculate statewide crime rates this year. However, our annual State of Safety survey sheds some light on crime experiences and concerns across The Mount Rushmore State.

Overall, 68% of South Dakotans said they feel safe in their state, which represents a slight year-over-year increase from 66%. That's the third highest percentage in the nation, just behind Nebraska (71%) and Idaho (70%). Interestingly, most of South Dakota's neighbors reported high confidence levels as well. 

 South Dakotans report some of the lowest levels of crime experiences and concerns nationwide. This year's survey participants were less likely to have increased security and safety measures compared to last year's participants. South Dakotans are also becoming more optimistic about crime trends in general, with fewer people believing crime is increasing. 

Find safety and security resources in South Dakota.

South Dakotans worry about property crime and package theft less than most Americans, but their concerns are on the rise. Meanwhile, South Dakotans reported a drop in their property crime experiences but an increase in package theft.

• 20% of South Dakotans said they experienced a property crime in the 8 months prior to the survey, down from 27% the year before (US 27%). 
• Only people in Rhode Island (19%), North Carolina (17%) and Massachusetts (16%) were less likely to experience property crime than South Dakotans.
• Concern about property crime increased from 40% to 44% year over year (US 54%).
• 30% said they experienced a package theft in the 8 months prior to the survey, up from 25% the year before (US 37%).
• Only people in Vermont (29%) were less likely to experience package theft.
• South Dakotans prefer to protect their property with security cameras (43%), firearms (38%), and guard dogs (35%). 

The percentage of South Dakotans who personally experienced violent crime fell by 50% year over year, dropping to the lowest percentage in the nation. Concern about violent crime rose significantly during the same time period, but South Dakotans are among those least concerned about violent crime nationwide.

• 6% of South Dakotans experienced a violent crime in the 8 months prior to our survey, down from 12% the year before (US 14%).
• Concern about violent crime rose from 28% to 43% year over year (US 59%).
• Only Alaskans and Vermonters worry less about violent crime than South Dakotans.
• 32% of South Dakotans use personal protection (US 35%). 
• South Dakota residents prefer to protect themselves with firearms (16%), pocket knives (16%), and pepper spray (9%).
• South Dakotans are among those least likely to use pepper spray and personal alarms nationwide. 

• 6% of South Dakotans said they experienced gun violence in the 8 months prior to our survey, down from 11% the year before (US 11%).
• Only people living in Nebraska, Rhode Island, and Delaware were less likely to experience gun violence than South Dakotans. 
• Concern about gun violence rose year over year from 32% to 36%, which is the fourth lowest percentage nationwide.
• 2 mass shooting events occurred in South Dakota in 2024.

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

• 16 cities met the criteria for ranking this year.
• Madison is the safest city in South Dakota this year, thanks in part to a low property crime rate. 
• Brookings held on to the #2 spot for the third consecutive year.
• Brookings and Tea, the only 2 cities who aren't new to this year's list, saw year-over-year declines in both property crime and violent crime.
• 1 murder was reported in the safest cities. It occurred in Vermillion.
• 2 robberies were reported in the safest cities. They occurred in Madison and Vermillion.
• Tea was the only city on this year's list to report no rapes. 

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