Beaufort, SC Crime Map

How Safe Is Beaufort, SC in 2026?

Beaufort earns an overall crime grade of C at the city-wide level, yet its analyzed neighborhoods tell a more encouraging story: both neighborhoods reviewed received grades of A or B, placing 100% of analyzed areas in the "Safe" tier. That split matters — city-wide figures can be influenced by commercial corridors and transient activity, while neighborhood-level grades reflect what daily life actually looks like for residents on the ground.

Among the two neighborhoods analyzed, Cat Island stands out with a top-tier Grade A rating. With a population of just 132 and a median household income of $94,828 — nearly 75% higher than the city median of $54,061 — Cat Island combines low density, high economic stability, and strong safety outcomes. It's a clear outlier on Beaufort's safety spectrum. The second analyzed neighborhood, the area surrounding the University of South Carolina Beaufort – Beaufort Campus, earns a Grade B-. Home to roughly 32 residents and a median income of $51,547, this compact campus zone performs solidly, though its proximity to student activity and higher foot traffic keeps it just below Cat Island's benchmark.

Understanding Beaufort's Crime Grade Distribution

Breaking down the neighborhood grades provides useful context for anyone evaluating where to live or visit in Beaufort:

• Grade A neighborhoods: 50% — Cat Island represents this top tier, with the lowest crime exposure among analyzed areas.
• Grade B neighborhoods: 50% — The USCB campus area falls here, reflecting a safe but slightly more active environment.
• Grades C, D, and F: 0% — No analyzed neighborhoods fall into concerning territory.

The combined A+B share of 100% is a meaningful data point. For a city with a poverty rate of 18.9% — above the national average — and a population density of 212 residents per square mile spread across a modest 13,417-person community, achieving a clean sweep of safe neighborhood grades is notable. It suggests that Beaufort's lower-density, coastal geography helps contain crime clustering in ways that denser urban centers cannot.

Economic Context and What It Means for Crime

Crime and economic conditions are closely intertwined, and Beaufort's data reflects that complexity. The city's median household income of $54,061 and median home value of $230,245 indicate a moderately affordable market by coastal South Carolina standards. The unemployment rate of 3.3% is low, which generally correlates with reduced property crime pressure. However, the 18.9% poverty rate — affecting roughly 1 in 5 residents — is a structural factor that contributes to the city-wide Grade C overall crime rating, even as individual neighborhoods perform well.

Median rent of $941 keeps housing accessible for many working households, which supports residential stability — a known factor in neighborhood safety. Stable tenancy tends to build the social cohesion and informal surveillance that deters opportunistic crime.

Using Beaufort's Crime Map Effectively

The interactive crime map on this page lets you move beyond averages and examine where incidents concentrate geographically. Here's how to get the most out of it:

• Layer by crime type: Property crimes such as larceny and vehicle break-ins tend to cluster near commercial zones and parking areas, while disturbances may appear near nightlife corridors. Filtering by type helps you distinguish between crime that affects residents versus visitors.
• Compare neighborhoods directly: Use the grade overlays to contrast Cat Island's A rating against the broader city average. The visual gap makes relocation or route decisions more concrete.
• Track time patterns: Many incident types in smaller coastal cities like Beaufort spike seasonally with tourism. Reviewing data by month can reveal whether elevated activity is a year-round concern or a short-term pattern.
• Cross-reference with census boundaries: Beaufort's low population density (212/sq mi) means neighborhood boundaries can be wide. A single grade covers a meaningful geographic area, so zooming into the map matters.

Safety Tips Grounded in Beaufort's Data

Given that property crime is the dominant concern in most Grade C cities of Beaufort's size, practical precautions focus on reducing opportunity:

• Secure vehicles thoroughly: Even in higher-graded areas like Cat Island, visible valuables in parked cars are a common theft trigger. Remove items and use steering wheel locks where appropriate.
• Engage with neighborhood networks: Beaufort's small population (13,417) means community ties are strong. Neighborhood watch participation has an outsized impact in low-density environments.
• Use the Beaufort Police Department's resources: The Beaufort PD official site publishes incident reports and community alerts that complement the data shown on this map.
• Factor in seasonal patterns: As a coastal tourist destination, Beaufort sees population swells that can temporarily elevate petty crime. Heightened awareness during peak visitor months is worthwhile.