100 Safest Cities in the US

Rebecca Edwards
Apr 11, 2024
Icon Time To Read5 min read
SafeWise is pleased to release the 10th annual Safest Cities report.

Despite FBI reports that crime across the US is declining, many Americans still feel that crime is on the rise. In fact, more than 7 out of 10 (73%) respondents to our State of Safety survey said they believe crime is increasing—and only 45% said they feel safe in their home state.

But there are still plenty of cities that remain relatively immune to the crime trends and headlines plaguing America’s largest metro areas. The 100 cities and towns that made our list this year bucked nationwide trends, showing a collective drop in both violent and property crime rates. Comparatively, the US violent crime rate held steady at 4.0 incidents per 1,000 people year over year, while the property crime rate rose 7%, from 19.3 to 20.7 incidents per 1,000.

Curious about cities in your state? Check out the safest cities in every state report.

Here are the 10 Safest Cities in America for 2024

See if your city made the full list.

In this report

America’s safest cities versus nationwide crime rates

When the FBI released their final crime numbers for 2022 (the last year for which complete data is available), we saw a rise in property crime for the first time since we've been tracking crime rates across the US. Violent crime rates remained steady year over year.

Nationwide, property crime offenses jumped 7.1% in 2022 compared to the prior year. But it's not all doom and gloom—an extended view shows a significant 24.9% decrease over 10 years. The national property crime rate is 20.7 incidents per 1,000 people, but America's safest cities come in at less than half of that with 9.9 incidents per 1,000. 

Likewise, the safest cities in the US report far less violent crime than the nationwide average. Reporting a collective average of 1.1 violent incidents per 1,000 people, the cities that made our list are 73% below the nationwide violent crime rate of 4.0.


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A closer look at the safest cities in the US

For the purposes of this report, 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.

While there’s no one thing that indicates if a city will report higher or lower numbers of crimes, we’ve noticed some things that stand out about the 100 cities on our list. Here’s a rundown of some of the most interesting factors we’ve uncovered during our analysis.

Crime insights 

  • The violent crime rate among the safest cities is 1.0 incidents per 1,000 people—that’s 73% lower than the national rate of 4.0.
  • The property crime rate among the safest cities is 9.9 incidents per 1,000—that’s 52% lower than the national rate of 20.7.
  • 70 cities reported fewer than 100 total violent crimes and 29 reported fewer than 50.
  • Greenwich, CT reported the fewest violent crimes, with just 13, and none of those were homicide.
  • 47% of the cities had no murders reported, including 4 with populations over 100,000: Lakewood Township, NJ; Meridian, ID; Cary, NC; Frisco, TX.
  • Jackson Township, NJ—our number one safest city in the US, reported the fewest total property crimes, with 265.
  • 39 cities reported 50 or fewer burglaries, with Novi, MI coming in the lowest with 18.

Demographic insights 

  • 26 states are represented on this year's list, with Illinois boasting the most safe cities at 10.
  • The average population of our 100 safest cities is 80,501.
  • California is home to both the smallest and largest cities in our list: Poway has the smallest population at 48,011 and Irvine has the largest with 311,696.
  • 4 states have 9 cities that made the list: California, Michigan, New Jersey, and Texas.
  • Arizona and Massachusetts have the third-most cities on the list, with 6 each.
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The 100 safest cities in America

VC= Violent crime, PC=Property crime; Crime rates per 1,000 people; Median household income

#1
Jackson Township, NJ
  • Circle Population
    Population
    60,762
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $107,909
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.3
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 20224
    4.4
  • Image
    Image source
    jacksontwpnj.net
#2
Johns Creek, GA
  • Circle Population
    Population
    81,964
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $153,882
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.4
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    4.8
  • Image
    Image source
    exploregeorgia.org/johns-creek
#3
Wylie, TX
  • Circle Population
    Population
    60,910
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $109,465
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.6
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    5.8
  • Image
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
#4
West Bloomfield Township, MI
  • Circle Population
    Population
    65,271
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $121,282
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.9
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    5.1
  • Image
    Image source
    Coreyfein01, commons.wikimedia.org
#5
Newton, MA
  • Circle Population
    Population
    86,710
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $176,373
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.6
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    6.6
  • Image
    Image source
    Kenneth C. Zirkel, commons.wikimedia.org
#6
Rochester Hills, MI
  • Circle Population
    Population
    75,921
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $115,968
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.7
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    6.8
  • Image
    Image source
    instagram.com/city_of_rochester_hills
#7
Flower Mound, TX
  • Circle Population
    Population
    78,167
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $154,471
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.3
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    7.9
  • Image
    Image source
    flower-mound.com
#8
Lakeville, MN
  • Circle Population
    Population
    75,548
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $129,069
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.7
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    6.8
  • Image
    Image source
    lakevillemn.gov
#9
Lakewood Township, NJ
  • Circle Population
    Population
    141,190
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $59,054
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.8
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    6.7
  • Image
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
#10
New Rochelle, NY
  • Circle Population
    Population
    82,628
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $100,542
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.8
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    7.0
  • Image
    Image source
    instagram.com/newrochelleny
#11
Aliso Viejo, CA
  • Circle Population
    Population
    51,477
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $131,708
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.9
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    6.8
  • Image
    Image source
    instagram.com/cityofalisoviejo
#12
Naperville, IL
  • Circle Population
    Population
    148,929
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $143,754
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.5
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    8.1
  • Image
    Image source
    facebook.com/NapervilleIL
#13
Saratoga Springs, UT
  • Circle Population
    Population
    50,850
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $117,005
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.8
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    7.0
  • Image
    Image source
    instagram.com/cityofsaratogasprings
#14
Fishers, IN
  • Circle Population
    Population
    102,921
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $126,548
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.7
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    7.6
  • Image
    Image source
    fishersin.gov
#15
Westfield, IN
  • Circle Population
    Population
    54,552
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $117,519
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.8
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    7.6
  • Image
    Image source
    instagram.com/cityofwestfieldin
#16
O'Fallon, MO
  • Circle Population
    Population
    95,689
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $104,863
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.8
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    7.4
  • Image
    Image source
    instagram.com/cityofofallon_mo
#17
Little Elm, TX
  • Circle Population
    Population
    55,340
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $110,218
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    1.6
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    4.9
  • Image
    Image source
    instagram.com/littleelmtx
#18
Herriman, UT
  • Circle Population
    Population
    60,138
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $115,198
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.7
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    7.9
  • Image
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
#19
Carmel, IN
  • Circle Population
    Population
    101,670
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $132,859
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    0.6
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    8.3
  • Image
    Image source
    carmelclayparks.com
#20
Waltham, MA
  • Circle Population
    Population
    63,525
  • Circle Dollar
    Median Income
    $113,443
  • Circle Gun
    VC Rate 2024
    1.5
  • Circle Property
    PC Rate 2024
    5.7
  • Image
    Image source
    city.waltham.ma.us

Didn't find your city in the top 20?

We calculated crime rates for every city in the country that met our population threshold of 25,000. See how the remaining cities ranked in the list below. If you want to see the safest smaller towns in the US, that list will be published soon.

NOTE: If you don’t see your city on the list, it means that it was below the population threshold or didn’t submit a complete crime report to the FBI in 2022, the last year for which complete data was available at time of publication.

2024 Rank
City
State
Population
Violent crime rate Icon Tooltip  Dark
Property crime rate Icon Tooltip  Dark
21North Bergen TownshipNew Jersey58,3781.36.4
22MeridianIdaho132,5221.36.4
23NoviMichigan66,9360.78.5
24Shelby TownshipMichigan79,3911.46.1
25Parsippany-Troy Hills TownshipNew Jersey56,1930.310.3
26WaukeshaWisconsin71,1471.08.0
27SammamishWashington65,7380.69.3
28GreenwichConnecticut63,6310.211.0
29Spring HillTennessee56,2321.08.4
30PalatineIllinois65,0781.18.1
31Mount ProspectIllinois54,4770.79.6
32Yorba LindaCalifornia67,5500.510.2
33BerwynIllinois54,6541.37.6
34MethuenMassachusetts52,8531.57.3
35Royal OakMichigan57,8081.28.2
36BrooklineMassachusetts62,8251.09.0
37Castle RockColorado79,1020.311.8
38Hoffman EstatesIllinois50,3851.09.6
39Union Township, Clermont CountyOhio50,1640.610.9
40Oro ValleyArizona48,4410.311.9
41Evesham TownshipNew Jersey49,1660.710.8
42ApexNorth Carolina66,0240.511.5
43HendersonvilleTennessee62,4751.48.6
44CaryNorth Carolina178,6000.810.6
45Arlington HeightsIllinois74,6480.810.9
46Toms River TownshipNew Jersey99,2390.810.7
47ConcordNorth Carolina109,6601.19.8
48Laguna NiguelCalifornia64,1190.910.5
49DublinOhio48,7990.711.4
50ParmaOhio79,0981.49.1
51McKinneyTexas208,4151.010.4
52ElginIllinois113,2051.97.6
53MaricopaArizona66,5251.97.7
54Mission ViejoCalifornia91,3820.811.4
55GilbertArizona277,1231.210.3
56CranstonRhode Island82,2051.110.6
57PlymouthMinnesota78,5850.512.6
58Lake ForestCalifornia85,4801.210.6
59Tinley ParkIllinois53,9730.712.3
60Wake ForestNorth Carolina51,3851.110.9
61St. Clair ShoresMichigan57,6541.79.0
62LincolnCalifornia51,4561.79.0
63Queen CreekArizona72,2291.410.1
64BloomfieldNew Jersey52,6630.912.2
65GallatinTennessee49,2202.56.8
66BolingbrookIllinois73,3642.27.8
67Gloucester TownshipNew Jersey65,8481.311.2
68NashuaNew Hampshire91,0271.410.8
69PowayCalifornia48,0111.79.8
70MedfordMassachusetts64,1221.79.8
71Eden PrairieMinnesota62,0080.713.2
72BristolConnecticut60,6570.813.1
73Waterford TownshipMichigan69,8512.28.2
74BowieMaryland57,0681.112.2
75South JordanUtah82,2500.613.8
76League CityTexas116,5111.012.7
77KetteringOhio57,1070.514.3
78Farmington HillsMichigan82,8061.311.7
79East Brunswick TownshipNew Jersey49,0380.913.1
80Des PlainesIllinois58,4251.212.1
81Canton TownshipMichigan98,5821.910.2
82FranklinTennessee87,0811.910.1
83WeymouthMassachusetts58,2312.67.7
84Missouri CityTexas75,3231.611.3
85BuckeyeArizona110,0021.810.4
86HuntersvilleNorth Carolina62,1051.312.1
87AuburnAlabama80,7591.312.1
88WarwickRhode Island82,9660.714.2
89FriscoTexas218,9620.913.4
90Cedar ParkTexas79,3531.013.2
91RocklinCalifornia74,1681.113.0
92MansfieldTexas75,9930.814.3
93AnkenyIowa72,3151.910.9
94Prescott ValleyArizona49,4222.87.8
95ColliervilleTennessee51,4391.512.2
96IrvineCalifornia311,6960.715.1
97St. GeorgeUtah104,1581.612.1
98ChesterfieldMissouri49,4510.715.3
99WoodburyMinnesota78,5310.914.8
100Clarkstown TownNew York80,4870.914.8

How we ranked the safest cities in America

To identify the 100 safest cities in the country, we analyzed FBI crime report statistics and population data. The FBI data is from 2022 (the most recent year for which complete data was available as of publication). Our rankings were based solely on per capita crime data; no other factors were included.

Population thresholds 

We established a minimum population threshold of 25,000. Cities that fell below the population threshold were excluded, along with cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI.

Crime rates 

Our rankings are based on both violent and property crime numbers. We looked at the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) in each city and the number of reported property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft).

Arson is excluded from the FBI’s property crime rates, so we excluded it as well.

To level the playing field, we calculated the rate of crimes per 1,000 people in each city. This makes it easier to directly compare the likelihood of these crimes occurring in cities with vastly different populations. (By comparison, the FBI uses the number of crimes per 100,000 people to calculate its rates.)

Both violent and property crime numbers were weighted equally. That means that a city with no violent crimes reported could end up lower on the list due to a higher property crime rate, and vice versa. We also standardized violent and property crime for each state before weighting.

Consult our full methodology to learn more about how we rank the Safest Cities.

How to make a safe home anywhere

Over 6 in 10 Americans surveyed don't have a home security system, despite over 50% of all burglaries being residential. Unfortunately, a majority of people who have a security system added it after they had a break-in. One of the best ways to stop a burglary before it happens—and get immediate help if a break-in is detected—is to add a monitored home security system.

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Find the safest cities in each state

Click on the state image or dropdown menu below to check out the safest cities for each state.

Related articles on SafeWise


Sources

FBI: Crime Data Explorer, Accessed April 11, 2024.

US Census Bureau, “QuickFacts,” Accessed April 11, 2024.

Rebecca Edwards
Written by
Rebecca Edwards
Rebecca is the lead safety reporter and in-house expert for SafeWise.com. She has been a journalist and blogger for over 25 years, with a focus on home and community safety for the past decade. Rebecca spends dozens of hours every month poring over crime and safety reports and spotting trends. Her expertise is sought after by publications, broadcast journalists, non-profit organizations, podcasts, and more. You can find her expert advice and analysis in places like NPR, TechCrunch, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, HGTV, MSN, Reader's Digest, Real Simple, and an ever-growing library of podcast, radio and TV clips in the US and abroad.

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