Safest Cities in America

All Americans have an interest in living in safe communities, and the crime rate in a locale is an important determinant in everything from rent prices to individual decisions to live in and move to a community. Additionally, knowing which neighborhoods are safe is an important variable for small business owners when deciding where to start and expand a business. AdvisorSmith studied crime data from a federal database to determine the safest cities in the United States by city size.

Below are links to the safest small, midsize, and large cities:

• Safest Small Cities
• Safest Midsize Cities
• Safest Large Cities

The Cost of Crime

For consumers and businesses alike, crime and a lack of safety in a neighborhood can exact a significant toll on daily lives. For the consumer, this can equate to decreases in home values, increases in insurance costs, and more. For businesses, crimes such as shoplifting, robbery, vandalism, theft, and fraud, end up costing U.S. businesses billions of dollars each year. As crime rates increase, so do costs for insurance coverage, including commercial property, commercial crime, and cyber insurance. Studies have shown that the average annual cost of crime prevention for small businesses is over $12,000, while the annual average crime loss is over $14,000.

In this study, we used the most recently available data from the FBI, released in September 2021, which includes crimes committed during the calendar year 2020. Crimes considered in this report include violent crimes such as robbery, assault, rape, and murder, as well as property crimes including burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. We created a proprietary crime score, which weights different types of crimes based upon the severity of the crime, with violent crimes weighted more highly.

Cities were divided into categories based on their population. We excluded towns with populations under 10,000. Cities with populations of less than 100,000 were labeled as small cities, while cities with populations of 100,000 to 300,000 were considered midsize cities. Any cities with populations over 300,000 were labeled large cities. This study included 2,837 small cities, 219 midsize cities, and 59 large cities, for a total of 3,115 cities.

What are the safest U.S. cities?

Rye, New York, was the safest small city in the United States. Located in Westchester County, just north of New York City, Rye was incorporated in 1942, making it the youngest city in the state of New York. The city is known for its waterfront, which abuts the Long Island Sound near the New York-Connecticut border. Among the top 20 small cities, nine were in New Jersey, four in Ohio, three in New York, two in Massachusetts, and one in each of Connecticut and Michigan.

Carmel, Indiana, was the safest midsize city in the United States. Carmel is a suburb in the Indianapolis metropolitan area and is known as the roundabout capital of the United States due to its numerous roundabouts. The city has a median household income that exceeds six figures. Of the top 10 midsize cities, five were in California, two were in Texas, and Indiana, North Carolina, and New Jersey each had one city.

The safest large city in the United States in our study was Virginia Beach, Virginia. This mostly suburban coastal city has the world’s longest pleasure beach, which contributes to the city’s tourism economy. Three of the safest large cities in the top 10 were cities in California.

Safest Small Cities in America

Rank	City	State	Population	Violent crimes per 1k people	Property crimes per 1k people	Crime score
1	Rye	NY	15,692	0.3	1.5	1.8
2	Broadview Heights	OH	19,059	0.3	1.3	2.3
3	Berkeley Heights	NJ	13,371	0.1	2.8	2.9
4	Norfolk	MA	12,068	0.9	1.2	3.1
5	Sparta	NJ	18,467	1.2	1.0	3.2
6	River Vale	NJ	10,007	0.0	3.3	3.3
7	Sagamore Hills	OH	10,917	0.6	2.7	3.4
8	Bedford	NY	17,672	0.5	2.4	3.4
9	Clearcreek	OH	16,312	0.5	2.2	3.4
10	Hasbrouck Heights	NJ	11,988	0.8	2.9	3.7
11	Franklin	MA	34,281	1.8	0.9	3.7
12	Olmsted	OH	13,478	1.0	2.7	3.7
13	Sleepy Hollow	NY	10,064	1.0	2.9	3.8
14	Bernards	NJ	27,130	0.8	3.0	3.8
15	Robbinsville	NJ	14,628	0.2	3.1	4.0
16	Warren	NJ	15,689	0.1	3.6	4.1
17	Weston	CT	10,258	0.9	3.2	4.1
18	Grosse Ile	MI	10,114	1.5	2.0	4.1
19	Ringwood	NJ	12,177	1.3	2.1	4.2
20	Chatham	NJ	10,071	0.1	4.2	4.3
21	Woolwich	NJ	13,278	0.4	3.5	4.3
22	Medway	MA	13,534	1.1	0.8	4.3
23	Weston	MA	12,146	1.1	2.9	4.4
24	Monroe	NJ	45,653	0.9	2.5	4.4
25	Carmel	NY	34,093	0.4	3.3	4.4
26	Westford	MA	25,011	1.2	2.4	4.4
27	Hillsdale	NJ	10,308	0.3	4.1	4.4
28	Madison	CT	18,004	0.2	4.1	4.5
29	Hopkinton	MA	18,806	1.8	1.5	4.6
30	Hanover	MA	15,143	0.4	3.6	4.7
31	Clinton	MA	13,967	1.7	0.7	4.8
32	Holden	MA	19,412	1.8	1.1	4.8
33	Dyer	IN	15,932	1.3	3.2	4.8
34	Denville	NJ	16,400	0.9	3.4	4.9
35	Long Beach	NY	33,461	1.6	1.4	4.9
36	Stony Point	NY	15,338	1.0	2.9	5.0
37	Glen Rock	NJ	11,705	0.4	4.1	5.0
38	New Castle	NY	17,824	0.7	4.3	5.0
39	Glen Cove	NY	27,186	0.6	3.9	5.0
40	Westwood	NJ	11,079	0.0	5.1	5.1
41	Newtown	CT	27,924	0.6	3.3	5.1
42	Randolph	NJ	25,311	1.2	3.7	5.1
43	Ridgefield	CT	24,990	0.7	3.9	5.2
44	Frederick	CO	14,712	0.7	3.3	5.2
45	Kent	NY	13,123	2.1	2.8	5.3
46	Springboro	OH	17,727	1.9	1.5	5.4
47	Mahwah	NJ	26,201	0.6	3.8	5.5
48	Avon Lake	OH	24,724	2.3	2.3	5.5
49	Roxbury	NJ	22,439	1.3	3.8	5.6
50	Shrewsbury	MA	38,656	1.4	3.6	5.6
51	Vernon	NJ	21,819	1.3	4.1	5.6
52	Sharon	MA	19,011	1.5	1.8	5.6
53	Cranford	NJ	24,186	0.2	4.7	5.7
54	Dumont	NJ	17,507	0.6	3.0	5.9
55	Brecksville	OH	13,591	1.0	4.2	6.0
56	Jefferson	NJ	20,626	1.5	2.5	6.0
57	Plattekill	NY	10,168	2.6	3.4	6.0
58	Shawangunk	NY	13,782	1.5	2.8	6.0
59	Raritan	NJ	22,402	1.4	3.3	6.1
60	Fulshear	TX	14,094	0.7	4.3	6.1
61	Trophy Club	TX	12,539	2.1	4.1	6.2
62	Oakland	MI	19,882	1.8	1.3	6.2
63	New Providence	NJ	13,741	1.2	4.0	6.3
64	Rexburg	ID	29,865	1.4	3.4	6.4
65	St. John	IN	19,289	1.2	4.1	6.5
66	Lindenhurst	IL	14,174	0.4	2.9	6.6
67	Florham Park	NJ	11,455	0.3	5.8	6.6
68	Lexington	MA	33,138	1.4	3.4	6.6
69	Middleton	MA	10,189	1.9	2.8	6.7
70	Wanaque	NJ	11,828	2.5	2.1	6.7
71	Zionsville	IN	28,824	1.2	3.0	6.7
72	Canton	CT	10,249	0.5	5.8	6.7
73	Mamaroneck	NY	12,017	0.0	6.7	6.7
74	Palos Hills	IL	17,013	0.8	2.2	6.8
75	East Pennsboro	PA	21,556	1.7	2.0	6.9
76	Harrison	NY	29,110	1.5	4.3	6.9
77	Waldwick	NJ	10,156	0.4	5.5	6.9
78	North Ridgeville	OH	34,972	1.6	3.1	6.9
79	Bristol	RI	21,748	2.4	3.2	6.9
80	Tenafly	NJ	14,427	0.7	4.5	6.9
81	Hamburg	MI	21,867	3.0	1.5	7.0
82	Milton	MA	27,600	0.8	3.8	7.0
83	Imperial	CA	18,528	1.6	3.0	7.0
84	Montgomery	NJ	23,268	1.3	3.6	7.0
85	Bergenfield	NJ	27,347	1.6	3.1	7.0
86	Powell	OH	13,593	1.3	5.7	7.1
87	Homer Glen	IL	24,497	0.3	4.8	7.1
88	Scituate	RI	10,739	2.0	3.6	7.1
89	Kennebunk	ME	11,719	2.6	4.5	7.2
90	Plainsboro	NJ	22,847	1.3	3.9	7.2
91	Hampden	PA	31,034	1.7	3.1	7.2
92	Readington	NJ	15,813	1.6	4.9	7.3
93	Goshen	IN	34,409	2.0	3.0	7.4
94	Eastchester	NY	19,991	0.4	6.8	7.4
95	Hamilton	OH	24,081	2.9	2.7	7.5
96	Verona	NJ	13,368	0.1	6.7	7.5
97	West Milford	NJ	26,310	1.6	3.5	7.5
98	Wellesley	MA	28,687	1.2	3.8	7.6
99	Winchester	MA	22,827	0.7	4.3	7.6
100	Norton	MA	19,932	1.5	0.2	7.6

Safest Midsize Cities in America

Rank	City	State	Population	Violent crimes per 1k people	Property crimes per 1k people	Crime score
1	Carmel	IN	103,100	2.1	5.9	11.0
2	Sugar Land	TX	119,671	3.0	10.7	17.0
3	Cary	NC	172,079	3.9	9.6	17.2
4	Thousand Oaks	CA	126,823	4.0	10.4	18.1
5	Murrieta	CA	117,639	3.7	10.2	18.7
6	Lakewood	NJ	108,023	4.5	8.1	18.9
7	Allen	TX	108,218	4.2	9.2	19.2
8	Santa Clarita	CA	221,932	4.0	9.1	20.5
9	Irvine	CA	297,069	3.9	15.0	21.9
10	Simi Valley	CA	125,742	4.3	10.5	22.4
11	Woodbridge	NJ	100,119	4.0	12.3	23.3
12	Mckinney	TX	208,335	6.2	9.4	23.4
13	Gilbert	AZ	259,629	7.8	10.8	24.9
14	Meridian	ID	119,203	6.9	8.4	25.0
15	Glendale	CA	200,168	4.0	16.0	25.5
16	Amherst	NY	121,304	5.3	15.4	27.6
17	Sandy Springs	GA	111,219	6.1	13.8	28.0
18	Sterling Heights	MI	132,745	10.0	8.6	28.5
19	Centennial	CO	112,104	4.3	17.7	28.6
20	Orange	CA	138,846	4.3	17.3	28.6
21	Pearland	TX	119,634	8.0	15.0	29.4
22	Daly City	CA	106,855	5.8	13.7	29.6
23	Surprise	AZ	144,620	7.9	13.9	30.0
24	League City	TX	108,478	9.3	13.8	30.3
25	Elk Grove	CA	177,331	4.7	13.4	30.5
26	Temecula	CA	116,442	4.5	19.4	30.7
27	Frisco	TX	130,768	7.5	15.8	31.5
28	Plano	TX	284,611	5.8	16.8	32.0
29	Carlsbad	CA	116,516	6.1	15.8	32.4
30	Corona	CA	171,848	3.9	21.0	32.7
31	Sunnyvale	CA	154,133	3.8	20.6	32.8
32	Yonkers	NY	200,816	6.5	9.9	33.6
33	Round Rock	TX	135,776	9.7	16.8	34.2
34	Bend	OR	103,485	6.1	18.9	34.5
35	Ann Arbor	MI	120,647	7.5	13.2	34.6
36	Torrance	CA	143,421	4.1	20.5	35.5
37	Stamford	CT	130,425	11.1	12.6	35.5
38	Fort Collins	CO	173,274	6.3	18.7	36.1
39	West Covina	CA	104,989	4.4	21.1	36.2
40	Scottsdale	AZ	263,006	7.1	18.8	36.6
41	Fontana	CA	216,553	8.4	11.6	36.8
42	Roseville	CA	144,128	6.9	19.7	36.8
43	Mcallen	TX	144,569	12.2	19.3	37.1
44	Chula Vista	CA	278,027	7.9	11.7	37.1
45	Fremont	CA	244,259	5.0	23.4	37.2
46	Clovis	CA	116,809	6.1	20.0	37.7
47	Burbank	CA	102,419	4.9	24.2	38.0
48	Alexandria	VA	161,525	11.2	17.3	38.0
49	Vacaville	CA	101,616	7.5	17.3	38.6
50	Santa Clara	CA	131,976	4.9	25.0	38.9
51	El Monte	CA	115,690	7.1	15.3	39.2
52	College Station	TX	120,831	9.3	19.0	39.2
53	Olathe	KS	142,228	12.0	13.6	39.5
54	Peoria	AZ	178,486	9.9	15.0	39.7
55	Hillsboro	OR	111,146	6.9	19.3	39.8
56	Jurupa Valley	CA	111,198	5.8	21.1	40.1
57	Rancho Cucamonga	CA	178,916	5.7	18.2	40.4
58	Chandler	AZ	264,071	9.6	18.5	40.5
59	Beaverton	OR	100,085	5.4	22.0	40.6
60	Overland Park	KS	198,036	9.9	19.7	40.9
61	Downey	CA	111,054	7.1	19.4	40.9
62	Naperville	IL	100,087	1.0	34.5	41.2
63	Vista	CA	102,600	11.5	11.7	41.3
64	Huntington Beach	CA	200,128	8.0	19.6	41.4
65	Bellevue	WA	150,548	5.7	30.1	42.2
66	Rochester	MN	120,336	8.2	19.2	42.5
67	Cambridge	MA	119,938	9.2	18.3	42.6
68	San Mateo	CA	105,246	6.1	21.9	42.8
69	Pasadena	CA	141,473	6.4	21.4	44.0
70	Jersey City	NJ	263,273	6.7	15.0	45.0
71	Laredo	TX	265,515	12.9	14.4	45.1
72	Boise	ID	231,223	11.1	16.4	45.2
73	Garden Grove	CA	171,698	6.6	22.9	45.6
74	Kenosha	WI	100,005	10.0	14.4	45.7
75	Lowell	MA	110,876	14.8	14.7	46.0
76	Norwalk	CA	103,774	7.1	17.1	46.3
77	Lewisville	TX	109,576	11.7	17.8	47.1
78	Nampa	ID	101,411	11.1	16.4	47.2
79	Joliet	IL	136,687	5.3	14.0	47.6
80	Escondido	CA	152,446	10.9	17.7	48.7
81	Oxnard	CA	210,064	9.0	20.6	49.0
82	West Jordan	UT	117,955	10.9	25.3	50.1
83	Aurora	IL	130,539	5.0	17.5	50.2
84	Ontario	CA	187,464	8.6	21.3	50.2
85	Palmdale	CA	155,321	11.0	13.7	50.3
86	Clinton	MI	100,884	16.9	12.2	50.4
87	Fullerton	CA	139,011	9.7	24.0	50.6
88	Arvada	CO	119,700	6.2	32.5	51.4
89	Denton	TX	144,569	13.1	21.9	51.7
90	Moreno Valley	CA	215,257	8.7	23.8	52.7
91	Madison	WI	262,736	7.7	27.8	52.8
92	Norman	OK	126,480	11.1	25.8	52.8
93	Oceanside	CA	176,616	12.9	18.0	52.9
94	Santa Rosa	CA	176,932	9.8	16.0	54.2
95	Garland	TX	241,455	14.0	25.3	54.9
96	Hampton	VA	134,082	15.4	24.9	55.3
97	Ventura	CA	109,295	11.6	28.2	56.1
98	Edinburg	TX	103,491	14.8	22.3	56.1
99	Concord	CA	130,074	10.1	29.1	56.7
100	Warren	MI	133,928	14.0	14.5	56.7

Safest Large Cities in America

Rank	City	State	Population	Violent crimes per 1k people	Property crimes per 1k people	Crime score
1	Virginia Beach	VA	450,858	10.2	15.1	30.9
2	Henderson	NV	328,056	10.7	14.3	36.8
3	El Paso	TX	685,288	11.4	12.4	41.3
4	San Diego	CA	1,437,608	8.8	16.9	45.7
5	Honolulu	HI	966,438	9.6	26.4	50.0
6	Mesa	AZ	527,361	12.0	18.5	51.0
7	New York	NY	8,300,377	5.8	15.6	51.6
8	Santa Ana	CA	333,107	10.3	20.8	54.5
9	Anaheim	CA	351,913	10.7	25.2	55.2
10	Raleigh	NC	480,964	14.0	20.3	55.5
11	San Jose	CA	1,029,542	10.2	23.2	57.0
12	Lexington	KY	325,851	15.8	28.7	63.1
13	Riverside	CA	334,370	13.7	29.8	67.9
14	Long Beach	CA	462,654	14.8	27.5	70.0
15	Boston	MA	697,323	20.8	18.7	72.1
16	Fort Worth	TX	919,789	14.8	27.6	72.2
17	Las Vegas	NV	1,693,061	24.2	22.1	75.5
18	Los Angeles	CA	4,000,587	15.9	21.5	75.8
19	Arlington	TX	402,700	21.9	25.5	76.6
20	Sacramento	CA	519,050	14.8	27.5	77.7
21	Colorado Springs	CO	485,083	11.6	33.8	78.8
22	Bakersfield	CA	388,265	12.4	40.2	80.1
23	San Francisco	CA	881,514	9.9	43.9	82.2
24	Fresno	CA	535,472	16.6	30.8	82.2
25	Chicago	IL	2,693,598	9.9	22.1	84.5
26	Omaha	NB	480,297	20.1	31.7	86.7
27	Austin	TX	943,059	21.6	38.5	87.1
28	Portland	OR	660,216	13.5	47.6	89.2
29	Columbus	OH	891,855	24.9	32.0	89.7
30	Phoenix	AZ	1,708,960	22.4	29.9	95.2
31	St. Paul	MN	309,859	16.4	38.0	95.2
32	Tucson	AZ	550,448	21.2	36.2	96.1
33	Charlotte	NC	958,358	21.3	32.4	97.0
34	San Antonio	TX	1,573,157	21.9	36.3	98.3
35	Seattle	WA	771,517	16.4	48.7	98.3
36	Corpus Christi	TX	329,050	27.2	32.7	105.2
37	Louisville	KY	673,730	21.5	36.3	106.0
38	Indianapolis	IN	890,672	23.7	35.7	106.5
39	Dallas	TX	1,278,608	25.2	36.7	109.5
40	Denver	CO	737,709	16.5	46.5	110.1
41	Washington	DC	712,816	26.2	34.3	111.2
42	Cincinnati	OH	304,724	25.8	36.8	111.3
43	Oklahoma City	OK	532,581	20.1	48.5	118.5
44	Stockton	CA	314,981	21.8	29.8	118.6
45	Aurora	CO	334,644	24.3	39.1	120.5
46	Nashville	TN	688,013	30.7	40.7	132.1
47	Minneapolis	MN	435,116	24.7	45.6	132.1
48	Tulsa	OK	396,150	26.1	51.9	140.1
49	Milwaukee	WI	589,105	29.0	27.3	140.4
50	Houston	TX	2,297,580	33.0	42.7	142.5
51	Baltimore	MD	588,594	29.8	31.3	144.8
52	Albuquerque	NM	562,065	26.9	50.1	147.9
53	New Orleans	LA	393,779	27.2	45.4	148.1
54	Wichita	KS	390,746	37.4	45.6	149.4
55	Oakland	CA	437,923	30.3	51.7	150.7
56	Cleveland	OH	379,121	60.0	40.7	189.3
57	Detroit	MI	659,616	44.9	32.1	192.0
58	Memphis	TN	650,937	56.2	55.6	233.7
59	Kansas City	MO	318,398	49.7	64.6	245.7

Methodology

This study on the safest cities in the United States was conducted based upon data provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reporting Data Set from Return A. This data set contains crime reports from cities, counties, metropolitan statistical areas, and other jurisdictions around the country. Specifically, monthly crime data for violent crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, and property crimes such as burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft are provided for each jurisdiction in the data set.

Our study focused on the crime rate in cities around the country. We used a definition of “city” as legally incorporated municipalities. This definition differs somewhat from how many people think about cities such as contiguous metropolitan areas. However, since crime tends to be a local or hyper-local issue, providing data at a municipal level provides important granularity to understand the distribution of crime.

Cities were divided into one of three groups based on population, with small cities having populations between 10,000 to 99,999 residents, midsize cities from 100,000 to 300,000 residents, and large cities having more than 300,000 residents. Towns with populations below 10,000 were excluded from this study.

Data from the data set was provided on a monthly basis. In order to ensure the accuracy of results, we excluded cities where only six months or less of data was available. For cities that provided at least six months of data but less than 12 months of data, we scaled up the months reported to a proportional amount of crime for the entire year.

Our study tabulated the violent and property crimes per 1,000 residents per year for publication. We also created a proprietary crime score that was based upon applying a multiplier to more serious forms of crime such as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. These crimes were added to simple assault and property crimes to form a crime score for each city, with a lower score indicating that a city experiences less crime. We then ranked the cities based upon their crime scores to determine the safest cities in the United States.

Sources

1. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A, 2020