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The Safest Cities in America (2024)
Wallet Hub ^ | 10/07/2024 | Adam McCann

Posted on 10/07/2024 8:31:34 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

Threats to safety in the U.S. come in many forms, from public health crises and natural disasters to mass shootings and traffic accidents. Aside from the types of hazards that can cause physical harm, taking out an unaffordable second mortgage, forgoing health insurance or even falling victim to identity theft are also ways people run into danger. One big worry for many people right now is the cost of inflation, which threatens Americans’ financial safety.

No one can avoid all danger, however, and we take on a certain level of risk based on where we choose to live. Some cities are simply better at protecting their residents from harm. To determine where Americans can feel most secure, WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 41 key indicators of safety. Our data set ranges from traffic fatalities and assaults per capita to the unemployment rate and the percentage of the population that is uninsured.

Top 5 Safest Cities in the U.S.

  1. South Burlington, VT
  2. Casper, WY
  3. Warwick, RI
  4. Burlington, VT
  5. Boise, ID
chip lupo
“When people think about safety in a city, their minds probably immediately go to things like the crime rate, auto fatality rate or risk of natural disasters. The safest cities in America protect residents from these threats of bodily harm and property damage, but on top of that, they also help secure people’s financial safety. Financial safety includes things like minimizing the risk of fraud and identity theft, keeping the population employed and insured, and combating homelessness.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Table of Contents
Main FindingsIn-Depth Look at the Safest CitiesAsk the ExpertsMethodology

Main Findings

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Safest Cities in the U.S.

Overall Rank*CityTotal ScoreHome & Community Safety RankNatural-Disaster Risk RankFinancial Safety Rank
1South Burlington, VT74.15961
2Casper, WY71.513753
3Warwick, RI70.3312952
4Burlington, VT69.553867
5Boise, ID69.17264619
6Yonkers, NY68.75329139
7Cedar Rapids, IA68.36104378
8Columbia, MD68.0811165
9Portland, ME67.7744232
10Virginia Beach, VA67.58155364
11Irvine, CA67.414127121
12Fargo, ND67.15337430
13Chesapeake, VA67.06194279
14Missoula, MT67.0455859
15Nashua, NH67.03161118
16Juneau, AK67.011011111
17Vancouver, WA66.8878258
18Honolulu, HI66.86355710
19Madison, WI66.82298814
20Huntsville, AL66.78276350
21Laredo, TX66.72322584
22Sioux Falls, SD66.71368623
23Chula Vista, CA66.342039104
24Fremont, CA66.241713737
25Glendale, CA66.155150137
26Salem, OR66.13721320
27Santa Rosa, CA65.94502048
28Nampa, ID65.92491660
29Santa Clarita, CA65.822150159
30Brownsville, TX65.54219571
31Gilbert, AZ65.33715527
32Port St. Lucie, FL65.202556132
33Boston, MA65.19573113
34St. Paul, MN65.03514447
35Garden Grove, CA64.8214127120
36Huntington Beach, CA64.7922127102
37Oceanside, CA64.78343995
38Bismarck, ND64.69596512
39Scottsdale, AZ64.271815521
40Pearl City, HI64.086574
41Aurora, IL64.052462151
42Fort Wayne, IN64.044232114
43San Diego, CA64.01433981
44Modesto, CA63.69772156
45Worcester, MA63.46528022
46Chandler, AZ63.273115524
47Lincoln, NE63.255611526
48Rancho Cucamonga, CA63.123016692
49Oxnard, CA63.054759122
50Lexington-Fayette, KY62.72547340
51Moreno Valley, CA62.722868167
52West Valley City, UT62.68588255
53Hialeah, FL62.6311116174
54Spokane, WA62.59852435
55Cheyenne, WY62.46701146
56Amarillo, TX62.145315433
57Jersey City, NJ62.026817147
58Overland Park, KS61.946511828
59Cape Coral, FL61.8823132166
60Manchester, NH61.77671119
61Bridgeport, CT61.726228156
62Grand Prairie, TX61.678179118
63Anchorage, AK61.63128318
64Providence, RI61.26694786
65Des Moines, IA61.117350105
66Omaha, NE60.97839638
67Charlotte, NC60.804813574
67North Las Vegas, NV60.8040103180
69Peoria, AZ60.664614336
70Ontario, CA60.3241166142
71Billings, MT60.311063734
72Winston-Salem, NC60.17749766
73Pembroke Pines, FL60.0113174169
74Durham, NC59.986314829
75Santa Ana, CA59.9261127138
76Columbus, GA59.788248112
77Las Cruces, NM59.76816097
78Lubbock, TX59.727512039
79Irving, TX59.553917896
80Fontana, CA59.5145166149
81Rapid City, SD59.35979816
82Raleigh, NC59.076616531
83Anaheim, CA59.0576127128
84Reno, NV58.921142691
85Mesa, AZ58.917115543
86Fort Smith, AR58.729210615
87Newport News, VA58.68993099
88Grand Rapids, MI58.66966476
89Minneapolis, MN57.9010213342
90Lewiston, ME57.88144411
91Plano, TX57.856417153
92Tempe, AZ57.798015532
93Huntington, WV57.791321470
94New Haven, CT57.781123685
95Rochester, NY57.711006793
96Henderson, NV57.5486103162
97Newark, NJ57.058835179
98Norfolk, VA56.981037987
99Riverside, CA56.809868124
100Arlington, TX56.7260181119
101St. Petersburg, FL56.5511545109
102San Jose, CA56.461179975
103Sacramento, CA56.351255498
104Wichita, KS56.211169144
105Long Beach, CA56.1791150155
106Augusta, GA55.99798988
107Stockton, CA55.7912352135
108Springfield, MO55.611295168
109Tulsa, OK55.55107119102
110Corpus Christi, TX55.541401841
111Fresno, CA55.4293176145
112Greensboro, NC55.3111012390
113San Francisco, CA55.241491069
114Columbia, SC55.2295126154
115Aurora, CO55.2212093134
116Tampa, FL55.1387147153
117Montgomery, AL55.1111834165
118Portland, OR55.071501917
119Charleston, SC54.8311314562
120Glendale, AZ54.7710515573
121Fort Worth, TX54.6484177152
122El Paso, TX54.6212278110
123New York, NY54.6012766115
124Miami, FL54.6089116178
125Mobile, AL54.3990170146
126Seattle, WA54.321462263
127Knoxville, TN54.321249094
128Indianapolis, IN54.3113433131
129San Antonio, TX54.23108162100
130Tallahassee, FL53.97111139123
131Dover, DE53.9412176141
132Garland, TX53.7994173126
133Gulfport, MS53.78109144107
134Salt Lake City, UT53.761398261
135Tacoma, WA53.611551244
136Bakersfield, CA53.43130109143
137Cincinnati, OH53.39126102116
138Austin, TX52.8713114246
139Chicago, IL52.42104140177
140Buffalo, NY52.1713810849
141Toledo, OH51.9813772136
142Fayetteville, NC51.88119164129
143Akron, OH51.56133113150
144Charleston, WV51.44156555
145Albuquerque, NM51.3414711077
146Tucson, AZ51.331522780
147Nashville, TN51.0813514982
148Kansas City, MO50.871543872
149Phoenix, AZ50.8313615566
150Louisville, KY50.6314113489
151Pittsburgh, PA50.521538425
152Oklahoma City, OK50.1914314157
153Wilmington, DE49.48142121130
154Las Vegas, NV48.79145103173
155Shreveport, LA48.4314875171
156Milwaukee, WI48.0815949106
157Colorado Springs, CO47.9515118051
158Chattanooga, TN47.191607754
159Columbus, OH46.3516185108
160Birmingham, AL46.0815794160
161Denver, CO45.8816781101
162Los Angeles, CA45.20158150161
163St. Louis, MO44.0717315127
164Jacksonville, FL43.00164124163
165Atlanta, GA42.93163163140
166Dallas, TX42.88162172132
167Jackson, MS42.31166125164
168Orlando, FL42.05169122144
169Little Rock, AR42.01168146117
170Richmond, VA41.0617470125
171Houston, TX41.01165182157
172Washington, DC39.721789283
173San Bernardino, CA39.55170166168
174Philadelphia, PA39.4317587158
175Oakland, CA39.42176137113
176Cleveland, OH39.33171107172
177Baltimore, MD38.3917961170
178New Orleans, LA37.5318171175
179Baton Rouge, LA36.23182136148
180Fort Lauderdale, FL36.06172174176
181Detroit, MI35.49177100182
182Memphis, TN34.81180101181

Notes: *No. 1 = Safest
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Traffic Fatalities per Capita
Traffic Fatalities per Capita
Fewest
  • Fewest
  • 1. Boise, ID
  • 2. Jersey City, NJ
  • 3. Santa Clarita, CA
  • 4. Henderson, NV
  • 5. Oxnard, CA
Traffic Fatalities per Capita
Most
  • Most
  • T-173. Tucson, AZ
  • T-173. St. Louis, MO
  • T-173. Jackson, MS
  • T-173. Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • T-173. Memphis, TN
Law-Enforcement Employees per Capita
Law-Enforcement Employees per Capita
Most
  • Most
  • T-1. Washington, DC
  • T-1. New York, NY
  • T-1. Detroit, MI
  • 4. Chicago, IL
  • 5. Wilmington, DE
Law-Enforcement Employees per Capita
Fewest
  • Fewest
  • 172. Modesto, CA
  • 173. Salem, OR
  • 174. Fontana, CA
  • 175. Fremont, CA
  • 176. Irvine, CA
Assaults per Capita
Assaults per Capita
Fewest
  • Fewest
  • 1. Virginia Beach, VA
  • 2. Warwick, RI
  • 3. Irvine, CA
  • 4. Nashua, NH
  • 5. Pembroke Pines, FL
Assaults per Capita
Most
  • Most
  • T-175. Detroit, MI
  • T-175. Birmingham, AL
  • T-175. Little Rock, AR
  • T-175. Memphis, TN
  • T-175. Oakland, CA
Hate Crimes per Capita
Hate Crimes per Capita
Fewest
  • Fewest
  • 1. Albuquerque, NM
  • 2. Tulsa, OK
  • 3. Corpus Christi, TX
  • 4. Fort Worth, TX
  • 5. Atlanta, GA
Hate Crimes per Capita
Most
  • Most
  • 171. Washington, DC
  • T-172. Salem, OR
  • T-172. Birmingham, AL
  • T-172. Boston, MA
  • T-172. Vancouver, WA
Unemployment Rate
Unemployment Rate
Lowest
  • Lowest
  • T-1. South Burlington, VT
  • T-1. Honolulu, HI
  • T-1. Miami, FL
  • T-1. Nashville, TN
  • T-1. Hialeah, FL
Unemployment Rate
Highest
  • Highest
  • T-174. Chicago, IL
  • T-174. Stockton, CA
  • T-177. North Las Vegas, NV
  • T-177. Dover, DE
  • 179. Newark, NJ
  • 180. Detroit, MI
% of Households with Emergency Savings
% of Households with Emergency Savings
Highest
  • Highest
  • 1. Wichita, KS
  • 2. Portland, ME
  • T-3. Minneapolis, MN
  • T-3. St. Paul, MN
  • T-5. Portland, OR
  • T-5. Vancouver, WA
% of Households with Emergency Savings
Lowest
  • Lowest
  • T-116. Miami, FL
  • T-116. Hialeah, FL
  • T-116. Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • T-116. Pembroke Pines, FL
  • 120. Memphis, TN
% of Uninsured Population
% of Uninsured Population
Lowest
  • Lowest
  • 1. Pearl City, HI
  • 2. South Burlington, VT
  • 3. Fremont, CA
  • 4. Boston, MA
  • T-5. Washington, DC
  • T-5. Worcester, MA
% of Uninsured Population
Highest
  • Highest
  • 178. Dallas, TX
  • 179. Houston, TX
  • 180. Garland, TX
  • 181. Laredo, TX
  • 182. Brownsville, TX
Natural-Disaster Risk Level
Natural-Disaster Risk Level
Lowest
  • Lowest
  • 1. Juneau, AK
  • 2. Vancouver, WA
  • 3. Anchorage, AK
  • 4. Lewiston, ME
  • 5. Casper, WY
Natural-Disaster Risk Level
Highest
  • Highest
  • 178. Irving, TX
  • 179. Grand Prairie, TX
  • 180. Colorado Springs, CO
  • 181. Arlington, TX
  • 182. Houston, TX
Show More

In-Depth Look at the Safest Cities

South Burlington, VT

South Burlington, VT, is the safest city in 2024, in part because of its safe roads. It has one of the lowest pedestrian fatality rate in the country along with the 13th-lowest percentage of uninsured motorists. When accidents do happen, the city benefits from having the ninth-most EMTs and paramedics per capita.

One area where South Burlington really shines, which many people might not think about, is financial safety. It has the lowest unemployment rate in the country, at 1.9%, the second-lowest share of seriously underwater mortgages, and the third-fewest non-business bankruptcy filings per capita over the past year. This demonstrates that residents are doing well financially and are at a reduced risk of being unable to pay their bills, losing their property or becoming homeless.

On top of that, South Burlington is safe from certain natural disasters. For example, it has the 14th-lowest risk of flooding, 21st-lowest risk of tornadoes and 31st-lowest risk of wildfires.

Casper, WY

Casper, WY, ranks as the second-safest city, in part because it has one of the lowest pedestrian fatality rates and the 32nd-lowest aggravated assault rate. It also ranks as the second-safest city for walking alone at night and the fourth-safest for walking alone during the day, according to studies by Numbeo. The city has the 42nd-lowest murder rate among the more than 180 cities in our study, too.

In addition, Casper residents are at relatively low risk for several types of natural disasters or severe weather. The city has the sixth-lowest risk of hail, 20th-lowest risk of flooding, 24th-lowest risk of tornadoes and 32nd-lowest risk of earthquakes.

Casper residents are also quite safe from fraudsters – the city has the fewest identity theft complaints and the second-fewest fraud complaints per capita. In addition, Casper has the fifth-lowest percentage of uninsured drivers, which prevents people from racking up hefty expenses after an accident.

Warwick, RI

Warwick, RI, is the third-safest city, with the lowest number of murders and the second-lowest number of aggravated assaults per capita. It also has the fewest thefts per capita, so residents can worry less about both violent and non-violent crimes.

When it comes to natural disasters, Warwick ranks as the city with the seventh-lowest risk of hail, 10th-lowest risk of wildfires, 23rd-lowest risk of tornadoes and 29th-lowest risk of earthquakes.

Finally, Warwick provides good conditions for financial safety. It has the seventh-lowest percentage of residents without health insurance and the sixth-lowest percentage who are living in poverty. The city also has the 20th-fewest fraud complaints per capita.

Ask the Experts

For the best ways to improve safety, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their thoughts on the following key questions:

  1. What steps should local authorities take to help reduce the public costs associated with clean-ups after major natural disasters? Should flood or other types of insurance be mandatory?
  2. What are some of the top public safety issues this year?
  3. What measures can police departments take to increase public trust? How important is it to have a police force that is representative of the local community?
  4. How do police shortages affect safety in U.S. cities?
  5. What can consumers do to increase their financial literacy since sound financial decisions increase a person’s financial safety?

Methodology

In order to determine the safest cities in which to live, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Home & Community Safety, 2) Natural-Disaster Risk, and 3) Financial Safety.

We evaluated those dimensions using 41 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of safety.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area.

Home & Community Safety - Total Points: 60

Natural-Disaster Risk - Total Points: 20

Financial Safety - Total Points: 20

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of August 27, 2024 from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, TransUnion, Parents for Megan’s Law, U.S. Fire Administration, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Wm. Robert Johnston, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Federal Highway Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, The Pew Charitable Trusts, County Health Rankings, Numbeo, Gun Violence Archive, Federal Emergency Management Agency, ATTOM, a property data provider - U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, ATTOM, a property data provider – U.S. Home Equity & Underwater Report and Insurance Information Institute.

Supporting Video Files:



TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: cities; crime; donate2freerepublic; safest; safety; toplist
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1 posted on 10/07/2024 8:31:34 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

Brownsville? Jersey city!!?? Bridgeport!!!???


2 posted on 10/07/2024 8:40:00 PM PDT by stanne
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To: SeekAndFind

I see a pattern but I shan’t say it.


3 posted on 10/07/2024 8:52:06 PM PDT by crusty old prospector
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To: SeekAndFind
As a first order approximation, it is sufficient that if a city fails
the brown paper bag test, then it a dangerous place to live.

4 posted on 10/07/2024 8:53:21 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and His mercy endureth forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: crusty old prospector

Yup. Visiting each city’s wikipedia page, scrolling down to ‘demographics’ and noting any common ‘trends’ is instructive. Left as an exercise for the reader.


5 posted on 10/07/2024 8:58:26 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: SeekAndFind

1-5 gotta lotta YPePo.


6 posted on 10/07/2024 8:58:28 PM PDT by Jim Noble (Assez de mensonges et de phrases)
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To: SeekAndFind

I’m not surprised DC has one of the biggest crime rates.


7 posted on 10/07/2024 9:01:53 PM PDT by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

RE: if a city fails the brown paper bag test, then it a dangerous place to live.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is the brown paper bag test?


8 posted on 10/07/2024 9:23:28 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
Wow! If Burlington and South Burlington, VT are at the top of the safest list, I don't want to set foot in any of the other cities.

Burlington has become a leftist crime ridden cesspool.

I grew up near there and no way I go to Burlington now.

9 posted on 10/07/2024 9:33:00 PM PDT by Mogger (AreIn bookstores is a very expensive, beautifully bound in green leather Holy Koran. If one was goin)
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To: SeekAndFind

Why is Colorado Springs so high in natural disaster risk?


10 posted on 10/07/2024 9:35:00 PM PDT by willk (Local news media. Just as big an enemy to this country as national media)
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To: willk

“Why is Colorado Springs so high in natural disaster risk?”

I would highly suspect moose bites.


11 posted on 10/07/2024 9:44:12 PM PDT by LastDayz (A Blunt and Brazen Texan. I Will Not Be Assimilated.)
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To: crusty old prospector

Hmm... maybe Yogi knows.


12 posted on 10/07/2024 9:58:38 PM PDT by Sarcazmo (I live by the Golden Rule. As applied by others; I'm not selfish.)
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To: willk

That joint is on a few lists.

Those wouldn’t be natural I guess... but when the balloon goes up I don’t wanna be there.


13 posted on 10/07/2024 10:01:06 PM PDT by Sarcazmo (I live by the Golden Rule. As applied by others; I'm not selfish.)
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To: willk

“Why is Colorado Springs so high in natural disaster risk?”

High winds. Hail storms.


14 posted on 10/07/2024 10:02:03 PM PDT by Mr. N. Wolfe
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To: Mogger

The same with Portland, Maine.

Illegal haven and a crummy place.


15 posted on 10/07/2024 10:14:55 PM PDT by july4thfreedomfoundation (I "earned" the same number of delegates during the primaries in 2020 and 2024 as Harris.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Compare skin color to shade of bag.


16 posted on 10/07/2024 10:20:46 PM PDT by PghBaldy (12/14/12 - 930am -rampage begins... 12/15/12 - 1030am - Obama team scouts photo-op locations.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Portland Maine and Burlington vt hsve turned into sh@@holes in a matter of months.

Information is out of date.

Essentially the top of the list are the white majority cities we are no longer permitted to have by the leftists who run the country.


17 posted on 10/08/2024 3:08:11 AM PDT by Chickensoup
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To: LastDayz

CS has fire issues, hail, blizzards and tornados. The study did not cover the rough storms that can happen. CS is in the top three counties for lightning strikes in the US. Though not on the top for car accidents now a couple of the roads were national leaders for accidents in the past, Nevada and Academy.


18 posted on 10/08/2024 3:28:07 AM PDT by Liaison (TANSTAAFL)
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To: SeekAndFind

Did bident and kmaletoe do this survey on the bribe curve.


19 posted on 10/08/2024 3:58:25 AM PDT by eartick (Stupidity is expecting the government that broke itself to go out and fix itself. Texan for TEXIT)
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To: SeekAndFind

Any city missing The Bloods and Crips is going to be safe.

It also helps to NOT be near the Mexican border.

The Whiter and conservative the neighborhood, the safer it is. You didn’t need a “study” for this.


20 posted on 10/08/2024 3:59:22 AM PDT by Flavious_Maximus (Tony Fauci will be put on death row and die of COVID!)
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