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The Safest City in Every State, New Data Shows

A new list ranks the safest cities based on violent crime and property crime rates.

Feeling safe in your own home should be something every American can enjoy. But, unfortunately, not every city provides this comfort. That's why, for nearly a decade, SafeWise has been releasing its annual report of the safest city in every U.S. state. This year's data breaks down all 50 cities by their population, median income, and violent crime (VC) and property crime (PC) rates for the past three years.

"The 'safest' cities rankings are intended to highlight cities with low crime rates and ignite conversation and action around how to make all cities and communities safer," explains report author Rebecca Edwards, security expert and safety/tech reporter at SafeWise. "For the purposes of city ranking reports, the terms 'dangerous' and 'safest' refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended."

The data showed that, overall, average crime rates in the U.S. did not fluctuate much, with the VC rate remaining at 4.0 incidents per 1,000 people and the PC rate dipping every so slightly to 19.3 incidents per 1,000 people.

If you're looking for a safe place to move or are just curious about what the landscape looks like in terms of safety, keep reading for the stats on the safest cities in the U.S. by state.

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Alabama: Warrior

birmingham, alabama, roads, city background, greenery
Von BJ Ray / Shutterstock

Population: 3,192

Median Income: $44,075

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.6, NA, NA

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 1.3, NA, NA

According to SafeWise, Alabama is one of the least-safe states in the U.S. The violent crime rate is 6.0 (the fourth highest in the country), while the property crime rate is 25.9 (the seventh highest).

However, there are still many safe cities in the state, the safest of which is Warrior, a suburb of Birmingham in the northern part of the state. In fact, of the 20 safest cities in Alabama, roughly half are suburbs of Birmingham.

Alaska: Unalaska

Neighborhood View in Dutch Harbor Unalaska Alaska
mark stephens photography / Shutterstock

Population: 4,484

Median Income: $94,271

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 3.3, 2.0, 1.6

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 6.2, 12.2, 8.6

For the first time in the nine years that SafeWise has been conducting its survey, Alaska's property crime rate fell below the national average, to 11.5. This is the fourth lowest in the U.S. But the violent crime rate of 5.5 is the fifth highest in the country.

For overall safety, the city of Unalaska (a newcomer to the list) ranks highly. It's an island that's at the southwestern tip of the Aleutian Islands. According to Travel Alaska, Unalaska is "home to the Port of Dutch Harbor, the top commercial fishing port in the country."

Arizona: San Luis

dirt road in San Luis, Arizona
Gonzalo1978 / iStock

Population: 37,140

Median Income: $43,630

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.8, 0.7, 1.0

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 6.5, 9.1, 12.3

Arizona had the U.S.'s biggest drop in violent crime, a decrease of 46 percent, and the second-largest decrease in property crime, falling 35 percent, year over year, reports SafeWise.

While most of the state's safest cities are suburbs of Phoenix and Tucson, the number-one safest city is San Luis, which is located on the Mexico border.

Arkansas: Piggott

The old business district along Main Street in Piggott, Arkansas
Roberto Galan / iStock

Population: 3,464

Median Income: $39,731

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.9, 0.6, 4.8

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 4.9, 9.4, 14.6

Arkansas' violent crime rate of 7.1 is the highest in the entire U.S. Its property crime rate of 26.5 is the fifth-highest. "Aggravated assault represents 81% of all violent crime in Arkansas, which is 9 percentage points higher than the national average," reports SafeWise.

But, of course, there are safe cities within the state, and Piggott led the pack, moving up four places from 2022. The small city in the northeast corner of the state is very close to the Tennessee and Missouri border.

California: Danville

Fiddleneck flowers bloom on the slopes of the hills in the Diablo range in Danville, California
(c) Salil Bhatt / iStock

Population: 44,800

Median Income: $160,808

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.5, 0.5, 0.4

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 5.3, 6.6, 7.2

California is the first of nine states for which SafeWise did not have sufficient 2023 FBI data, and is basing its results on the year prior.

Though the state's crime rates were on par with national averages, residents expressed feeling unsafe at a much higher percentage than the national average.

Danville, a wealthy city in the San Ramon Valley, however, is statistically very safe. It is about a 30-minute drive east of San Francisco and borders both Mount Diablo State Park and Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve.

Colorado: Severance

Fort Collins, drunkest cities, longest-living cities, best cities to buy a mansion
Shutterstock

Population: 8,343

Median Income: $111,055

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.4, 0.4

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 2.8, 2.8, 2.8

"Colorado leads the nation in property crime per capita, with motor vehicle thefts representing 20% of those crimes," reports SafeWise. "Colorado's violent crime rate also increased for the second year in a row and is the ninth-highest in the nation." But many cities still made the list.

One of these is Severance, a small town that's a suburb of Fort Collins, which is home to Colorado State University. Severance reported zero violent crimes for 2023 and fewer than 50 property crimes.

Connecticut: Ridgefield

Winter scene in Ridgefield, Connecticut
stockphoto52 / iStock

Population: 24,919

Median Income: $129,919

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.3, 0.1, 0.0

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.3, 0.1, 0.0

Connecticut has the third-lowest violent crime rate and the 11th-lowest property crime rate in the U.S., according to SafeWise.

The safest city, Ridgefield, and third-place city, Newton, also made it onto SafeWise's 2022 list of the 100 safest cities in the U.S. Ridgefield is on the southwestern edge of Connecticut, bordering New York. According to the city's website, it is a "beautiful, colonial town … in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains."

Delaware: Clayton

main street in Clayton Delaware
Dough4872 / Wikimedia Commons

Population: 3,707

Median Income: $91,346

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 1.9, 0.8, 2.0

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 5.7, 5.3, 10.2

Both violent and property crime rates in Delaware are just a hair above the national averages. Interestingly, all 10 of the safest cities in the state "saw an increase in violent crime year over year," according to SafeWise.

The number-one safest city, Clayton, has held the spot for three consecutive years. It reported zero robberies and zero motor vehicle thefts.

Florida: Niceville

Houses along a pond in Niceville, Florida
daniele russo / iStock

Population: 16,345

Median Income: $76,823

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.6, 0.7, 1.5

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 2.9, 12.8, 12.0

"Despite lower-than-average crime rates, just 4 in 10 Floridians tell us they feel safe in The Sunshine State, and 6 in 10 say they're worried about their safety on a daily basis," says SafeWise in their 2022 report (on which the state's data is based).

Last year, Niceville, a panhandle town on Choctawhatchee Bay, was the safest city. According to the city's website, they are regularly featured on such lists, including coming in number four on SafeWise's 2022 report of the 50 safest college towns (it's home to Northwest Florida State College).

Georgia: Holly Springs

cityscape photo of Atlanta, Georgia at dusk
Shutterstock

Population: 17,484

Median Income: $98,651

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, N/A, N/A

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 2.7, N/A, N/A

Georgia's crime rates are just below the national averages. Despite this, "About 73% of Georgia residents feel concerned about property crime—the highest percentage in the nation—and 71% feel concerned about violent crime—the second-highest percentage in the nation," reports SafeWise.

Holly Springs is one of seven cities in the state new to the top 20. The Atlanta suburb reported zero violent crimes.

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Hawaii: Honolulu

The skyline of Honolulu, Hawaii with Waikiki Beach
iStock

Population: 985,138

Median Income: $92,600

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 2.3, 2.5, 2.6

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 27.5, 24.1, 28.7

Honolulu was the only Hawaiian city to submit data to the FBI for 2023; therefore, SafeWise wasn't able to accurately rank them. But as of 2022, Hawaii's violent crime rate was lower than the national average, and the property crime rate was higher than average.

Idaho: Rexburg

Wheat fields are almost ready to harvest near the Rexburg Idaho Temple at sunset.
Bret-Barton / iStock

Population: 30,105

Median Income: $44,034

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.4, 0.3, 0.2

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 4.2, 3.4, 4.2

"Idaho boasts some of the lowest violent and property crime rates in the nation, but it still saw an increase in violent crime for the 2023 reporting year," according to SafeWise. "Most Idahoans feel safe in The Gem State and were the least likely Americans to have experienced violent crime or gun violence."

The city of Rexburg was ranked the safest in Idaho for the second year in a row. It's also on SafeWise's list of the 100 safest cities in America and the 50 safest college towns (it's home to Brigham Young University – Idaho). Rexburg is on the state's eastern edge near Wyoming and Montana and is very close to Yellowstone National Park and Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Illinois: Campton Hills

Conservation area, once farmland and now an open space reserve, with a profusion of prairie coneflowers and other common wildflowers in summer, northern Illinois
Ken Schulze / Shutterstock

Population: 11,092

Median Income: N/A

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.1, 0.1

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.6, 1.5

Based on last year's data, Campton Hills was the safest city in Illinois. The semi-rural city is about 50 miles west of Chicago.

It should be noted that as of 2022, Illinois residents had "the highest level of concern nationwide regarding violent crime, gun violence, and overall daily safety," reported SafeWise. Statewide violent crime rates were just a tick over the national average, while property crime rates were below average.

Indiana: St. John

Welcome to St. John Indiana sign
JoeyBLS (talk) / Wikimedia Commons

Population: 20,168

Median Income: $115,230

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.2, 0.2

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 2.0, 4.1, 6.7

"Indiana is 1 of just 17 states that experienced decreases in both violent crime and property crime this reporting year," says SafeWise, with both falling below the national average.

And the safest city, St. John, was one of only three of the top 10 cities to see a decrease in both crime rates. In fact, the city reported only one violent crime, a robbery.

St. John is 24 miles southeast of Chicago. The third-safest city, Dyer, is also a suburb of the Illinois city. Six of the other top-10 safest cities in Indiana are suburbs of Indianapolis.

Iowa: Sioux Center

sioux falls south dakota
Shutterstock

Population: 7,729

Median Income: $80,955

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 1.2, 0.4, 0.4

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 1.2, 2.2, 2.7

Iowa also saw both its violent and property crime rates decrease, and it's the fourth consecutive year that both rates are below the national average.

Sioux Center came in at number one for the third year in a row. Along with Spencer and Le Mars, numbers 12 and 20, respectively, Sioux Center is a suburb of Sioux City in the northwest corner of Iowa, close to the South Dakota and Minnesota borders.

Kansas: Valley Center

cityscape photo of Wichita, Kansas at dusk
Shutterstock

Population: 7,443

Median Income: $64,811

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.5, 1.1, 0.8

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 7.3, 6.5, 5.2

Kansas' crime rates are both slightly above the national averages.

Coming in as the state's safest city is Valley Center, a suburb of Wichita. It reported zero murders, rapes, and robberies. Four additional cities to make the list are outside Wichita, while 13 are suburbs of Kansas City.

Kentucky: Pioneer Village

skyline of louisville kentucky
Shutterstock

Population: 3,003

Median Income: $70,037

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.3, 0.0

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 3.0, 7.8, 7.1

Kentucky's crime rates are both below average. The safest city in Kentucky is Pioneer Village, with the Louisville suburb reporting zero violent crimes.

Louisiana: Baker

An aerial photo of downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana with the Mississippi River in view
iStock

Population: 12,931

Median Income: $55,371

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 6.1, 3.9

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 31.6, 24.6

Louisiana has the third-highest violent crime rate (6.6) and the fourth-highest property crime rate (26.7) in the U.S. Of residents surveyed, 69 percent said they worry about gun violence, the second-highest percentage in the nation. Moreover, 23 percent experienced gun violence in the 12 months prior to the survey, also the second-highest percentage in the nation—and a year-over-year increase of 188 percent.

However, 10 cities made the list, headed up by Baker. It was the only Baton Rouge suburb to make the top 10; four cities are outside New Orleans, while the rest are spread across the southwest portion of the state.

Maine: Eliot

aerial view of Eliot Maine in the fall
Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock

Population: 7,212

Median Income: $84,768

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.1, 0.3, 1.0

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 3.1, 3.7, 3.4

Maine has the lowest violent crime rate in the nation—1.1. Its property crime rate of 11.7 is the fifth-lowest in the U.S. "Each safest city reported fewer than 0.4 violent crimes per 1,000 people," said the report.

At the southern tip of the state, the safest city Eliot sits just across the Piscataqua River from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It climbed its way to the top from fifth place last year. It took the top spot from Kennebunk, which did not make the top 10 this year.

Maryland: Ocean Pines

Aerial view of Ocean City, Maryland.
Eliyahu Parypa / iStock

Population: 11,710

Median Income: $71,990

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.2, 0.7, 1.1

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.2, 0.7, 1.1

Maryland is another state that did not present enough data to the FBI to be properly analyzed for 2023. The same was true last year, so the state's statistics are based on 2020 data.

At the time, Ocean Pines was ranked the safest city. It's a beach town just across the bay from Ocean City.

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Massachusetts: Wayland

aerial view of Wayland Massachusetts
Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock

Population: 13,911

Median Income: $203,789

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.1, 0.0

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.0, 0.1

At 10.4, Massachusetts has the lowest property crime rate in the U.S. Its violent crime rate of 3.0 is also well below the national average. According to SafeWise, the state "consistently sees lower violent crime and property crime rates compared to the rest of the country."

All of Massachusetts' safest cities reported less than five property crimes per 1,000 people and less than one violent crime. The number-one safest city, Wayland, reported zero violent crimes and zero property crimes.

Wayland is located halfway between Boston and Worcester. Its school district is ranked 13 out of the state's 395 school districts, according to Public School Review.

Michigan: Addison Township

The skyline of Detroit, Michigan at dusk
iStock

Population: 6,603

Median Income: $95,211

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.3, 0.9

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.8, 2.4, 2.3

Michigan has the eighth-lowest property crime rate in the U.S., decreasing 71 percent year over year. However, its violent crime rate of 5.0 is the eighth highest in the country. Aggravated assault is the state's most common type of violent crime.

But the safest cities all reported fewer than two violent crimes per 1,000 people and less than eight property crimes. Coming in at number one is Addison Township, a Detroit suburb. The city reported zero violent crimes and only one burglary.

Minnesota: Montevideo

Historic brick bank building in Montevideo, Minnesota
Jonathunder / Wikimedia Commons

Population: 4,995

Median Income: $53,410

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.4, 0.8, 1.8

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 3.2, 4.7

In Minnesota, violent crime is right below the national average, while property crime is just above. However, among the 20 safest cities, there were zero murders and not more than one violent crime per 1,000 residents.

Montevideo, a rural riverfront town that was named the safest city, "made the most dramatic improvement the year before, rising 28 spots to number 7. This year it rose even higher to place at number 1," according to SafeWise. It had zero murders, rapes, robberies, burglaries, larceny thefts, and motor vehicle thefts.

Mississippi: Madison

The skyline of Jackson, Mississippi with a view of the state capitol building
iStock

Population: 25,860

Median Income: $119,662

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.2, N/A, 0.4

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 4.6, N/A, 10.4

Mississippi has made great strides in recent years, according to SafeWise. Its violent crime rate is now 39 percent lower than the national average, and its property crime rate is seven percent lower. However, it should be noted that the state had 14 mass shootings, an increase of 7.7 percent, which puts it in "second place for the most mass shootings per capita in the nation."

However, 10 cities made the cut to be on the list. Coming in on top is Madison, a newcomer. According to the city's website, the Jackson suburb is the most educated city in the state. It is home to two universities and three colleges.

Missouri: Cottleville

The skyline of Louisville, Kentucky
Shutterstock

Population: 6,333

Median Income: $131,618

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.3, 0.0, 0.9

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 2.2, 4.8, 6.2

Crime rates in Missouri both decreased slightly from last year, but the state still has the ninth-highest property crime rate in the U.S. and the sixth-highest violent crime rate.

These rates are much lower, though, when it comes to the top 20 safest cities. Their average violent crime rate is 0.9, while their property crime rate is 8.6

The safest city is Cottleville. Along with nine others on the list, it's a suburb of St. Louis. Eight are suburbs of Kansas City. Cottleville reported zero murders, rapes, and aggravated assaults, and only two violent crimes per 1,000 residents.

Montana: Whitefish

dark yellow mountains and trees next to St. Mary Lake at Glacier National Park in Montana at sunrise
Shutterstock

Population: 8,972

Median Income: $64,595

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 1.7, 1.9, N/A

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 11.1, 10.0, N/A

Montana is ranked 10th highest for violent crime and 15th highest for property crime in the nation. Only five cities made SafeWise's list; they all have crime rates below the national average.

The number-one safest city, Whitefish, is located in the Northern Rocky Mountains, adjacent to Glacier National Park. Therefore, it's a popular spot for travelers and nature enthusiasts. Coming in second on the list is Columbia Falls, another gateway city to Glacier National Park.

Nebraska: Schuyler

Farmland in Schuyler Nebraska
Weldon Schloneger/Shutterstock

Population: 6,219

Median Income: $70,592

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.5, 0.3, 0.5

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 2.6, 3.3, 3.9

"Nebraska's violent crime rate was dramatically lower than last year, decreasing from 3.3 per 1,000 people to 2.5," reports SafeWise. "The property crime rate had an equally impressive decrease year-over-year from 19.1 per 1,000 to 15.5."

Despite these gains, only five cities made the list. Schuyler was new to the list; it reported zero murders, motor vehicle thefts, and robberies. The city is about 70 miles west of Omaha.

Nevada: Boulder City

Hoover Dam
superjoseph/Shutterstock

Population: 16,556

Median Income: $69,746

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 1.6, 1.4, 1.2

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 9.2, 8.5, 7.1

Violent crime in Nebraska has been declining for the past four years. However, it's still 4.3 percent, slightly above the national average. The property crime rate of 23.0 is also above average.

Due to data availability, this was the first year SafeWise was able to rank the safest cities in the state. Five locations made the list, all but one of which are suburbs of Las Vegas. Boulder City, the number-one safest city, is where the Hoover Dam is located.

New Hampshire: Atkinson

main street in atkinson, new hampshire
John Phelan / Wikimedia Commons

Population: 7,296

Median Income: $123,257

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.0, 0.0

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 1.4, 2.5, 4.1

New Hampshire is one of the safest states in the U.S. It has the second-lowest violent crime rate and the third-lowest property crime rate. According to SafeWise, "70% of people in New Hampshire reported feeling safe in their state compared to 50% of Americans. That's high, but it's a 17% drop from the year before."

All but two of New Hampshire's 20 safest cities are located around the southeast corner of the state, near the Massachusetts border and Boston, as well as the state's very small coast. Atkinson, for example, is just 45 minutes north of Boston.

New Jersey: Sparta Township

Lake Mohawk, Sparta, New Jersey, in early August
Skins77 / Shutterstock

Population: 18,467

Median Income: $138,061

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.2, 0.2, 0.3

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 1.0, 1.7, 2.9

SafeWise did not have enough data to rank the safest cities in New Jersey for 2023, but in 2022, Sparta Township took the top spot. This suburban community is located in the northern part of the state, not far from the Delaware Water Gap and the New York state line.

In terms of the state as a whole, in 2022, New Jersey had the fifth-lowest violent crime rate in the U.S. (as it did in 2021) and the fourth-lowest property crime rate.

RELATED: The 5 Least Stressed States in the U.S., According to New Data.

New Mexico: Sunland Park

aerial view of Sunland Park, New Mexico and Mexico
goofyfoottaka / Shutterstock

Population: 18,437

Median Income: $27,266

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 5.2, 3.6, N/A

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 6.2, 10.4, N/A

New Mexicos's data is also based on 2022 numbers. At the time, the state had the second-highest violent crime rate in the U.S. and an above-average property crime rate of 28.4, the latter of which was a 105 percent increase year-over-year.

Data for the safest cities was only available as of 2021, at which time Sunland Park was the safest. This city borders El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

New York: Lewisboro Town

Tulips surround a small water fountain at the Ladson Garden and Arboretum. The Ladson family sold their estate to Westchester County, New York for use as a public garden
James Kirkikis / Shutterstock

Population: 12,533

Median Income: $158,299

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.0, 0.0

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.0, 0.0

Crime rates for New York are based on 2022 data, as well. Last year, Lewisboro Town was the safest city. It is located in Westchester County, a popular location for commuting to New York City. Despite its proximity to Manhattan, Lewisboro has 4,000 acres of protected land and a rural feel, according to The New York Times.

The state overall had below-average violent and property crime rates.

North Carolina: Rolesville

city skyline of Raleigh, North Carolina at dusk
Shutterstock

Population: 9,679

Median Income: $127,575

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.4, 0.5, N/A

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 5.2, 4.0, N/A

Violent and property crime rates in North Carolina are both slightly above the national averages. However, "every safest city falls below state, region, and US property crime rates," reports SafeWise.

The majority of the safest cities are in the "Research Triangle,"—the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area—with another large cluster around Charlotte. Rolesville is in the former group; it was also the safest city in 2022.

North Dakota: Oakes

historic building in Oakes, North Dakota
Andrew Filer / Wikimedia Commons

Population: 1,639

Median Income: $65,441

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.6, 1.8

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.6, 0.6, 4.7

North Dakota comes in below the national average for violent crimes but above average for property crimes. "The safest cities have 75% less violent crime and 73% less property crime than the whole of North Dakota," adds SafeWise.

The safest city, Oakes, reported zero rapes, murders, robberies, and aggravated assaults.

Ohio: Olmsted Township

Skyline view of downtown Cleveland Ohio USA looking over the Marina by Lake Erie
Shutterstock

Population: 13,644

Median Income: $81,153

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.0, 0.1

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 1.0, 2.7, 2.2

Crime rates in Ohio are below the national average. Even better, "Violent crime was 92% lower and property crime was 78% lower in the safest cities than the state average," notes SafeWise.

The safest city of Olmsted is part of the Greater Cleveland area, along with 11 other cities to make the list. Another six are suburbs of Cincinnati.

Oklahoma: Elgin

Fort Sill Army Base Entrance
YuniqueB / Shutterstock

Population: 3,359

Median Income: $69,451

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.0, 0.0

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.3, 2.1, 2.1

Though Oklahoma's crime rates are above average, they did drop every so slightly from the year prior.

"Elgin is Oklahoma's safest city for the fifth year in a row; it's the only city in the top 20 still holding its rank from last year," SafeWise explains. Elgin is home to a lot of military families, as U.S. Army base Fort Sill is nearby.

Oregon: West Linn

The Oregon City Bridge, also known as the Arch Bridge, is a steel through arch bridge spanning the Willamette River between Oregon City and West Linn
Victoria Ditkovsky / Shutterstock

Population: 26,908

Median Income: $124,098

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.7, 0.4, 0.7

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 12.6, 11.7, 8.6

"Violent crime in Oregon increased this year from 2.9 incidents per 1,000 people to 3.6," reports SafeWise. "Property crime rose for the first time since 2012 from 26.6 per 1,000 last year to 28.2." The latter is the third-highest in the U.S.

In the safest cities, these averages are much lower. The violent crime rate is 2 incidents per 1,000 people, while the property crime rate is 17 incidents per 1,000 residents, 45 and 40 percent lower than the state as a whole, respectively.

The safest city is West Linn, a southern suburb of Portland. In fact, all but three of the 20 safest cities are outside Portland. West Linn "is nestled between the Willamette and Tualatin rivers, and many areas overlook the beautiful Mount Hood," according to Matin Real Estate.

Pennsylvania

Looking across the river to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
DenisTangneyJr / iStock

Population: 12,783,254

Median Income: $67,587

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: N/A, 3.9, 3.1

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: N/A, 16.4, 14.0

Pennsylvania did not provide enough data to the FBI for the past two years, so SafeWise was unable to rank its cities and could only look at the state as a whole.

"Violent crime in The Keystone State jumped from 3.1 incidents per 1,000 people to 3.9 this year, barely beating the US rate of 4.0," they report. "Property crime bucked the nationwide downward trend, rising from 14.0 crimes per 1,000 to 16.4 this year—but that still keeps Pennsylvania under the national rate of 19.6."

Rhode Island: Bristol

Bristol is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, as well as the historic county seat
DenisTangneyJr / iStock

Population: 22,550

Median Income: $80,727

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.5, 0.2, 0.7

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 2.6, 3.2, 4.7

The country's smallest state has some of its lowest crime rates, a general trend for all of New England. Rhode Island ranks fifth-lowest for violent crime and sixth-lowest for property crime.

Its 18 safest cities have even more impressive stats—their violent crime rate is 80 percent lower than the national average, and their property crime rate is 61 percent lower.

Of these, "Bristol and South Kingstown held on to the top 2 spots for the fourth consecutive year," reports SafeWise. Both are waterfront communities not far from Newport. For the second year in a row, Bristol was the only city in the state to report fewer than 100 property crimes.

South Carolina: Fort Mill

Main Street in historic downtown Fort Mill, South Carolina at night.
SSE Photography / Shutterstock

Population: 26,923

Median Income: $120,665

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.7, 1.3, 1.0

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 6.2, 9.6, 11.0

"Across the 41 states that met reporting requirements this year, South Carolina has the seventh-highest rates of violent and property crime," reports SafeWise. Violent crime increased 71 percent year over year to 5.2 incidents per 1,000 people. In the safest cities, though, that number is 2.6.

The safest city, Fort Mill, is actually a suburb of Charlotte, North Carolina, as is the number-four spot Tega Cay.

RELATED: The 10 Most Naturally Beautiful States in the U.S., New Data Shows.

South Dakota: Brandon

cityscape photo of down Sioux Falls, South Dakota at night
iStock

Population: 10,297

Median Income: $96,367

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.7, 0.5, 0.7

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 4.6, 3.0, 2.6

South Dakota's crime rates are just barely below the national averages. Despite this, residents had the lowest concern about crime of all U.S. states.

Only five cities made the list, with Brandon, a Sioux Falls suburb, taking the top spot for the fourth year in a row.

Tennessee: Nolensville

Shutterstock

Population: 11,866

Median Income: $152,500

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.8, 0.8, 1.7

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 3.0, 4.8, 9.9

Tennessee has the second-highest violent crime rate (behind Arkansas) in the U.S. and the eleventh-highest property crime rate. In the state's safest cities, however, the violent crime rate is 1.5 incidents per 1,000 people, 77 percent lower than the state rate of 6.7, and the property crime rate is 8.5, 63 percent below the state rate of 22.8.

"After moving up 12 spots last year, Nolensville moved up 4 spots this year to land at number 1," reports SafeWise. "It has the lowest property crime rate in Tennessee at just 3 incidents per 1,000 residents."

Nolensville is just 22 miles from Nashville. Eleven of the other top 20 safest cities are also Nashville suburbs.

Texas: Trophy Club

park in dallas texas
Timothy Guarderas / Shutterstock

Population: 13,205

Median Income: $170,679

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.1, 0.0, 0.1

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 4.6, 4.0, 4.9

Is it any surprise that the city named Trophy Club is Texas' safest city? Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, it was one of the state's first planned communities.

Of the 50 cities to make the list in Texas, 28 are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, nine are clustered between San Antonio and Austin, and seven are outside Houston. All of these cities reported fewer than two violent crimes per 1,000 people and fewer than 13 property crimes.

Statewide, however, violent and property crime rates are above average at 4.9 and 21.6, respectively.

Utah: Lone Peak

things to do in salt lake city
Shutterstock / SkyBlodgett

Population: 30,210

Median Income: $156,136

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.4, 0.2, N/A

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 5.8, 9.1, N/A

Utah's violent crime rate of 2.6 is well below the national average, while its property crime rate of 21.3 is slightly above.

For the second year in a row, Lone Peak was ranked as the state's safest city. Along with six other top-10 cities, Lone Peak is a southern suburb of Salt Lake City; the other three cities are north of Salt Lake.

Vermont: Hinesburg

Ice fishers setup traps and drill holes in the ice on Lake Iroquois in Hinesburg, Vermont
Bob LoCicero / Shutterstock

Population: 4,535

Median Income: $54,844

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.0, 0.2, 1.1

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 2.6, 3.7, 5.0

Though Vermont's crime rates ticked up slightly this year, it still has the fourth-lowest violent crime rate in the U.S. and the seventh-lowest property crime rate. SafeWise says its 10 safest cities "continue to have some of the lowest crime rates in the country."

Among them, Hinesburg kept the title of safest city for the second year. It is "approximately 15 miles southeast of Burlington and 10 miles east of Lake Champlain," according to Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman. It's along the Green Mountains and surrounded by rural farmland.

Virginia: Bridgewater

downtown Bridgewater, Virginia covered in snow
Idawriter / Wikimedia Commons

Population: 6,218

Median Income: $66,847

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.2, 0.2, 0.0

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 2.6, 3.2, 3.7

Virginia has the sixth-lowest violent crime rate in the nation and the 10th-lowest property crime rate. "And Virginia's safest cities have even lower crime rates than the rest of the state—violent crime is nearly cut in half in these 20 low-crime cities," reports SafeWise.

The number-one safest city is Bridgewater for the second year in a row. It's in the northwestern part of the state, close to West Virginia. Unsurprisingly, the majority of the top 20 cities are Washington, D.C. suburbs.

Washington: Sammamish

Lake Sammamish view from Issaquah Highlands, WA
4nadia / iStock

Population: 66,855

Median Income: $195,648

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.3, 0.3, 0.3

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 8.4, 6.6, 6.0

Though Washington's violent crime rate is below the national average, its property crime rate of 31.3 is 62 percent higher, the second-highest in the U.S. In terms of residents, they worry more about package theft than any other state.

But for the third year in a row, Sammamish is Washington's safest city. Along with the 17th-safest city of Kirkland (population 97,027), Sammamish (population 66,855) is one of just two cities on the list with more than 36,000 residents.

Like 11 of the other top 20 cities, Sammamish is a suburb of Seattle. It sits on Lake Sammamish.

West Virginia: Oak Hill

New River Gorge National Park
ESB Professional / Shutterstock

Population: 66,855

Median Income: $45,460

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.5, 0.5, 0.6

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 1.8, 0.9, 1.7

"West Virginians have crime rates just below national rates, and its safest cities have remarkably low numbers of reported crimes," says SafeWise.

To that end, Oak Hill is the state's safest city for the second year in a row. It sits above New River Gorge National Park and is one of just five cities to make the list.

Wisconsin: Mukwonago Town

The skyline of Milwaukee, Wisconsin from the water.
iStock

Population: 8,184

Median Income: $134,456

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.2, 0.5, 0.6

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 0.7, 1.3, 0.6

Wisconsin's crime rates are below the national average. According to SafeWise, "16 of the safest cities—and 34 cities statewide—boast violent crime rates of 1 incident per 1,000 people or less."

The safest city is Mukwonago Town, which jumped up four spots and reported just two violent crimes and six property crimes this year. Along with 17 of the other top-20 cities, it's a suburb of Milwaukee.

Wyoming: Douglas

Aerial View of Douglas, Wyoming in Winter
Jacob Boomsma / Shutterstock

Population: 6,404

Median Income: $71,155

VC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 1.4, 1.3, 1.3

PC Rate 2023, 2022, 2021: 9.4, 10.2, 13.8

Only five cities in Wyoming made the ranking, with Douglas taking the top spot after being number two last year.

Crime rates statewide were a bit up from last year but still below the national average. Wyoming's violent crime rate of 2.4 is the seventh-lowest in the nation.

Dana Schulz
Dana Schulz is the Deputy Lifestyle Editor at Best Life. She was previously the managing editor of 6sqft, where she oversaw all content related to real estate, apartment living, and the best local things to do. Read more
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