25 Safest Cities in the U.S.
Wayland, Massachusetts, a city of just under 14,000 about 20 miles west of Boston, has the lowest overall crime rate, 7.22 per 100,000. The city’s low rate is based on a single violent crime, an aggravated assault. New York’s Northport ranks No. 2 with a rate of 27.56. New York state is home to 10 of the 25 safest cities in America.
Among the cities with the 25 lowest rate, a combined 40 total crimes were reported in 2020; these communities combine to account for about 92,000 residents. Ten New York cities and towns are on the list, while Colorado and Wisconsin have two each. Fourteen states are represented on the top 25 list.
10 Safest Large Cities with Population 500,000+
As we’ve seen, smaller communities tend to have smaller crime rates, while for larger ones, the reverse is usually true. However, there are a handful of major U.S. cities, those that are home to at least a half-million people, where the combined crime rate in 2020 was lower than for the U.S. overall.
In the U.S. as a whole in 2020, crimes occurred at a rate of 2,356.7 per 100,000 people, while four major cities had lower rates — El Paso, San Diego, New York City, and Mesa all boasted lower combined crime rates in 2020.
Among major cities, El Paso has the lowest overall crime rate, and eight of the 10 big cities with the lowest crime rates also saw crime fall over the past decade. In El Paso, overall crime rates have dropped by 46 percent over the past decade, while San Jose and Los Angeles both saw rates rise slightly (just 4 percent for each).
10 Safest Mid-Sized Cities
Looking at cities with populations between 150,000 and 500,000 shows that Port St. Lucie, Florida has the lowest overall crime rate, followed by Cary, North Carolina, and Santa Clarita, California.
Again, most of the mid-sized cities with low crime rates have also seen crime decline, as was the case with major cities. Port St Lucie, for example, posted a 63 percent drop in its overall crime rate, tied for the biggest decline of any city in its population group (Laredo, Texas also had a 63 percent drop in overall crime rates).
All 10 of the mid-sized cities with the lowest crime rates in 2020 have seen those rates fall since 2011. In fact, only 17 of the 121 cities in the group have seen their overall crime rate rise over the past decade.
10 Safest Small Cities
In the 1,278 cities with population between 50,000 and 149,999, Franklin Massachusetts has the lowest overall crime rate, just 110.9 per 100,000 residents. Nine of the 10 cities with the lowest crime rates in this population bracket are in just four states — Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York. The other is in Indiana (Zionsville).
In keeping with the trend we’ve noted toward lower crime rates, nine of these 10 cities have seen their overall crime rates fall over the past decade (2011 data was unavailable for Marshfield, Massachusetts). Long Beach, New York had the biggest decline among these cities, with the overall crime rate falling by 81 percent.
Safest City in Every State
In most states, the city with the lowest crime rate has a lower overall crime rate than the nation as a whole, which had a combined crime rate of 2,356.7 per 100,000 people. The two exceptions to this are Washington, D.C., which given its population density is better compared to a city than other states, and Illinois, for which the FBI excluded important bits of data.
The agency’s reporting for 2020 for Illinois excluded data on arson and larceny-theft. Because larceny-theft, which includes things like shoplifting, is by far the most common crime in the U.S., we included only one city in Illinois for this reason. So, by default, Rockford is both the safest and most dangerous Illinois city in our findings.
Those issues aside, there is a great deal of variation in crime rates when looking at the safest cities in every state. Even in neighboring states, the differences can be dramatic. In California, for example, the city with the lowest crime rate is Rolling Hills, with a rate of 325.6 per 100,000 people; Oregon’s safest city is Vernonia, where the crime rate is nearly three times higher — 871.8 per 100,000.
100 Safest Cities in America
Rank |
City |
State |
Total Crime Rate 2020 |
1 |
Wayland |
Massachusetts |
7.22 |
2 |
Northport |
New York |
27.56 |
3 |
Milton |
Wisconsin |
31.57 |
4 |
Homer |
New York |
32.46 |
5 |
Coxsackie |
New York |
37.66 |
6 |
Durham |
New York |
37.76 |
7 |
New Hanover |
New Jersey |
38.17 |
8 |
Pine Plains |
New York |
41.68 |
9 |
Rangely |
Colorado |
44.37 |
10 |
Colstrip |
Montana |
44.46 |
11 |
Norfolk |
New York |
45.66 |
12 |
Ault |
Colorado |
52.27 |
13 |
Elk Point |
South Dakota |
53.76 |
14 |
Wilder |
Idaho |
53.82 |
15 |
Webb |
New York |
56.21 |
16 |
Cooperstown |
New York |
57.37 |
17 |
Fulton |
Wisconsin |
57.85 |
18 |
Lewisport |
Kentucky |
59.1 |
19 |
Yerington |
Nevada |
61.43 |
20 |
Colville |
Washington |
61.92 |
21 |
Chatham |
New York |
62.27 |
22 |
Cornwall |
New York |
62.91 |
23 |
Montgomery |
Minnesota |
65.34 |
24 |
Bangs |
Texas |
65.88 |
25 |
Brighton |
Tennessee |
68.7 |
26 |
Surrey |
North Dakota |
68.87 |
27 |
Matawan |
New Jersey |
69.66 |
28 |
Pelham |
Massachusetts |
76.22 |
29 |
Barnesville |
Minnesota |
76.75 |
30 |
Barneveld |
Wisconsin |
79.81 |
31 |
Zebulon |
Georgia |
81.04 |
32 |
Burlington |
North Dakota |
82.1 |
33 |
Skagway |
Alaska |
82.92 |
34 |
West Liberty |
Kentucky |
84.6 |
35 |
Oologah |
Oklahoma |
84.82 |
36 |
Boley |
Oklahoma |
85.25 |
37 |
Wray |
Colorado |
85.29 |
38 |
Brighton |
Vermont |
86.13 |
39 |
Chester |
New York |
86.47 |
40 |
Clarkton |
Missouri |
87.87 |
41 |
Haworth |
New Jersey |
88.47 |
42 |
Atwater |
Minnesota |
89.53 |
43 |
Occoquan |
Virginia |
90.58 |
44 |
Tioga |
Texas |
92.51 |
45 |
South Shore |
Kentucky |
95.24 |
46 |
Cumberland |
Wisconsin |
95.42 |
47 |
Caledonia |
New York |
96.02 |
48 |
Adrian Township |
Michigan |
96.2 |
49 |
Benson |
Minnesota |
99.27 |
50 |
Groveland |
Massachusetts |
102.1 |
51 |
Alstead |
New Hampshire |
103.2 |
52 |
Lake Linden |
Michigan |
106.16 |
53 |
Battle Lake |
Minnesota |
106.95 |
54 |
San Augustine |
Texas |
107.24 |
55 |
Clinton |
Massachusetts |
107.4 |
56 |
Shippensburg |
Pennsylvania |
107.72 |
57 |
Broadview Heights |
Ohio |
110.18 |
58 |
Brush |
Colorado |
110.84 |
59 |
Franklin |
Massachusetts |
110.85 |
60 |
Ishpeming Township |
Michigan |
113.86 |
61 |
Fall River |
Wisconsin |
114.68 |
62 |
Norfolk |
Massachusetts |
116.01 |
63 |
Perry Township |
Ohio (Columbiana County) |
117.4 |
64 |
Oakes |
North Dakota |
118.69 |
65 |
Wagener |
South Carolina |
118.91 |
66 |
Sparta Township |
New Jersey |
119.13 |
67 |
Northvale |
New Jersey |
121.09 |
68 |
Hamilton |
New York |
122.64 |
69 |
Barnesville |
Ohio |
125.72 |
70 |
Van Buren |
Missouri |
125.79 |
71 |
Canon |
Georgia |
126.58 |
72 |
Rye |
New York |
127.45 |
73 |
Rock Valley |
Iowa |
128.24 |
74 |
Plain City |
Ohio |
129.65 |
75 |
Montgomery |
New York |
129.95 |
76 |
Hanna |
Wyoming |
131.23 |
77 |
La Farge |
Wisconsin |
131.41 |
78 |
Oregon |
Missouri |
132.28 |
79 |
Jourdanton |
Texas |
134.32 |
80 |
Oak Hill |
West Virginia |
137.21 |
81 |
Oconomowoc |
Wisconsin |
137.25 |
82 |
Cleveland |
Wisconsin |
137.93 |
83 |
Kingston |
New Hampshire |
138.46 |
84 |
Holden |
Massachusetts |
139.09 |
85 |
Strafford |
New Hampshire |
141.44 |
86 |
Nisswa |
Minnesota |
142.05 |
87 |
Wartrace |
Tennessee |
142.86 |
88 |
Woodsboro |
Texas |
142.96 |
89 |
Cape Vincent |
New York |
145.14 |
90 |
Afton |
Wyoming |
145.99 |
91 |
Amity |
Arkansas |
146.84 |
92 |
Wild Rose |
Wisconsin |
147.06 |
93 |
Gaines Township |
Michigan |
147.47 |
94 |
Springfield |
New Hampshire |
148.81 |
95 |
Park Ridge |
New Jersey |
149.63 |
96 |
Collinsville |
Texas |
150 |
97 |
Winnebago |
Minnesota |
150.38 |
98 |
Abbeville |
Georgia |
150.72 |
99 |
Cleveland |
Missouri |
151.29 |
100 |
Danville |
New Hampshire |
152.81 |
7 Tips to Keep Your Home & Family Safe
For most people, it’s not realistic to simply pack up and move to one of these hyper-safe communities. And even in a community where the crime rate is lower than average, violent tragedies still take place, and property crimes still occur.
So, regardless of the crime rate in the city where you live, there are some common-sense ways you can make your home and property a less likely target for crime. Here are our tips for ensuring your home is as safe as possible no matter where you live:
- Install a Smart Security Camera: A solid security camera can be purchased for less than $200. Older surveillance cameras tend to send dozens of false notifications. Look for a smart camera, with artificial intelligence, that has facial recognition, and video analytics such as digital tripwires. We recommend a professional security camera system that can be recorded on premises, and monitored in real-time over the Internet on any device.
- Advertise That the Property is Under Surveillance: A security camera will serve as a deterrent, but only if the criminal knows it is there. Put up security signs saying that the property is being monitored as this increases the deterrent factor substantially.
- Use an Alarm System: In the event your home gets breached, it is critical to have an alarm system that will make criminals leave the scene while alerting the police to get them onsite as soon as possible. There are many great options such as SimpliSafe.
- Do Not Overshare on Social Media: Be mindful of social media posts that let people know when you’re not home. This will give a green light to anyone that may seek to break-in. Similarly, violent criminals may come when they know you are home alone.
- Have Neighbors Watch Your Back: Ask a trusted neighbor to look after your place and bring in your mail so burglars do not see it piling up. Be sure to return the favor to create a safer community for all.
- Be Vigilant: Always double check that all doors and windows are locked and that your alarm and security cameras are operational. This will give you peace of mind whether you are home or away.
- Consider Owning a Firearm: If a weapon will make you feel safer you can purchase one legally, learn how to use it and lock it away from children.
Conclusion
Safety is a relative concept. After all, as we’ve seen, even in the safest cities in America crime still does occur. However, given the recent rise in violent crimes and the likelihood that anger in America will continue into 2022 from the reasons outlined earlier, it is important citizens take a proactive, common sense approach to protecting their homes and families.
Methodology
The data for this report came from the FBI, which collects and publishes crime data for cities and towns across the U.S. on an annual basis. Data for the most recent year 2020 is available here, and data for 2011 here. The rankings in this study are based on the total crime rate in more than 7,000 cities. The total crime rate is the average of all violent crimes (murder, rape, assault, etc.) and all property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson). Cities with very small populations that reported zero crimes were omitted from the list.
Most Illinois cities did not have arson or larceny-theft data, and since larceny-theft is by far the most common single type of crime, we excluded all but one Illinois city — Rockford, which did report this data. There were a handful of other cities we excluded for this reason, but Illinois was the state most widely affected by data reporting limitations.