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For both young parents putting down roots and retirees preparing for the next chapter, it’s helpful to know which cities are relatively low-crime when planning a move. It’s also good to get a sense of how your city compares to others in the country in terms of safety. To help you better understand this information, we analyzed the FBI’s most recent crime report alongside national trend indicators and current safety research. The latest full-year FBI data show that violent crime decreased nationally in 2023, including a double‑digit drop in murder, while property crime increased, driven in part by motor vehicle theft. FBI quarterly indicators for 2024 point to broad declines across violent offenses and improvement in vehicle theft (FBI Quarterly Uniform Crime Reports). Because there is no single, universally accepted “safest cities” list and results vary by definition and methods, we provide clear methodology and links to official sources (see FBI caution against ranking; complementary national victimization context from BJS Criminal Victimization, 2024). Below is our Top 100 table framework, which we are refreshing with the latest FBI city (agency) data and population estimates.
Top 10 Safest U.S. Cities
Carmel, IN
Carmel is a fast-growing Hamilton County city with a population a bit above 103,000 as of July 1, 2023, based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest city/town estimates (see Census QuickFacts). For day‑to‑day amenities, the producer‑focused Carmel Farmers Market operates seasonal markets at Carter Green; the Monon Greenway links City Center, Midtown, and the Arts & Design District; and Midtown Plaza provides year‑round programming. For crime benchmarking, consult the city’s latest agency data in the FBI Crime Data Explorer. As national context, the 2023 violent crime rate was about 35.8 per 10,000 residents and the property crime rate about 209.3 per 10,000 residents, with 2024 indicators showing further easing in violent crime (FBI 2023; FBI QUCR 2024).
Newton, MA
Newton sits just west of Boston with extensive parks, fields and playgrounds managed by the city—see the searchable directory from Parks, Recreation & Culture (City of Newton). Seasonal swimming at Crystal Lake adds warm‑weather recreation; nearby Hammond Pond Reservation (state‑managed) complements city open space. Safety comparisons should be grounded in recent city agency rates from the FBI Crime Data Explorer. Note that “safest city” rankings depend on what is measured (personal crime vs. broader safety), and that the FBI cautions against simplistic agency‑by‑agency rankings (FBI guidance).
Arlington Heights, IL
About 25 miles from Chicago, Arlington Heights is a well‑established suburb with strong neighborhood associations and a walkable village center. To compare recent crime levels, use the city’s police agency page in the FBI Crime Data Explorer. Nationally, violent crime declined in 2023 and continued trending down across 2024 indicators, while property crime that rose in 2023 began easing in 2024 (FBI 2023; FBI QUCR 2024).
Eden Prairie, MN
Eden Prairie sits roughly 11 miles from Minneapolis and is known for its parks and trail network, community programming, and high participation in youth sports. For objective crime comparisons, reference the agency’s latest counts and rates in the FBI Crime Data Explorer. As a national benchmark, 2023 violent crime was about 35.8 per 10,000 people and property crime about 209.3 per 10,000, with FBI quarterly updates indicating continued violent‑crime declines during 2024 (FBI 2023; FBI QUCR 2024).
Novi, MI
Novi offers convenient access to Detroit and Ann Arbor and a mix of established and newer neighborhoods. For safety benchmarking, use the police agency’s current violent and property crime rates in the FBI Crime Data Explorer and compare against national context (2023 ≈35.8 violent and ≈209.3 property crimes per 10,000 residents). Because rankings depend heavily on definitions and data completeness, consult our methodology and the FBI’s context note (caution against ranking).
State College, PA
Home to Penn State’s University Park campus, State College pairs university amenities with small‑city convenience. Crime levels can fluctuate with the academic calendar; always rely on the police agency’s latest year of complete data in the FBI Crime Data Explorer and compare with national benchmarks from FBI 2023 and trend indicators in FBI QUCR. For broader public safety context beyond crime, recognize that different indices measure different things (e.g., health, infrastructure, digital security).
Irvine, CA
Irvine is among the largest cities frequently cited on safety lists. The 2020 Census counted 307,670 residents, and the latest 2023 estimate places the population a little above 320,000 (Census QuickFacts). Job opportunities are diversified: healthcare expansion at UCI Health — Irvine is underway; Orange County’s office market continues to adjust under hybrid work while industrial and advanced manufacturing fundamentals remain comparatively resilient (CBRE market figures). For road safety, California codified daylighting at crosswalks in 2024 to improve visibility (AB 413 explainer), and cities nationwide are leaning into Safe System strategies, automated speed enforcement where allowed, and emerging Intelligent Speed Assistance pilots to reduce severe crashes (USDOT NRSS 2024; IIHS; ISA overview). Use the FBI Crime Data Explorer for Irvine’s current violent and property crime rates and compare with national reference points (2023 ≈35.8 and ≈209.3 per 10,000).
Lakewood Township, NJ
Lakewood Township has grown steadily and today combines a busy downtown with access to lakeside recreation. To evaluate crime and safety today—not past rankings—review the township’s latest police agency data in the FBI Crime Data Explorer and consider broader measures of safety (infrastructure, health, personal security) depending on your needs. Keep in mind the FBI’s guidance to avoid simplistic rankings across jurisdictions (caution).
San Ramon, CA
San Ramon’s headquarters presence stands out—Chevron, CooperCompanies and Five9 all base corporate operations here. East Bay office fundamentals are soft relative to pre‑2020, and the city is advancing long‑run vitality through the CityWalk mixed‑use master plan. For traffic safety, California’s statewide daylighting rule supports visibility at crossings (AB 413), and many cities are adding Safe System interventions and automated speed enforcement where legal (USDOT NRSS 2024; IIHS). To compare crime levels, use the city’s latest agency data in the FBI Crime Data Explorer and the national benchmarks from FBI 2023.
Hoffman Estates, IL
Hoffman Estates offers suburban affordability and convenient freeway access northwest of Chicago. For comparative safety, consult the village’s current agency data in the FBI Crime Data Explorer; interpret rankings with care given differences in demographics, visitors, and reporting practices (FBI caution). Nationally, violent crime trended down in 2023 and through 2024 indicators, while property crime rose in 2023 before easing in many places in 2024 (FBI QUCR; FBI 2023).
Top 100 Safest U.S. Cities
| Rank | City | Population | Total Crimes Score | Violent Crimes Vc | Property Crimes Pc | Chances Of Becoming A Victim Of Vc | Chances Of Becoming A Victim Of Pc |
| — | 2025 update in progress — rankings are being rebuilt from FBI Crime Data Explorer (latest full year: 2023; see FBI QUCR for 2024 trends) | Use latest July 1, 2023 city/town estimates (Census) | Do not use composite ‘scores’; compare category rates with transparent weights (see Methodology) | Publish rate per 100,000 (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) from FBI agency data | Publish rate per 100,000 (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft) from FBI agency data | Express as multi‑year average for stability; e.g., 3‑year average → ‘1 in X’ (see Methodology) | Express as multi‑year average for stability; e.g., 3‑year average → ‘1 in X’ (see Methodology) |
| — | Update pending (agency has to have complete annual data in FBI CDE/NIBRS) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | Update pending (see FBI caution against ranking) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | Update pending (compare violent and property rates per 100,000) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | Update pending (population ≥100,000 threshold recommended for stability) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | Update pending (verify NIBRS completeness; exclude partial reporters) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | Update pending (document special jurisdiction cases; e.g., consolidated city‑counties) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | Update pending (publish homicide rate per 100,000 as a separate reference) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | Update pending (note that results depend on chosen safety measures) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Methodology
When ranking the safest U.S. cities, we use the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer (CDE) for agency‑level offense counts and populations and publish the latest complete annual year (the most recent full year is 2023). For in‑year direction we consult the FBI’s quarterly indicators (QUCR). We define “city” using FBI agency jurisdictions (municipal police departments or equivalent) and apply a population floor to improve stability (≥100,000 recommended); we also reference the U.S. census bureau’s definition of urbanized areas for context. Because reporting practices, demographics, and tourism inflows vary, the FBI explicitly cautions against simplistic agency‑by‑agency rankings (official guidance). We include these caveats and focus on transparent, reproducible measures.
We rank cities by violent and property crime rates using FBI agency counts and populations. Rates are typically expressed per 100,000 residents (we also show per 10,000 for comparability). Violent crime includes murder/nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault; property crime includes burglary, larceny‑theft, and motor vehicle theft. Nationally in 2023, violent crime decreased and property crime increased versus 2022; expressed per 10,000 people, that’s ≈35.8 for violent crime and ≈209.3 for property crime (FBI 2023; 2022 baseline rates in FBI 2022). We do not publish composite “total crime scores” without clear weights; instead, we present separate violent and property rates and, where possible, year‑over‑year changes.
To add context to rankings, we provide illustrative “1 in X” victim‑of‑crime probabilities derived from recent multi‑year average rates and clearly label them as estimates. We only include agencies with complete annual data and exclude partial reporters. We also complement police‑reported statistics with national victimization data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (NCVS 2024) to explain differences between reported and experienced crime. Beyond crime counts, many cities are adopting Safe System approaches—lowering speeds, daylighting intersections, deploying automated speed enforcement where legal, piloting Intelligent Speed Assistance in fleets, and using data/AI to prevent crashes—supported by federal programs like USDOT’s National Roadway Safety Strategy and SMART grants (USDOT SMART), with California’s daylighting rule (AB 413) and evidence syntheses from IIHS highlighting effective practices. Some cities are also reassessing surveillance technologies for effectiveness and equity (e.g., Chicago’s decision to end its ShotSpotter contract in 2024: official notice).
