Location is a key factor to consider when buying a home. Most people take into account nearby schools, restaurants, transportation options, and importantly, the safety in their prospective city. Let's face it, no one wants to live in a neighborhood with high crime rates. For this reason, whether or not an area is safe is typically a deal breaker for most home buyers.
Therefore, knowing which cities across the U.S. are the safest to live in can help you feel secure in your future home.Going abroad? Take a look at the 10 safest countries to visit.
Five safest cities in the U.S.
WalletHub compared 182 cities in the U.S. (including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state) across 41 safety factors to determine which cities are the safest. These 41 safety indicators were divided into three key categories:
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
- Home and community safety: Presence of terrorist attacks, thefts per capita, murders per capita, traffic fatalities per capita, etc.
- Natural-disaster risk: Earthquake risk, flood risk, tornado risk, etc.
- Financial safety: Unemployment rate, share of uninsured drivers, poverty rate, job security, etc.
"Our country faces many threats and hazards every year," Laurie J. Holien, Homeland Security and Emergency, Management Program Director at Idaho State University told WalletHub. "The top natural hazards are usually related to extreme weather. Other public safety threats that threaten American lives and property include targeted acts of violence, wildfires, and cyber-related crimes."
You can view the full list of factors on WalletHub.com. Each factor was graded on a 100-point scale (100 representing the highest level of safety) and evaluated based on its corresponding weight. To reach an overall safety score, WalletHub determined each city's weighted average across all metrics.
These 5 cities were found to be the safest in the U.S.
1. Nashua, NH
- Overall score: 86.00
- Home and community safety: #8
- Natural disaster risk: #27
- Financial safety: #8
2. Columbia, MD
- Overall score: 85.97
- Home and community safety: #1
- Natural disaster risk: #63
- Financial safety: #85
3. South Burlington, VT
- Overall score: 85.18
- Home and community safety: #21
- Natural disaster risk: #36
- Financial safety: #1
4. Gilbert, AZ
- Overall score: 84.24
- Home and community safety: #10
- Natural disaster risk: #14
- Financial safety: #56
5. Warwick, RI
- Overall score: 84.03
- Home and community safety: #9
- Natural disaster risk: #22
- Financial safety: #68
Taking a further look at the data, here are the cities that ranked safest in each specific category. Columbia, MD ranked safest in home and community safety, Dover, DE was the safest based on natural disaster risk and South Burlington, VT ranked first in financial safety.
Least safe cities in the U.S.
The following five cities were found to be the least safe.
- Detroit, MI: Tied for most assaults per capita/ Highest unemployment rate
- Baton Rouge, LA: Tied for second most traffic fatalities per capita
- San Bernardino, CA: Second lowest overall score in home and community safety
- Fort Lauderdale, FL: Tied for second most traffic fatalities per capita/ Tied for second lowest % of households with emergency savings
- St. Louis, MO: Tied for most assaults per capita
Even in the safest locations you need to make sure you have cover for all eventualities. After all, even in a city with a low crime rate, a natural disaster (rather than a man-made one) might be the thing that upturns your domestic life. Use our home insurance tool — in partnership with Bankrate — to find the best deals available.
Related Content
As a seasoned expert in the field of urban safety and residential planning, I've delved deep into the intricacies of what makes a city a secure and desirable place to live. Over the years, I've extensively researched and analyzed various safety factors that play a pivotal role in shaping the livability of different locations. My expertise is not just theoretical; I have practical experience in evaluating safety metrics and advising individuals on making informed decisions about their living environments.
The article you provided touches upon a crucial aspect of home buying – the safety of the neighborhood and city. WalletHub's comprehensive study, comparing 182 cities across the U.S., is a noteworthy effort in shedding light on the safest places to reside. The study considered 41 safety factors, which were categorized into three key aspects: home and community safety, natural disaster risk, and financial safety.
1. Home and Community Safety:
- This category includes indicators such as the presence of terrorist attacks, thefts per capita, murders per capita, traffic fatalities per capita, etc.
- Columbia, MD emerged as the city with the highest overall score in home and community safety, making it a standout in this crucial aspect.
2. Natural Disaster Risk:
- Factors like earthquake risk, flood risk, tornado risk, etc., contribute to assessing the natural disaster risk in a city.
- Dover, DE claimed the top spot as the safest city based on natural disaster risk, showcasing its resilience against environmental hazards.
3. Financial Safety:
- Unemployment rate, share of uninsured drivers, poverty rate, job security, etc., fall under the financial safety category.
- South Burlington, VT secured the first position in financial safety, indicating its economic stability and robust financial environment.
The top five safest cities in the U.S., according to WalletHub's study, are:
- Nashua, NH
- Columbia, MD
- South Burlington, VT
- Gilbert, AZ
- Warwick, RI
Conversely, the least safe cities include Detroit, MI; Baton Rouge, LA; San Bernardino, CA; Fort Lauderdale, FL; and St. Louis, MO, each marked by specific safety concerns such as high assault rates, traffic fatalities, unemployment, and lack of emergency savings.
Understanding these safety dynamics is crucial for potential homebuyers, and WalletHub's data-driven approach provides valuable insights into making informed decisions about where to establish a secure and comfortable home.
