The 25 safest cities to live in America

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Safety is a priority whether you’re choosing your next vacation spot, relocating for your career, or just exploring a new part of your city. It’s a constant, if muted, concern. 

While crime levels have generally been lowering over the past two decades, increased violent crime in some major U.S. cities this year has sparked a reinvigorated interest in public safety. 

Niche, a company that researches and compiles information on cities, recently released its annual list of the safest cities in the country.

The ranking provides an analysis of safety factors, such as violent and property crime rates per capita, determining the cities with the lowest overall levels. For reference, violent crime includes assault, murder, robbery, and rape, while property crime includes burglary, larceny, and vehicular theft.

California proved to be the safest state in the nation, taking 11 of the top 25 cities. A suburb of one of the country’s most dangerous cities landed in the number one spot. 

Read on for the 25 safest cities in America.

25. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Population: 445,623

Median household income: $67,001

Unemployment rate: 4.3%

Poverty rate: 8.3%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 146.4

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,174.9

24. Boise, Idaho

Population: 211,655

Median household income: $49,209

Unemployment rate: 5.3%

Poverty rate: 15.1%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 296.4

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,085.9

23. Boulder, Colorado

Population: 102,002

Median household income: $58,062

Unemployment rate: 4.6%

Poverty rate: 23.3%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 232

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,662.8

22. Richardson, Texas

Population: 103,752

Median household income: $70,959

Unemployment rate: 5.2%

Poverty rate: 10.4%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 169.2

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,274.4

21. Roseville, California

Population: 103,752

Median household income: $70,959

Unemployment rate: 5.2%

Poverty rate: 10.4%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 149.7

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,379.9

20. Temecula, California

Population: 104,955

Median household income: $78,535

Unemployment rate: 6.9%

Poverty rate: 8.1%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 92.4

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,340.5

19. Rochester, Minnesota

Population: 109,252

Median household income: $63,472

Unemployment rate: 3.5%

Poverty rate: 9.6%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 183.5

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,990

18. Bellevue, Washington

Population: 132,268

Median household income: $92,524

Unemployment rate: 4.7%

Poverty rate: 8.0%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 106.4

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 3,400.5

17. Cape Coral, Florida

Population: 161,804

Median household income: $49,841

Unemployment rate: 7.8%

Poverty rate: 13.6%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 143.4

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,938.8

16. Burbank, California

Population: 104,484

Median household income: $66,111

Unemployment rate: 6.1%

Poverty rate: 10.1%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 142.9

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,309.6

15. Carlsbad, California

Population: 109,296

Median household income: $87,416

Unemployment rate: 5.6%

Poverty rate: 10.4%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 181.7

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,541.5

14. Plano, Texas

Population: 271,166

Median household income: $82,944

Unemployment rate: 4.2%

Poverty rate: 7.5%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 165.2

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,974.7

13. Corona, California

Population: 157,395

Median household income: $77,021

Unemployment rate: 7.1%

Poverty rate: 11.3%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 106.1

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,135

 

12. Overland Park, Kansas

Population: 178,945

Median household income: $72,231

Unemployment rate: 3.7%

Poverty rate: 6.0%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 178.6

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,656.3

11. Santa Clara, California

Population: 119,525

Median household income: $93,840

Unemployment rate: 5.2%

Poverty rate: 9.0%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 133.8

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,698.3

10. Torrance, California

Population: 147,181

Median household income: $78,286

Unemployment rate: 5.3%

Poverty rate: 6.9%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 104.8

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,772.6

9. Fort Collins, Colorado

Population: 149,627

Median household income: $53,775

Unemployment rate: 5.3%

Poverty rate: 18.4%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 213.6

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,455.6

8. Port St. Lucie, Florida

Population: 169,260

Median household income: $48,898

Unemployment rate: 8.5%

Poverty rate: 15.2% 

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 141

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,448.5

7. Sunnyvale, California

Population: 145,921

Median household income: $103,257

Unemployment rate: 5.4%

Poverty rate: 7.9%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 111.8

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,577.2

6. Ann Arbor, Michigan

Population: 115,985

Median household income: $56,835

Unemployment rate: 4.0%

Poverty rate: 22.8%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 164.8

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,868.1

5. Orange, California

Population: 138,980

Median household income: $77,086

Unemployment rate: 6.2%

Poverty rate: 12.5%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 100.9

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,591.9

4. Round Rock, Texas

Population: 106,972

Median household income: $70,952

Unemployment rate: 5.3%

Poverty rate: 9.6%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 124.8

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,951

3. Glendale, California

Population: 195,380

Median household income: $52,451

Unemployment rate: 6.7%

Poverty rate: 14.6%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 94.4

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,559.3

2. Thousand Oaks, California

Population: 128,126

Median household income: $99,115

Unemployment rate: 6.4%

Poverty rate: 7.0%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 99.1

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,237.9

1. Naperville, Illinois

Population: 144,108

Median household income: $109,512

Unemployment rate: 4.7%

Poverty rate: 4.4%

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 77.6

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,123

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