100 Safest Cities in America
The 100 Safest Cities in America for 2021
These crime-curbing communities have cause to celebrate. The 100 cities in our roundup boast a collective violent crime rate that’s 92% lower than the national average. And, when it comes to property crime, our top 100 locales report 79% fewer property crimes per 1,000 people than most of the US.
Here are the 10 Safest Cities in America for 2021
1. Hopkinton, Massachusetts
2. Franklin, Massachusetts
3. Buckingham Township, Pennsylvania
4. Oakland Township, Michigan
5. Bernards Township, New Jersey
6. Ridgefield, Connecticut
7. New Castle Town, New York
8. Sparta Township, New York
9. Hamburg Township, Michigan
10. Bedford Town, New York
See the full list to find out if your city made the cut.
Crime trends in America's safest cities
Even safe cities can have an off-year. These communities report the fewest crimes per capita, but collectively, violent crime remained stagnant and property crime saw a small rise year over year. This hints at a possible jump in crime rates nationwide—for the first time in over two decades.
Over the past three years, violent crime among the safest cities has risen by 25%—but there’s no cause for alarm. That increase still represents less than one violent crime per 1,000 people.
Property crime has continued to fall across the US and among the safest cities.
Since 2019, the safest cities in America have seen the incidence of property crime fall nearly 18%—that’s seven points more than property crime has dropped for the country overall.
What do the safest cities have in common—and where do they differ?
We know what you’re thinking—these aren’t safe cities; they look like safe towns.
Smaller populations still evoke nostalgia and romanticized Norman Rockwell vibes, but America is far more “small town” than we may think.
Scanning our list, it looks like America’s safest cities are considerably smaller than the average US burg. But approximately 76% of all incorporated cities and towns in the country are home to fewer than 5,000 people—and only 4% have more than 50,000 residents.¹
Are these lower population numbers due to urban sprawl? It looks like it—more than 90% of the cities on our list are just down the road from a major metro. Here’s a closer look at what these low-crime cities have in common.
See which small towns (under 15,000 people) report the lowest crime in America.
Suburbs score the most safe cities
- 91 of the top 100 safe cities are within 50 miles of a major metropolitan area—with 65 of those in the northeastern US.
- The Big Apple dominates, with 39 of the safest cities within 50 miles. Boston has the second-biggest number of safe suburbs with 19.
- Philadelphia and Chicago have the next-highest safe suburbs with 9 and 7 respectively.
- Rexburg, Idaho is one of the least suburban cities to make the cut, with more than 200 miles between it and the nearest big city.
Low crime rates prosper with pint-sized populations
- The average population of our 100 safest cities is 28,719—nearly triple the national average (10,608) of all incorporated places in the US.²
- Only 4 cities on the list are home to more than 50,000 people: Middletown Township, New Jersey; Sammamish, Washington; Palatine, Illinois; and Weston, Florida.
- Scarsdale Village, New York has the smallest population on the list (17,954), and the highest household income at more than $250,000 per year.
- Weston, Florida is the largest city on the list, with nearly 72,000 residents.
Robust resources reduce crime reports
- Average income among the 100 safest cities is $106,298—nearly 55% higher than the median household income ($68,703) across the US.³
- Only 2 cities on the list report a median household income below $50,000 per year: Rexburg, Idaho with $29,910 and Manchester Township, New Jersey with $43,369.
- Only 2 cities on the list have a median household income above $200,000 per year: University Park, Texas and Scarsdale Village, New York.
Which states and regions have the most safe cities?
- New England and the Mid-Atlantic regions make up 68% of all the cities on our list.
- For the third consecutive year, New Jersey boasts the most safe cities with 29 (4 more than The Garden State had in last year’s rankings).
- Massachusetts has the second-highest number of cities on the list with 17 (2 more than the state had last year).
- The Bay State also claims the top 2 cities this year, with Hopkinton regaining the title of safest city in the nation after a dip to number 2 last year.
- The West North Central region, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota is the only region without a showing in our ranking of the 100 safest cities in the US.
- The western US has only 7 of the nation’s safest cities, with Texas leading the way at 4 cities, followed by 1 each in Idaho, Utah, and Washington.
Some good news from the top safest cities in America
We decided to dig into what’s been happening in our top 10 safest cities and are pleased to share some of the good news we uncovered in these low-crime towns.
Bedford Town, New York
The Bedford Police Department is proactive about alerting residents to potential dangers. We found multiple alerts issued so far this year—warning citizens of everything from wandering wild coyotes to a string of home burglaries targeting homeowners who are out of town.
Buckingham Township, Pennsylvania
A year-long crime spree was finally cut short after security-camera footage and a multi-jurisdictional investigation led to an arrest by Buckingham Township police. The suspect allegedly broke into more than 1,000 cars across 23 different towns in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Hopkinton, Massachusetts
Two Hopkinton citizens came to the rescue of a man pinned under his car. After a car jack collapsed, two employees returning to their office saw the man in trouble and sprang into action. Their quick thinking and rapid response helped free the trapped man before his injuries worsened.
Oakland Township, Michigan
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, which serves the people of Oakland Township, has joined Operation Ghost Rider. The initiative is targeted at cutting down on distracted driving—especially texting and driving, which makes drivers 23 times more likely to end up in a crash.
Sparta Township, New Jersey
Sparta police helped take down a serial burglar operating in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut since at least August 2020. In the midst of his multi-state burglary spree, the suspect hit approximately 22 Sparta residents during October and November last year.
The 100 Safest Cities in America
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.
Population18,585
Median Income$95,735
VC Rate 20210.00![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20211.61
Image SourceFacebook @hopkintonma.gov
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Population33,149
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Median Income$101,980
-
VC Rate 20210.06
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20211.24-
Image SourceFacebook @OfficialTownofFranklin
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Population20,279
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Median Income$119,620
-
VC Rate 20210.00
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20212.71-
Image SourceFacebook @BuckinghamTownship
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Population19,649
-
Median Income$118,969
-
VC Rate 20210.10
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20211.93-
Image SourceFacebook @OakTwp
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Population27,228
-
Median Income$126,667
-
VC Rate 20210.00
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20213.05-
Image SourceFacebook @BernardsTwp
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Population25,050
-
Median Income$130,091
-
VC Rate 20210.04
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20212.87-
Image SourceFacebook @TownofRidgefieldCT
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Population17,896
-
Median Income$186,493
-
VC Rate 20210.06
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 2021,2.96-
Image SourceFacebook @newcastleny
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Population18,532
-
Median Income$126,090
-
VC Rate 20210.22
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20211.67-
Image SourceTwitter @SpartaTwpNJ
-
Population21,755
-
Median Income$71,209
-
VC Rate 20210.23
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20211.75-
Image SourceWikimedia Commons, Dwight Burdette
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Population17,791
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Median Income$119,069
-
VC Rate 20210.06
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20213.20-
Image SourceFacebook @Town of Bedford Town Clerk - NY
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Population27,795
-
Median Income$108,667
-
VC Rate 20210.22
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20212.05-
Image SourceFacebook @TownOfNewtownCT
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Population18,975
-
Median Income$105,458
-
VC Rate 20210.05
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20213.48-
Image SourceFacebook @CityofSpringboro
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Population27,630
-
Median Income$132,409
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VC Rate 20210.14
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20212.82-
Image Source@ZionsvilleIN
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Population34,251
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Median Income$105,406
-
VC Rate 20210.23
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20212.22-
Image SourceWikimedia Commons, Daniel Case
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Population37,983
-
Median Income$97,365
-
VC Rate 20210.11
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20213.32-
Image SourceFacebook @Shrewsbury, MA (Community Forum)
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Population20,073
-
Median Income$104,891
-
VC Rate 20210.15
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20213.34-
Image SourceFacebook @eastchestertownhal
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Population27,228
-
Median Income$78,066
-
VC Rate 20210.18
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20213.09-
Image SourceFacebook @GlenCoveNeighbors
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Population39,171
-
Median Income$106,661
-
VC Rate 20210.15
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20213.34-
Image SourceFacebook Northampton Community Page
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Population21,912
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Median Income$87,707
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VC Rate 20210.14
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20213.70-
Image SourceFacebook @townshipofvernon
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Population25,224
-
Median Income$89,512
-
VC Rate 20210.20
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20213.37-
Image SourceFacebook @MuskegoWisconsin
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Population27,946
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Median Income$111,122
-
VC Rate 20210.00
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20215.26-
Image Sourcewww.harrison-ny.gov
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Population27,471
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Median Income$127,448
-
VC Rate 20210.40
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20212.22-
Image SourceFacebook @miltonlibrary
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Population22,755
-
Median Income$104,453
-
VC Rate 20210.13
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20214.44-
Image SourceFacebook @RoxburyTwpNJ
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Population25,305
-
Median Income$112,634
-
VC Rate 20210.12
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20214.58-
Image SourceFacebook @ReadingGov
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Population24,403
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Median Income$125,143
-
VC Rate 20210.41
![Circle Property]()
PC Rate 20212.21-
Image Sourcewww.westfordma.gov
Didn't find your city in the top 25?
We calculated crime rates for every city in the country that met our population threshold of 17,375. See how the remaining cities ranked in the list below.
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 2018.
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.⁴ The FBI data is from 2019 (the most recent year for which data was available). Our rankings were based solely on crime data; no other factors (such as COVID-19 rates) were included.
Population thresholds
We excluded towns with populations below 2,500 because those are considered rural by census definitions. Then, we set a population threshold (17,375) based on the median US population after those towns were excluded. Cities that fell below that 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).
To level the playing field, we calculated the rate of crimes per 1,000 people in each city. Both violent and property crime numbers were weighted equally. We also standardized violent and property crime for each state before weighting.
Check out our full methodology to learn more about how we rank the Safest Cities.
How to make a safe home anywhere
Whether your city made our list or not, we encourage everyone to be proactive about home security. Learn more about your home security options—and find out which companies we recommend for every budget and lifestyle in our roundup of the Best Home Security Systems.
Looking for your city?
Click on the state image or dropdown menu below to check out the safest cities for each state.
Related articles on SafeWise
Sources
- US Census Bureau, Toukabri and Medina. “Latest City and Town Population Estimates of the Decade Show Three-Fourths of the Nation’s Incorporated Places Have Fewer Than 5,000 People,” May 21, 2020. Accessed May 19, 2021.
- US Census Bureau, “City and Town Population Totals: 2010–2019,” April 20, 2021. Accessed May 19, 2021.
- US Census Bureau, Semega, Kollar, Shrider, and Creamer. “Income and Poverty in the United States: 2019,” September 15, 2020. Accessed May 19, 2021.
- FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting Program, “2019 Crime in the United States,” Accessed May 19, 2021.
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