Based on the FBI’s most recent US Crime Report, Myrtle Beach’s crime rates rank us as the 3rd most dangerous city in America.
The crime rates in Myrtle Beach – even when broken down into categories like violent crime and property crime – are much higher than those in the rest of South Carolina and every other city in the country except 1) Muskegon Heights, Michigan and 2) Tukwila, Washington.
Below, we’ll look at a breakdown of Myrtle Beach’s crime rates, including:
- The rate of violent crimes in Myrtle Beach,
- The rate of property crimes in Myrtle Beach,
- Myrtle Beach’s crime rates compared to the State of SC, and
- Myrtle Beach’s crime rates compared to the rest of the country.
Myrtle Beach Crime Rate – The 3rd Most Dangerous City in America
Breaking down the FBI’s latest US Crime Report for cities with a population of 10,000 or more into categories for violent crimes (including murders, robberies, aggravated assaults, and rapes), other personal crimes like simple assaults, and property crimes (including burglary, arson, motor vehicle theft, and larcenies), the most dangerous cities in 2021 include:
- Muskegon Heights, Michigan,
- Tukwila, Washington,
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,
- Memphis, Tennessee, and
- Little Rock, Arkansas.
The cities you would think have the highest crime rates based on news coverage – Chicago, New York City, LA (or any city in California), didn’t even break the top 30 (although Detroit is in there at #11).
That’s right – out of every city in the country with a population greater than 10,000, Myrtle Beach’s crime rate puts us in the number three spot.
How did the rest of SC fare?
Crime rates in Other SC Cities
Eight SC Cities made the top 30, including:
- Myrtle Beach (#3),
- Cayce (#12),
- Gaffney (#15),
- Greenwood (#16),
- Spartanburg (#17),
- Florence (#18), and
- Forest Acres (#26).
What if we break down Myrtle Beach’s crime rate and look at the crime rates for violent crimes and property crimes compared to the rest of the state and the rest of the country?
Violent Crimes in Myrtle Beach, SC
According to Neighborhood Scout, the overall crime rate for violent crimes in Myrtle Beach was 11.99 per 1000 residents, compared to 5.11 per 1000 residents for the State of SC – your chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Myrtle Beach are 1 in 83 as opposed to 1 in 196 for the rest of the state.
The crime rates for violent crimes in Myrtle Beach as compared to the average violent crime rates throughout the US, broken down by murders, rapes, robberies, and assaults, are shown in the chart below:
| Violent Crimes | Myrtle Beach, SC Crime Rates | United States Crime Rates |
| Murders | .09 per 1000 | .05 per 1000 |
| Rapes | 1.53 per 1000 | .43 per 1000 |
| Robberies | 2.82 per 1000 | .82 per 1000 |
| Assaults | 7.55 per 1000 | 2.5 per 1000 |
Property Crimes in Myrtle Beach, SC
The overall crime rate in Myrtle Beach for property crimes was 112.87 per 1000, compared to 29.4 per 1000 for the rest of the state – your chances of becoming a victim of a property crime in Myrtle Beach are 1 in 9, as opposed to 1 in 34 for the rest of the state.
The crime rates for property crimes in Myrtle Beach as compared to the average property crime rates throughout the US, broken down by burglaries, thefts, and motor vehicle thefts, are shown in the chart below:
| Property Crimes | Myrtle Beach, SC Crime Rates | United States Crime Rates |
| Burglaries | 8.76 per 1000 | 3.41 per 1000 |
| Thefts | 97.54 per 1000 | 15.50 per 1000 |
| Motor Vehicle Thefts | 6.57 per 1000 | 2.20 per 1000 |
What’s the good news?
Last year, North Myrtle Beach was named the safest city in South Carolina.
Myrtle Beach city officials have long complained that crime rates for Myrtle Beach are skewed because the city has a small actual population compared to the millions of tourists who visit every year.
Of course, that doesn’t change the number of crimes that occur in Myrtle Beach. Note that the top two cities on the list, Muskegon Heights, Michigan, and Tukwila, Washington, are not vacation destinations, and I don’t see any other population beach destinations (Miami Beach, Daytona Beach, Hawaii’s beaches) in the top 30 most dangerous cities…
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Myrtle Beach, SC
Despite the statistics, Myrtle Beach is a beautiful vacation spot, and we strive hard to be a family-friendly location – come see us.
If you are here on vacation, be safe. If you get in trouble while you are here, do not hesitate to call us for help – if you are charged with a crime in SC or believe that you are under investigation, call the Myrtle Beach criminal defense lawyers at Coastal Law immediately to find out how we can help.
Call Coastal Law now to schedule a free case consultation by calling (843) 488-5000 or by contacting us through our website.
