Is Sherman Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Sherman, Texas, is a small town tucked between the Dallas/Forth Worth Metroplex and the Oklahoma state line.

This region is known locally as Texoma.

Both the city and the nearby county of Sherman were named after a Texas Revolution war hero named Sidney Sherman.

It first appeared on maps as a post office town with a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail Route.

It is worth noting that Sherman is not in Sherman County; it’s in Grayson County.

Sherman is often paired with nearby Denison, and the two create a metropolitan area of their own.

Sherman has 43,000 residents, and Denison has 25,000.

This region is a wonderful balance between the big city life of Dallas and Forth Worth and the outdoor options in North Texas.

No fewer than four lakes surround the region, with a collection of small towns worth exploring one at a time.

You can also tap into the vibrant country music scene here with live music and festivals filling the calendar.

Since there are so many cities in proximity, I’m going to cover the safety tips and places to visit throughout Texoma as warranted.

Warnings & Dangers in Sherman

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low risk in Sherman, but not low enough to let your guard down. You also won't find much to do, so consider a visit here to include the nearby Texoma cities and towns.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Texoma Area Paratransit System (TAPS) is the public fixed-route and on-demand service provider here. Check out the map to see if that fits your needs - it runs from Henrietta to Dallas/Fort Worth and as far north as Durant. Taxis and rideshares are available in the region, too. Rental cars are easy to find at airports.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW

Looking back at five years of crime data, six pickpockets or purse snatchings were reported. That's less than two a year. The risk is low. Keep it that way by using smart safety steps with your belongings.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

The risk here runs the gamut, from tornadoes to intense winter storms, with flooding, wildfires, and extreme temperatures possible. This is definitely a place where you want to stay aware of the weather forecast so that you can plan accordingly.

MUGGING RISK: LOW

Sherman had 15 robberies in 2022, and just two of those were highway robberies. The risk is low, but don't get a false sense of safety. Be sure to stay in well-lit, secure areas and don't wear flashy, expensive items.

TERRORISM RISK: LOW

This is a low risk, as the small towns of Texoma don't have hard targets. Of course, you should always be aware of the latest Terrorism Advisory Bulletin from Homeland Security and report any suspicious activity that you see.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

Check local law enforcement social media sites for the latest scams. The local Better Business Bureau office and the state Attorney General’s office will have common scam tactics and protection advice.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

The sexual assault rate is anywhere from 33% to 425% higher than the national average (the wide difference is explained later on), and news reports show many cases are against children. While there's no clear connection as to why so many of these cases are happening, it's just worth upping your personal safety skills by being aware of the higher risks. As a woman, that's the only concerning part of my research about women's safety in Sherman.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

The U.S. has strict standards for tap water per the Safe Water Drinking Act. Communities are required to provide a Water Quality Report (Consumer Confidence Report) once a year by July 1. Sherman's tap water is compliant with all the Safe Water Drink Act requirements. You can also read the Water Quality Concerns on the city's website, listing how to deal with issues of water cloudiness or odor issues in the rare event that it happens.

Safest Places to Visit in Sherman

Three tourism websites can help you plan the perfect trip to Sherman.

First, use shermantx.org for hyper-local information.

Most activities, places to stay, and places to eat are listed by their location, either on the Highway 75 Corridor, Downtown Sherman, or other areas.

Downtown Sherman does have a website, but it is more geared toward businesses than visitors.

You’ll find more useful information on the Facebook page @DNTNSherman.

Second, discoverdenison.com is the official tourism website for the neighboring city.

I will add that I like the Denison website layout better, as the Sherman option just has lists of businesses, including places like McDonald’s, among the more attractive stops for tourists.

Nothing really stands out on the list, whereas Denison feels like a more vibrant town to visit when exploring the website.

Then there’s DiscoverTexoma.com, which covers a visit to Lake Texoma and the surrounding shoreline activities.

We’ll touch on all the area lakes shortly.

Sherman has a history museum and a jazz museum right across the street from each other.

The Harber Wildlife Museum offers a look at big game from across the globe.

It’s worth noting that the animals aren’t alive.

To see living animals, Roos2U is just outside of Sherman, with an opportunity to hang out with kangaroos and wallabies.

You will need a reservation to book your private tour.

Racing fans can check the schedule at the Grayson County Speedway, just outside of Sherman in Bells, Texas.

It looks like there’s an event about once a week.

Situated on the grounds of North Texas Regional Airport, Perrin Air Force Base Historical Museum preserves the military history of the base, which operated in this area from 1941 to 1971.

Exhibits include aircraft models, military artifacts, and photographs documenting the base’s role in training pilots during World War II and the Cold War era.

In nearby Denison, you’ll find more adventures and places to visit.

Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site offers tours of the modest frame house where future President Dwight D. Eisenhower was born.

You’ll learn about his early life and family history.

Going back even further in time, you can explore the Grayson Frontier Village and walk among the cabins and businesses of early settlers to this region.

More than a dozen structures were preserved to build this attraction.

Check for special events like “Life as a Pioneer Child” or “How to Preserve Herbs.”

The Red River Railroad Museum highlights the importance of the railroad as an economic driver to Sherman and Dension before the automobile era.

Now, let’s take a quick look at some of the lakes nearby.

• Lake Texoma: One of the largest reservoirs in the United States, Lake Texoma straddles the Texas-Oklahoma border and is just 30 minutes from Sherman. It offers excellent fishing, boating, swimming, hiking and camping opportunities. This is a popular lake with more than six million visitors each year.
• Lake Bonham: Located 30 minutes east of Sherman, Lake Bonham is a popular destination for fishing, with abundant populations of bass, catfish, and crappie. The lake also has picnic areas, boat ramps, and hiking trails. Bonham is worth exploring on its own, and you can also find Caddo National Grassland, which has two lakes!
• Lake Ray Roberts: Lake Ray Roberts is closer to the Dallas/Forth Worth area than Sherman. This scenic reservoir offers all the lake activities like those above, plus several different parks are available around the edge of the 30,000-acre lake.

Places to Avoid in Sherman

Looking at the most recent crime map, the east/southeast side of the city has the highest number of violent crimes.

That area also has a lot of property crime, but overall, theft is spread throughout the city.

You won’t find many hotels off the main drag of Highway 75, which looks to be in the safer parts of town – not that any part of Sherman is too dangerous to visit.

In fact, that area with the highest number of crimes isn’t a place a tourist would end up if they were looking for something to do.

It’s highly residential.

If you’re choosing between Sherman and Denison, crime rates are about the same.

Denison is closer to the lakes, and Sherman is closer to Dallas, but the distance is nominal – just 11 miles between the two cities.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Sherman

So... How Safe Is Sherman Really?

It’s hard to nail down the correct information about crime rates in Sherman because two very reliable sources that should have mirrored information show very different numbers.

The two sources are the FBI and the Sherman Police Department annual report for 2023.

So we can compare apples to apples, I used the 2022 crime data since the 2023 data isn’t on the FBI dashboard yet.

The annual report shows violent crime is 35% below the national average and 41% lower than the state average.

However, the FBI data (which would’ve been provided by the Sherman Police Department) shows 7% below the national average and 15% below the state average.

Then, looking at thefts, the rate, according to the police department’s annual report, is 78% lower than the national average, while the FBI data shows that the theft rate is 21% below the national average.

How can the police department report show 109 thefts in 2022 while the FBI data shows the same year in the same town having 496 thefts?

Also, the annual report shows 72 sexual assaults in 2022, while the rape numbers from the FBI sit at 25 incidents.

If you go by the FBI data, the violent crime rate in Sherman has increased by 22% over the past five years.

Going by the annual reports, the rate is down 16% in that same time span.

In any case, the crime rates are still well below normal.

The FBI data shows that just 8% of crime victims in 2022 were strangers to their assailants.

While I can’t give a definitive answer about how safe Sherman is, I can tell you that in any instance, there’s no risk here that common sense and basic safety practices can’t overcome.

How Does Sherman Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

All international visitors need either a visa defining the purpose of the trip (tourist, work, school, etc.) or a visa waiver. Start the process using the Visa Wizard module on the U.S. State Department website. You’ll quickly find out which one you need. Also, keep in mind that your passport must be valid for at least six months after our trip, or you’ll need to apply for a new one.

Currency

Only the U.S. Dollar (USD) is accepted in the United States. International airports usually have a currency exchange desk on site, while regional airports won’t. Your home bank offers the lowest fees. For those using credit cards, check to see if there’s a foreign transaction fee before you start racking up charges.

Weather

Winters are still pretty mild this far north in Texas, but lows will still get to freezing in the heart of the season. The biggest thing to note is the scorching summer temperatures, with July and August rarely getting below 72°F and the highs getting into the mid-90s. That's before the heat index is determined based on humidity. Bring light, loose clothing since you'll be sweating a lot.

Airports

Sherman only has a general aviation airport. You can get to the Dallas or Fort Worth airports in less than 890 minutes, with Dallas Love Field being the closest and DFW the next closest. Fort Worth's airport is the farthest away.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance goes into effect as soon as you purchase it. Comprehensive insurance offers the best protection and peace of mind.

Sherman Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Texas - Safety by City