Whether you are on the verge of making a move or have been living in the same state for decades, some level of personal safety is something we all hope to feel in our daily lives. However, there is no getting around the fact that some parts of the United States are safer than others. And with the persistent threat from the coronavirus pandemic, there are even more pitfalls you need to avoid while trying to navigate a safe, healthy, and secure life for you and your family. With that in mind, Best Life set out to determine the most dangerous state in America.
To get to the bottom of what makes one state more dangerous than another, we examined four key metrics. First, we looked to the most recent data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the number of violent crimes per capita* and the number of property crimes per capita in each state. These two metrics cover the crime spectrum—everything from petty larceny to homicides.
Next, we turned our attention to the COVID crisis. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the number of COVID deaths as of Jan. 26, 2021 and the most recent population data from the U.S. Census Bureau, we calculated the number of deaths due to COVID per capita in each state.
Finally, we factored in the level of safety concern of citizens by gathering the portion of each state's population that took a self-defense class in the last year, which we found in SafeWise's 2020 State of Safety in the Nation research report.
We then gave each of the metrics a weighted value before running them through our exclusive algorithm to see how each state scored on our 100-point scale Danger Index, with a score of 100 indicating the highest level of danger.
Curious to know how your state stacks up? Read on to find out, and to discover if you live in the most dangerous state in America. And for the state that's least likely to walk the straight and narrow, This Is the Most Corrupt State in America.
*Per capita equates to per 100,000 people in all instances.
50 | Maine
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 112.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,357.80
COVID deaths per capita: 37.35
Residents who took a self-defense class: 7 percent
Danger Index Score: 0.00
49 | Vermont
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 172.00
Property crimes per capita: 1,283.10
COVID deaths per capita: 19.07
Residents who took a self-defense class: 8 percent
Danger Index Score: 1.20
48 | New Hampshire
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 173.20
Property crimes per capita: 1,248.50
COVID deaths per capita: 64.79
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 13.70
47 | West Virginia
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 289.90
Property crimes per capita: 1,485.60
COVID deaths per capita: 65.45
Residents who took a self-defense class: 5 percent
Danger Index Score: 15.78
46 | Wyoming
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 212.20
Property crimes per capita: 1,785.10
COVID deaths per capita: 76.02
Residents who took a self-defense class: 6 percent
Danger Index Score: 18.12
45 | Virginia
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 200.00
Property crimes per capita: 1,665.80
COVID deaths per capita: 70.17
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 22.57
44 | Kentucky
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 211.90
Property crimes per capita: 1,962.60
COVID deaths per capita: 84.88
Residents who took a self-defense class: 8 percent
Danger Index Score: 24.87
43 | Idaho
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 227.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,461.40
COVID deaths per capita: 80.19
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 25.68
42 | Wisconsin
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 295.40
Property crimes per capita: 1,559.90
COVID deaths per capita: 105.47
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 29.24
41 | Minnesota
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 220.40
Property crimes per capita: 1,993.80
COVID deaths per capita: 103.46
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 30.32
40 | New York
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 350.50
Property crimes per capita: 1,440.50
COVID deaths per capita: 86.14
Residents who took a self-defense class: 11 percent
Danger Index Score: 30.61
And for the place where people are all about themselves, This Is the Most Selfish State in America.
39 | Oregon
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 285.50
Property crimes per capita: 2,894.00
COVID deaths per capita: 34.45
Residents who took a self-defense class: 5 percent
Danger Index Score: 31.22
38 | Hawaii
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 248.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,870.30
COVID deaths per capita: 24.93
Residents who took a self-defense class: 10 percent
Danger Index Score: 33.50
37 | Nebraska
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 284.80
Property crimes per capita: 2,079.90
COVID deaths per capita: 111.97
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 37.32
36 | Ohio
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 279.90
Property crimes per capita: 2,177.10
COVID deaths per capita: 109.56
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 38.03
35 | Pennsylvania
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 306.00
Property crimes per capita: 1,489.90
COVID deaths per capita: 137.95
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 38.31
34 | Connecticut
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 207.40
Property crimes per capita: 1,681.00
COVID deaths per capita: 153.34
Residents who took a self-defense class: 13 percent
Danger Index Score: 38.44
33 | Iowa
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 250.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,691.50
COVID deaths per capita: 145.45
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 38.80
32 | Rhode Island
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 219.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,660.90
COVID deaths per capita: 158.02
Residents who took a self-defense class: 13 percent
Danger Index Score: 39.70
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31 | Utah
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 233.10
Property crimes per capita: 2,377.50
COVID deaths per capita: 47.85
Residents who took a self-defense class: 19 percent
Danger Index Score: 40.97
30 | North Carolina
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 377.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,494.10
COVID deaths per capita: 35.14
Residents who took a self-defense class: 13 percent
Danger Index Score: 42.24
29 | Florida
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 384.90
Property crimes per capita: 2,281.80
COVID deaths per capita: 99.51
Residents who took a self-defense class: 8 percent
Danger Index Score: 43.60
And while we're on the subject of safety, make sure to check out This State Has the Worst Drivers in America.
28 | Washington
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 311.50
Property crimes per capita: 2,946.20
COVID deaths per capita: 46.29
Residents who took a self-defense class: 11 percent
Danger Index Score: 43.71
27 | New Jersey
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 208.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,404.90
COVID deaths per capita: 203.53
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 44.06
26 | Massachusetts
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 338.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,63.30
COVID deaths per capita: 147.48
Residents who took a self-defense class: 17 percent
Danger Index Score: 45.35
25 | Michigan
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 449.40
Property crimes per capita: 1,653.50
COVID deaths per capita: 117.68
Residents who took a self-defense class: 11 percent
Danger Index Score: 45.62
24 | Montana
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 374.10
Property crimes per capita: 2,496.30
COVID deaths per capita: 110.87
Residents who took a self-defense class: 7 percent
Danger Index Score: 46.61
23 | North Dakota
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 280.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,040.20
COVID deaths per capita: 186.60
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 48.85
22 | Colorado
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 397.20
Property crimes per capita: 2,671.60
COVID deaths per capita: 84.76
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 49.09
21 | Delaware
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 423.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,324.40
COVID deaths per capita: 82.57
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 49.34
20 | California
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 447.40
Property crimes per capita: 2,380.40
COVID deaths per capita: 74.71
Residents who took a self-defense class: 13 percent
Danger Index Score: 51.79
And for the place with the shortest fuse, This Is the Angriest State in America.
19 | Maryland
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 468.70
Property crimes per capita: 2,033.30
COVID deaths per capita: 110.00
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 52.60
18 | Mississippi
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 234.40
Property crimes per capita: 2,403.00
COVID deaths per capita: 165.89
Residents who took a self-defense class: 13 percent
Danger Index Score: 53.03
17 | Georgia
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 326.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,573.70
COVID deaths per capita: 90.13
Residents who took a self-defense class: 16 percent
Danger Index Score: 53.15
16 | South Dakota
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 404.70
Property crimes per capita: 1,728.70
COVID deaths per capita: 180.07
Residents who took a self-defense class: 11 percent
Danger Index Score: 54.11
15 | Illinois
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 404.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,932.80
COVID deaths per capita: 124.65
Residents who took a self-defense class: 16 percent
Danger Index Score: 54.56
14 | Indiana
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 382.30
Property crimes per capita: 2,179.30
COVID deaths per capita: 131.98
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 55.31
13 | Texas
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 410.90
Property crimes per capita: 2,367.20
COVID deaths per capita: 103.76
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 55.32
12 | Nevada
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 541.10
Property crimes per capita: 2,438.20
COVID deaths per capita: 108.50
Residents who took a self-defense class: 11 percent
Danger Index Score: 61.86
11 | Missouri
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 502.10
Property crimes per capita: 2,647.10
COVID deaths per capita: 124.48
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 62.33
10 | South Carolina
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 488.30
Property crimes per capita: 3,017.60
COVID deaths per capita: 103.04
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 63.34
9 | Kansas
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 439.00
Property crimes per capita: 2,633.90
COVID deaths per capita: 118.18
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 63.55
8 | Oklahoma
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 466.10
Property crimes per capita: 2,875.00
COVID deaths per capita: 107.43
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 64.48
7 | Arizona
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 474.90
Property crimes per capita: 2,676.80
COVID deaths per capita: 126.52
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 67.97
6 | Tennessee
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 623.70
Property crimes per capita: 2,825.40
COVID deaths per capita: 111.95
Residents who took a self-defense class: 8 percent
Danger Index Score: 69.69
5 | Alabama
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 519.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,817.20
COVID deaths per capita: 130.59
Residents who took a self-defense class: 18 percent
Danger Index Score: 79.05
4 | Arkansas
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 543.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,913.00
COVID deaths per capita: 130.00
Residents who took a self-defense class: 16 percent
Danger Index Score: 79.31
3 | Louisiana
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 537.5
Property crimes per capita: 3,276.00
COVID deaths per capita: 143.99
Residents who took a self-defense class: 15 percent
Danger Index Score: 85.27
2 | Alaska
iStockViolent crimes per capita: 885.00
Property crimes per capita: 3,300.50
COVID deaths per capita: 27.75
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 85.56
1 | New Mexico
ShutterstockViolent crimes per capita: 856.60
Property crimes per capita: 3,419.70
COVID deaths per capita: 115.51
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 100.00
And for the place more green with envy than any other, This Is the Most Jealous State in America.
