Safest Cities in the US in 2026: Ranked by Crime Data
The safest cities in the US in 2026 ranked by FBI crime data, violent crime rates, property crime, and which safe cities also have good jobs and affordable housing.
Sarah Jenkins
Staff Writer
Safest cities in the US in 2026: what the data actually shows
The safest cities in the US in 2026:
- Warwick, RI, safest city overall per WalletHub, third-lowest aggravated assaults, seventh-lowest thefts per capita
- Overland Park, KS, second safest, fifth-lowest pedestrian fatality rate, exceptional retirement security
- Burlington, VT, third safest, no terrorist incidents recorded in past decade, low natural disaster risk
- Meridian, ID, safest city per AreaVibes data, community-oriented policing, lowest violent crime among 100K+ cities
- Cape Coral, FL, top ranked per DoorProfit 2026 analysis, A crime grade, population 649,000
- Virginia Beach, VA, safest big city per SmartAsset, 1 in 1,083 chance of violent crime victimization
- Naperville, IL, consistently top 10, strong schools, Chicago suburb with city access at suburban safety
- Gilbert, AZ, among the safest large cities, strong family infrastructure, East Valley tech corridor
- Henderson, NV, safest large city in Nevada, suburban Las Vegas with low crime and zero income tax
- Frisco and McKinney, TX, top safe suburbs in Texas, zero income tax, nationally ranked schools
Safety is one of the most searched criteria when people consider relocating. The FBI reports that violent crime fell 3% in 2023 with continued improvement in 2024, making 2026 a meaningfully safer environment in many American cities than it was three years ago. But the national trend masks enormous city-by-city variation, the safest city in America has a violent crime rate approximately 69 times lower than the most dangerous city in this year's analysis.
This guide ranks the safest US cities using FBI crime data, WalletHub's comprehensive 29-metric safety analysis, and AreaVibes data, then evaluates each city against job markets and affordability so the safety ranking actually translates into a practical relocation decision.
How safety is measured, and what the rankings miss
Different ranking systems measure safety differently, which is why top-ten lists vary.
WalletHub's approach covers the most ground: violent crime rates, property crime, natural disaster risk, financial safety (insurance coverage, fraud rates, poverty rates), traffic fatalities, and residents' perception of safety walking alone at night. It is the most comprehensive analysis.
FBI UCR data focuses specifically on reported crime rates per 100,000 residents across seven categories: assault, burglary, larceny, murder, rape, robbery, and vehicle theft. It is the most standardized but misses unreported crime.
Important caveat: crime rates are per capita, not absolute. A large city with 500,000 people and a low per-capita crime rate has more total crimes than a small town with 20,000 people and a high per-capita rate. Both the absolute numbers and the rates matter depending on how you live.
What rankings cannot capture: neighborhood-level variation within cities. Phoenix's city-level violent crime statistics are well above average. Phoenix's Scottsdale, Chandler, and Gilbert suburbs have crime rates among the lowest in the country. Always research the specific neighborhood, not just the city-level statistics.
Most comprehensive safety ranking: WalletHub top cities
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick ranks as the safest city in America in WalletHub's 2026 comprehensive safety analysis. The city has the third-lowest number of aggravated assaults per capita and the seventh-lowest number of thefts per capita among all 182 cities studied. On natural disaster risk, Warwick has the seventh-lowest hail risk, tenth-lowest wildfire risk, and 23rd-lowest tornado risk.
For financial safety, Warwick has the fourth-lowest percentage of residents without health insurance and the fourth-lowest poverty rate. The combination of low crime, low natural disaster exposure, and financial security creates a genuinely comprehensive safety environment.
Warwick sits 10 miles south of Providence with direct Amtrak access to Boston (under an hour) and New York City. The city has 39 miles of coastline on Narragansett Bay. Housing runs significantly below Boston and Providence prices.
Overland Park, Kansas
Overland Park ranks second in WalletHub's analysis, standing out particularly for financial safety. It has the fourth-highest employer-based retirement plan access rate and the sixth-highest participation rate among all cities studied. For traffic safety, the city has the fifth-lowest pedestrian fatality rate nationally.
Overland Park sits in Johnson County, Kansas, directly south of Kansas City. It is one of the most prosperous suburban communities in the Midwest, with a strong corporate employment base, nationally ranked schools, and housing that is dramatically more accessible than comparable coastal suburbs. The combination of extreme safety and below-average cost of living makes Overland Park one of the highest-value places to live in the country.
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington ranks third in WalletHub's analysis. No terrorist attacks or related incidents have been recorded in the city over the past decade. Burlington has the 25th-lowest rape offense rate and 26th-lowest murder rate. Natural disaster risk is among the lowest for any Northeast city, with low flooding, tornado, and wildfire exposure.
Burlington is Vermont's largest city with approximately 45,000 residents, a University of Vermont campus, and a walkable downtown that has been recognized nationally. The Lake Champlain waterfront, access to skiing at Stowe and Sugarbush, and a progressive community culture make it one of the most livable small cities in the country.
Safest large cities: safety at scale
Most safety rankings favor small cities and suburbs where lower population density naturally limits crime. For people who need or want a genuinely large city, the picture looks different.
Virginia Beach, VA (population 454,808) ranked fifth in SmartAsset's analysis of America's 50 biggest cities. The violent crime rate translates to approximately a 1 in 1,083 chance of victimization annually. Virginia Beach was also named America's most caring city in 2026. The city's 3-mile oceanfront boardwalk, Naval Station Norfolk proximity, and strong military community create a distinctive, community-oriented character.
Cape Coral, FL (population 649,339) tops DoorProfit's 2026 ranking among all cities with populations over 100,000. Cape Coral earns an A crime grade across all seven crime categories. The city is on the Gulf Coast side of Southwest Florida, with canal-front housing, warm weather, and zero income tax.
Texas leads all states with 8 cities in the DoorProfit top 50 safest cities. The combination of rapid job growth, family-friendly suburbs, and proactive policing strategies has consistently produced some of the nation's safest communities. Frisco, McKinney, Gilbert (which crosses into Arizona's East Valley), Sugar Land, and Plano all appear in top-10 analyses across multiple ranking systems.
Naperville, IL (Chicago suburb) appears consistently in top-10 safety rankings. Despite being adjacent to Chicago, Naperville operates essentially as a standalone city with its own police department, school system, and economic base. The Riverwalk downtown, excellent schools, and corporate employment corridor along I-88 give it urban amenities at suburban safety levels.
Safest cities by region: the geographic picture
Northeast
The Northeast produces consistently safe mid-size cities. Beyond Warwick and Burlington, Newton, MA (Boston suburb), Stamford, CT, and Edison, NJ appear regularly in top-25 safety lists. High incomes, strong public services, and established communities create structural safety advantages.
The trade-off: Northeast cities generally have the highest housing costs of any region. Safety comes at a price in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Midwest
The Midwest consistently outperforms expectations on safety. Overland Park leads, followed by Naperville, Carmel, IN (suburb of Indianapolis), Fishers, IN, and Rochester, MN (Mayo Clinic city). These cities combine low crime with housing costs 30-60% below coastal equivalents.
The Midwest represents the best value-per-safety dollar available in the US for families prioritizing both metrics. See our cheapest places to live in the US guide for the full cost comparison.
South
Southern cities that appear in safety rankings are almost exclusively suburbs rather than city proper areas. Frisco, TX, McKinney, TX, Murfreesboro, TN, Franklin, TN, Cary, NC, and Apex, NC consistently rank among the safest large suburbs in the country.
Texas leads all states with 8 cities in the national top 50 safest list. Zero income tax and low property crime create compelling combined value for families considering Texas. See our Raleigh vs Charlotte guide for how North Carolina's safest suburbs compare.
Henderson, NV stands out in the South/Mountain West for combining Nevada's zero income tax with consistently low crime rates. Henderson is among the safest large cities in the country and dramatically different from Las Vegas's city-core crime statistics.
West
The West Coast's major cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland) generally do not appear in top safety rankings, with some exceptions in the suburbs. Irvine, CA (Orange County) consistently ranks as one of the safest large cities in America. Sunnyvale, CA appears in Niche's safest cities data. Both come with California's high cost of living, partially offsetting the safety advantage for relocating families.
In the Mountain West, Meridian, ID (suburb of Boise) ranks as the safest city in the country per AreaVibes data for cities over 100,000. The community-oriented policing approach, active neighborhood associations, and rapid suburban development with modern infrastructure create very low crime rates. Gilbert, AZ appears in multiple top-10 rankings, combining East Valley location near Phoenix's tech corridor with extremely low violent crime.
Safest states: the state-level picture
Maine consistently ranks as the safest state in the country by violent crime rate. New Hampshire and Vermont follow closely. Idaho had the lowest property crime rate in the country per the most recent FBI data.
| State | Safety ranking | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | #1 safest state | Lowest violent crime rate nationally |
| New Hampshire | Top 3 | Low violent and property crime |
| Vermont | Top 3 | Burlington among safest cities |
| Idaho | Top 5 | Lowest property crime rate nationally |
| Rhode Island | Top 5 | Warwick leads national city rankings |
| Connecticut | Top 10 | Despite proximity to NYC |
| New Jersey | Top 10 | Despite reputation, crime has dropped significantly |
At the bottom: New Mexico ranked last for both violent and property crime in the most recent FBI data. Louisiana ranked in the bottom five for both categories. Mississippi and Arkansas also ranked poorly.
Safety + affordability: the best combined value cities
Most safety rankings favor expensive coastal suburbs. Finding cities that are both safe and affordable requires specific research.
Overland Park, KS: Top-2 safety nationally. Housing well below national average. Kansas income tax at 5.7% is the main financial consideration.
Frisco and McKinney, TX: Consistently in national top-10 safety rankings. Zero income tax. Median home prices $500,000-$600,000, high but dramatically below comparable California or Northeast equivalents.
Cary and Apex, NC: Top safety rankings among Southeast suburbs. North Carolina's 3.99% flat income tax. Median home prices $460,000-$530,000 with access to Research Triangle's tech job market. For the full comparison, see our Cary vs Apex cost of living guide.
Carmel and Fishers, IN: Among the safest suburbs in the Midwest. Indiana's 3.15% flat income tax. Median home prices $400,000-$500,000, among the best safety-to-cost ratios in the country.
Henderson, NV: Zero income tax. Low crime. Las Vegas access without Vegas crime rates. Median home prices around $450,000.
Meridian, ID: One of the safest large cities in the country. Idaho's 5.8% flat income tax. Median home prices around $515,000. Rapidly growing with strong family infrastructure.
What the safest cities have in common
Across multiple ranking systems, the safest American cities share several structural characteristics:
Strong local economies: cities with low unemployment and median incomes above $70,000 consistently show lower crime rates. Economic security reduces crime incentives at the community level.
Homeownership rates above 60%: communities where most residents own their homes show stronger community ties and engagement, which correlates with lower crime.
Well-funded public services: police staffing, paramedic coverage, and fire department capacity all factor into safety outcomes beyond crime statistics.
Relatively newer development: many top-safety cities are suburbs that grew primarily post-1990, with modern infrastructure planned around residential safety.
Proximity to major metros without metro-core density: the pattern of top-safe cities sitting 20-40 miles from a major city center is consistent across the rankings. They access metro employment without metro-core crime conditions.
FAQ
What is the safest city in the US in 2026?
Warwick, Rhode Island ranks as the safest city overall in WalletHub's comprehensive 2026 analysis covering crime, natural disasters, traffic safety, and financial security. Meridian, Idaho ranks as the safest city specifically for violent and property crime per AreaVibes data. Cape Coral, Florida tops DoorProfit's 2026 ranking among cities over 100,000 residents.
What is the safest big city in the US?
Virginia Beach, Virginia ranks as the safest among America's 50 largest cities per SmartAsset's analysis, with a violent crime rate translating to approximately a 1 in 1,083 annual victimization probability. Cape Coral ranks highest in separate analysis using comprehensive crime grading.
What states have the safest cities?
Maine is the safest state by violent crime rate. Texas leads all states with 8 cities in national top-50 safety rankings, primarily through its fast-growing suburbs (Frisco, McKinney, Sugar Land). Idaho has the lowest property crime rate nationally. New England states (Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island) consistently produce top-ranked safe cities.
What is the safest city in Texas?
Frisco and McKinney consistently rank as the safest large cities in Texas, appearing in multiple national top-20 lists. Sugar Land, Plano, and Allen also appear regularly. Texas's combination of zero income tax, fast-growing suburbs, and proactive policing in affluent suburban communities creates strong safety outcomes.
Is it true that crime has been decreasing in the US?
Violent crime fell 3% in 2023 with continued improvement in 2024. However, motor vehicle theft rose 13% in 2023, driven by economic incentives from inflated vehicle values, and tariffs on new vehicles may push theft rates higher in 2026. Property crime overall dipped over 2% in 2023. The national trend is generally improving, with significant variation by city and crime type.
What is the relationship between safety and cost of living?
Generally positive but not universal. The safest cities in New England and coastal California tend to be expensive. The best value combination, high safety at lower cost, is found in Midwest suburbs (Overland Park, KS; Carmel, IN; Fishers, IN), Texas suburbs (Frisco, TX; McKinney, TX), and North Carolina suburbs (Cary, NC; Apex, NC). These cities deliver top-tier safety at housing costs 30-60% below comparable coastal markets.