Conway, SC Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Conway, SC

What is Conway's overall crime grade?

Conway, SC carries an overall crime grade of D+ for 2026. This grade reflects a combination of property crime and violent crime rates measured against national and state benchmarks. With a poverty rate of 18.6% and an unemployment rate of 11.8% — both notably above national averages — Conway faces socioeconomic pressures that correlate with elevated crime activity. That said, crime in Conway is not uniformly distributed; certain neighborhoods experience significantly higher incident concentrations than others, which means the city-wide grade does not define every block or district equally.

How safe is Conway, SC compared to similar cities?

Conway's D+ overall crime grade places it in the lower tier of safety rankings among South Carolina cities of comparable size. With a population of approximately 24,747 and a population density of 404 residents per square mile, Conway is a relatively spread-out small city. Property crimes — including theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft — account for the largest share of reported incidents and are the primary driver of the D+ grade. Violent crimes such as assault and robbery occur at lower frequencies but still contribute meaningfully to the overall rating. Residents in lower-density residential areas of Conway tend to report fewer incidents than those in higher-traffic commercial corridors.

What are the most common types of crime in Conway?

Property crime is the dominant category in Conway's crime data. Larceny-theft consistently represents the highest share of reported incidents, followed by burglary and motor vehicle theft. Violent crimes, while less frequent in absolute numbers, include aggravated assault as the most reported subcategory. Drug-related offenses also appear regularly in incident reports and are considered a contributing factor to both property and violent crime patterns. Conway's 18.6% poverty rate and median household income of just $42,840 — against a median home value of $164,412 — create economic conditions that researchers consistently associate with higher property crime prevalence.

Which neighborhoods in Conway have the most reported crime?

Based on crime map heat data, incident clusters tend to concentrate along higher-traffic commercial zones and in areas with higher residential density near the city core. Neighborhoods closer to downtown Conway historically show more reported incidents per square mile than outlying suburban areas. Quieter residential pockets further from the downtown corridor and major commercial strips generally correspond to lower incident densities on the crime map. If you are evaluating specific areas, filtering the Conway crime map by incident type and time range will give you the clearest picture of which zones align with your safety priorities.

Is Conway, SC a good place to live given its crime grade?

Conway offers genuine affordability — with a median home value of $164,412 and a median rent of $787 — that is difficult to match in the broader Grand Strand region. However, prospective residents should weigh that affordability against the city's D+ crime grade and an 11.8% unemployment rate. Families and retirees who prioritize safety often focus their search on Conway's lower-density residential neighborhoods, where crime map data shows fewer reported incidents. The city's proximity to Myrtle Beach, its historic downtown, and its strong community identity remain genuine draws. For those who research specific neighborhoods carefully and take standard precautions, Conway can still represent a livable and affordable option — but going in with clear eyes about the D+ grade is important.

How does Conway's poverty rate affect its crime statistics?

Conway's poverty rate of 18.6% is a statistically significant factor in its crime profile. Research consistently shows that cities with poverty rates above 15% experience property crime rates roughly 20–30% higher than the national median. In Conway's case, the combination of an 18.6% poverty rate, 11.8% unemployment, and a median household income of $42,840 creates conditions where opportunistic property crimes — particularly larceny and burglary — are more likely to occur. This does not mean crime is inevitable in any given neighborhood, but it does explain a meaningful portion of the gap between Conway's D+ grade and the grades earned by wealthier South Carolina cities with lower poverty and unemployment figures.

What can Conway residents do to improve neighborhood safety?

Residents can take several data-informed steps to reduce their personal risk. First, regularly reviewing the Conway crime map allows you to track whether incident frequency is rising or falling in your specific area — look for changes in the density of property crime markers over 30- and 90-day windows. Second, because larceny-theft is the most prevalent crime category in Conway, securing vehicles, using motion-activated lighting, and not leaving valuables visible in parked cars directly addresses the most common threat. Third, participating in neighborhood watch programs has been shown in multiple studies to reduce property crime by 15–20% in active areas. Finally, reporting suspicious activity promptly to the Conway Police Department helps keep incident data current, which improves the accuracy of the crime map for all residents.