The 10 Safest Cities In South Dakota For 2026

Welcome to Brandon, our number one safest city in South Dakota. It's so safe in this Sioux Falls-burb, that the wolves, coyotes, and bears are always howling and growling at the residents reminding them to get home before dark. Thanks furry friends!

Nestled along the Big Sioux River in the southeast corner of South Dakota's western border, Brandon offers a safe environment with small town charm that packs a big punch. Not literally, of course. No fighting happens here; that wouldn't be safe. Not to mention, there are a lot of hunters, here, if ya know what we mean.

With a little over 10,000 residents, the superb quality of life in this little village in Minnehahah County is the reason that it is our number one safest city in South Dakota for 2026. Yes, Brandon, you truly are "Building a Better Life".

Where South Dakota State Road 44 meets South Dakota State Road 17 is Lennox. This town, where the only crimes might be a flannel or Carhart fashion faux pas, is our second safest city in South Dakota.

This SoDak town is also known for its safe, family-friendly atmosphere. There is a ton of stuff to do in this little town with only 2,518 residents in the middle of nowhere, Lincoln County.

Lennox is where one can safely cruise the roads on tractors, horses, and bicycles. It's also the kind of place where packages from Amazon won't get stolen from your front porch.

In Summerset they love their wide open spaces, their parks, their super safe neighborhoods, and they take pride in their South Dakota roots. The only crimes committed, here, are the occasional beer drinking in the Black Hills.

This western Meade County city is our third safest city. It's a place where work and play meet at the foothills of Mount Rushmore. Summerset's small town charm delivers big opportunities to all that are searching for a safe, not scary, place to call home. Heck, they scored and 8/10 in safety on our snackability scale.

The residents in Summerset look out for each other. It's evident in their gold star qualities like the non-existent number of crimes last year, their large number of educated residents, and just their overall safety standards. They are going to keep you safe and alive in the 605.

Located in the southwestern part of the state, Hot Springs is the fifth safest city in South Dakota, owing to an especially low rate of property crime. Hot Springs has about half as much property crime as the national average, with less than one property crime a week on average.

In other words, it's unlikely that someone's going to make off with some Ice Age-era mammoth bones from The Mammoth Site. Hot Springs also received high marks on our snackability scales for jobs, education, and affordability, so you get more than just safety here.

Lead is the ideal destination when you're trying find that true northern plains feel with small city vibes. We're not sure if it's where the buffalo roam, but we do know that it's safe enough to let your children roam. And this is definitely one of the reasons it's hanging strong as our sixth safest city in South Dakota.

It might not be Sioux City, but this little town with a vibrant downtown scene, unforgettable summer festivals, and year-round fun is just as notable and just as safe. Probably why it's one of the most populous towns in the Black Hills.

Lead is known for its low crime, A+ education rating, and affordability. Do we think it has something to do with the discovery of gold in 'dem 'der hills? Probably. One thing we do know for sure, however, is that there is a true sense of community in this little village in Lawrence County.

Plug in the flashing lights and slap a fluorescent orange safety jacket on this little city in southeastern Lake County and call them safe.

Our seventh safest city in South Dakota, Madison, is known for its scenic location, low taxes, and educational opportunities. after all, it is the home to the Dakota State Trojans. Now if "Trojans" doesn't scream safe, we give up.

This little gem of a city in the Mount Rushmore State is a family friendly, safe Sioux City-burb nestled between Madison Lake and Lake Herman. It boasts convenient restaurants and stores and an occasional rodeo or two. It's a great place to raise a family. Word on the street is that young professionals are starting to take notice and move their direction. So don't wait, because the word is out.

And if you love winter, you can get snow here as early as July. To best be safe, make sure you get the best snow tires, winter boots, and fleece jacket, because you're gonna need 'em.

A southeastern suburb of Sioux Falls, Tea ranks as the ninth safest city in South Dakota. Tea had only eight violent crimes in 2024, giving the city the sixth safest lowest rate in the state. Just be careful not to get poked in the eye while bird-watching at Waterfowl Park.

On top of being super safe, Tea also received a 9.5/10 on our overall snackability scale, meaning it's an awesome place to call home overall. In fact, Tea ranked as the second best place to live and the sixth best place to raise a family in South Dakota on our other lists.

Next up is Green River. This little piece of heaven in the 697 scored an 8.5/10 on our snackability chart to become our tenth safest city in South Dakota.

Home to the second largest city in South Dakota, this is the place to be. There are a boatload of things to do and the residents have the money to safely enjoy life in the "Scoreboard Town." They have the state's Children's Museum, the Brookings Summer Arts Festival, and it is the home to a multiple manufacturing and agricultural companies. So it's not surprising that Brookings received an 8/10 job score and an 8.5/10 amenities score. Nice work Brookings!

Whether the residents are tailgating at the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits, sharing a beer at the Brookings Blizzard game, or sipping coffee at the local coffee shop, nothing says safe like a community that creates opportunities to get to know anything and everything about each other. Just make sure you take the trash out in proper attire because someone is always watching and you wouldn't want to become the talk of Sweetwater County.