The Top 10 Safest Cities in America
When it comes to finding a place to live, safety is often at the forefront of our minds. Whether you’re relocating for a job, starting a family, or simply looking for a peaceful place to settle down, knowing which are the safest cities in America can help you make an informed decision.
What Does “Safe” Mean?
The idea of where is “safest” may be subjective, as the criteria can change from one person to the next. To keep things simple and consistent, we’re looking at safety through a violent crime lens.
Violent crime—including murder, rape, armed robbery, and aggravated assault—gets the big headlines. We’re constantly exposed to it in the news and media that we consume. And we spend more time worrying about it than any other type of crime. Things can be replaced, but lives and well-being can not.
It makes sense to prioritize safety when considering where to live. But remember that dangerous locations can have safe pockets, and vice versa. There are no absolutes. And there are no cities with zero crime. Even in areas with low violent crime rates, you still must take measures to protect yourself.
The cities on this list have succeeded in limiting violent crime through a mix of strong policing, community engagement programs, socioeconomic factors, and environmental design. Living in one of the safest cities in America doesn’t guarantee immunity from crime. However, you’ll benefit from the peace of mind that comes from lower risks of violence.
A Note About Crime Data
There’s no perfect way to measure safety. The closest proxy value is violent crime data, but even that paints an incomplete picture at best.
Law enforcement agencies across the country contribute to the FBI‘s voluntary standardized reporting program. This data still has some shortcomings: not every agency participates, reporting standards have shifted over time, citizens might not report a crime, and so on.
All this is to say that ranking cities by reported crime rates is a naturally problematic task that can be misleading. But it’s useful to start somewhere, and recent violent crime data is the best “somewhere” you can find.
Stats easily get skewed in small towns, so we’re only looking at cities with populations of 50,000 or more. You can absolutely find low-crime living in small towns, villages, and rural areas.
The Top 10 Safest Cities in America
A city with low or declining violent crime rates makes residents and visitors feel like they can go about their daily activities without fear. It also affects things like the cost of insurance, business investment, tourism, and overall quality of life.
The FBI’s 2022 data report reveals which cities experience the least violent crime per capita. The safest cities in the United States are:
- Greenwich, Connecticut
- Castle Rock, Colorado
- Jackson Township, New Jersey
- Fairfield, Connecticut
- Johns Creek, Georgia
- Port Orange, Florida
- Southampton, New York
- Flower Mound, Texas
- Kettering, Ohio
- Naperville, Illinois
All of these cities experience less than 0.6 crimes per 1,000 residents. By comparison, the national violent crime rate is about 4 per 1,000.
#1: Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich earns the title of safest city in the United States, based on 2022 data. Its violent and property crime rates are a fraction of the Connecticut state averages, which are already lower than the national average. Residents love the coastal location and proximity to New York City. If you want to live here, though, you’ll need to save up. The average listing price of homes on the market is more than $1.5 million, and it’s home to one of the most expensive U.S. homes ever sold.
- Violent Crime Rate: 0.22 per 1,000 residents
- Violent Crimes in 2022: 14
- Chances of Being a Victim of Violent Crime: 1 in 4,545
#2: Castle Rock, Colorado
This suburb, situated between Denver and Colorado Springs, Castle Rock is popular with commuters. It’s the birthplace of several famous athletes, including golfer Gary Hallberg and football players Max and Christian McCaffrey. Though the city has minimal violent crime, it’s not immune to property crime. Castle Rock homeowners have lately contended with a string of break-ins, some by armed intruders.
- Violent Crime Rate: 0.30 per 1,000 residents
- Violent Crimes in 2022: 25
- Chances of Being a Victim of Violent Crime: 1 in 3,305
#3: Jackson Township, New Jersey
This spot is quickly growing from a midsize town to a full-blown city, thanks in part to its attractive low crime rates. Jackson Township is strategically located in the middle of many East Coast economic hubs like New York and Philadelphia. One of the city’s notable features is Six Flags Great Adventure, the second-largest theme park in the world.
- Violent Crime Rate: 0.35 per 1,000 residents
- Violent Crimes in 2022: 25
- Chances of Being a Victim of Violent Crime: 1 in 2,893
#4: Fairfield, Connecticut
Another Connecticut locale makes the list of the safest cities in America. Fairfield may have a low violent crime rate, but its property crime rate (burglary, theft, etc.) rivals the state average.
- Violent Crime Rate: 0.37 per 1,000 residents
- Violent Crimes in 2022: 23
- Chances of Being a Victim of Violent Crime: 1 in 2,707
#5: Johns Creek, Georgia
Though people have lived in the area for centuries, Johns Creek wasn’t incorporated as a city until 2006. This Atlanta suburb has made several “best places to live” lists, including those by Money.com and Livability.com.
- Violent Crime Rate: 0.41 per 1,000 residents
- Violent Crimes in 2022: 34
- Chances of Being a Victim of Violent Crime: 1 in 2,411
#6: Port Orange, Florida
You’ll find Port Orange just south of Daytona Beach on Florida’s Atlantic coastline. Unsurprisingly, several prominent NASCAR drivers have settled down here. The city sustained extensive damage during Hurricane Ian in 2022.
- Violent Crime Rate: 0.45 per 1,000 residents
- Violent Crimes in 2022: 29
- Chances of Being a Victim of Violent Crime: 1 in 2,208
Related Resource: Top 10 Safest Cities in Florida
#7: Southampton, New York
Southampton is part of the area on Long Island collectively known as “the Hamptons.” Largely a resort town, the city’s population swells over the summer. It contains several of the most expensive ZIP codes in the nation, with median real estate listing prices topping $3 million.
- Violent Crime Rate: 0.47 per 1,000 residents
- Violent Crimes in 2022: 28
- Chances of Being a Victim of Violent Crime: 1 in 2,132
#8: Flower Mound, Texas
Flower Mound has experienced some of the fastest growth of any U.S. city since the construction of the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. It’s a popular spot for people looking to relocate. Money.com named Flower Mound the 4th best place to live in 2021.
- Violent Crime Rate: 0.47 per 1,000 residents
- Violent Crimes in 2022: 37
- Chances of Being a Victim of Violent Crime: 1 in 2,132
Related Resource: The Safest Cities in Texas
#9: Kettering, Ohio
A suburb of Dayton, Kettering was named for famed inventor Charles Kettering, who lived in the area. It’s one of the more affordable safe cities, with median home sale prices hovering around $210,000.
- Violent Crime Rate: 0.51 per 1,000 residents
- Violent Crimes in 2022: 29
- Chances of Being a Victim of Violent Crime: 1 in 1,969
#10: Naperville, Illinois
Found near the south end of Lake Michigan, Naperville is a suburb of Chicago and the 4th largest community in Illinois. It’s also the largest city on this list by far, with a population of just under 150,000.
- Violent Crime Rate: 0.52 per 1,000 residents
- Violent Crimes in 2022: 78
- Chances of Being a Victim of Violent Crime: 1 in 1,909
Related Resource: Top 10 Safest Cities in Illinois
Stay Safer with Deep Sentinel
Remember, safety is subjective, but violent crime rates can give you a good sense of what to expect. While no place is entirely crime-free, these cities have successfully limited crime within their borders.
No matter whether you live in one of the safest cities in America or somewhere where crime is more common, it’s wise to protect your property with powerful security devices. Deep Sentinel offers the ultimate home security solution to fortify your peace of mind.
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