The Safest Cities in America

More than 1.1 million violent crimes were reported in the United States in 2014, or 366 incidents per 100,000 Americans. Compared with 2013, the U.S. violent crime rate fell by 1%. The 2014 violent crime rate was also 9.6% lower compared to 2010, and 22.1% lower compared to 2005. However, violent crime rates, as well as any improvements, are by no means uniform across the country. Some of the nation’s cities are far safer than others.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed violent crime rates in major U.S. cities from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) most recent Uniform Crime Report. Violent crime includes murder, nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. This year, Irvine, California, ranked as the safest city in the country, with a violent crime rate of 49 incidents per 100,000 people.

While it is difficult to identify the root causes of violent behavior, violence is often conducted in similar contexts, and cities with especially low violent crime rates frequently share social and economic characteristics. In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., John Roman, senior fellow at the Urban Institute, a social policy research think tank, explained, “Places that are experiencing consistent economic growth tend to be the safest places in America.”

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These areas are economically prosperous — and so are the residents. The median annual household income in all but two of the 25 safest cities exceeds the national income level of $53,657. Similarly, the poverty rate in all but two of the 25 cities is lower than the national rate of 15.5%.

How these factors contribute to violent crime is still unclear, however. Roman noted that poverty, for example, may not be the cause of crime but rather the consequence. “The effect is young men who don’t have jobs, who dropped out of school, who aren’t trying to learn new skills.” People in these circumstances, often turn to illegal activity to make up for the economic hardship. Unfortunately, as Roman explained, “The reality is that being a drug dealer, or an arms dealer, actually doesn’t pay very well. So that accelerates the cycle of poverty.”

The safest cities tend to have relatively low unemployment rates. While individuals considered as unemployed are necessarily looking for work, a weak job market is also home to relatively high numbers of people who are not looking for a job and are generally unengaged. As Roman explained, “The number one predictor of crime is dense areas of disconnected young men.”

Education levels, which are general predictors of income levels, also tend to be tied to violent crime. Adults in 20 of the 25 safest cities are more likely to have completed at least high school than their peers nationwide. While again it is difficult to determine which comes first, “places with high educational attainment and relatively higher incomes have more opportunities for citizens, so the choice to commit crime becomes less appealing,” said Roman.

24/7 Wall St. considered only the nation’s largest cities, but the ones with the lowest crime rates tended to have relatively small populations. All of the 25 safest cities have populations between 100,000 and 250,000 people. By contrast, some of the nation’s largest urban centers, such as New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles, are each home to several millions of people. These three U.S. cities each reported 597, 884, and 491 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, respectively.

Many of the safest cities are frequently highly desirable places to live because of their proximity to major urban centers.These larger metropolitan centers tend to offer cultural and economic amenities and benefits, including high-paying jobs. However, they also tend to have higher crime rates. In this sense, residents of smaller cities outside these areas benefit from the best of both worlds.

To identify the 25 safest cities in the country, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed violent crime rates in U.S. cities with at least 100,000 people from the FBI’s 2014 Uniform Crime Report. The numbers and rates of murders, non negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, which are included in the violent crime rate, as well as burglaries, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson — all classified as property crime — also came from the FBI’s report. We also considered data for each year from 2010 through 2014. Annual unemployment rates for 2014 came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Median household income, poverty rates, the percentage of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree, and the percentage of adults with at least a high school diploma came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS).

These are America’s 25 safest cities.

25. Centennial, Colorado
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 132
> 2014 murders: 0
> Poverty rate: 4.8%
> Unemployment rate: 4.7%

There were 161 violent crimes per 100,000 Centennial residents in 2010. Since then, the violent crime rate has steadily declined. In 2014, only 132 violent crimes were reported per 100,000 residents, the 25th lowest violent crime rate in the United States. Violent crime tends to be less prevalent in affluent areas, and Centennial, Colorado is no exception. The typical household brings in $91,354 annually, making Centennial one of the wealthiest cities in the country.

Higher educational attainment rates also tend to accompany low crime rates. In Centennial, 97.9% of adults have a high school diploma, the highest educational attainment rate of all major U.S. cities.

24. McAllen, Texas
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 131
> 2014 murders: 6
> Poverty rate: 26.2%
> Unemployment rate: 5.6%

Bordering Mexico near the southernmost tip of the Lone Star State, McAllen is one of the safest U.S. cities. While most of the safest cities in the country have high educational attainment, high incomes, and low poverty rates, McAllen is an exception. With an annual median household income of just $48,929, McAllen is one of only two of the safest cities where the typical household income is less than the nationwide median household income. Additionally, only 73.9% of area adults have earned a high school diploma, the smallest share of the 25 safest cities and considerably lower than the national high school attainment rate of 86.9%. Most unusual perhaps is the city’s high poverty rate. Over one quarter of area residents live in poverty, one of the highest poverty rates of any city in the country.

Despite lagging behind much of the country in several economic measures, only 131 violent crimes were reported in McAllen for every 100,000 city residents in 2014. The national violent crime rate of 366 reported incidents per 100,000 Americans is more than double the rate in McAllen.

23. Carrollton, Texas
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 129
> 2014 murders: 1
> Poverty rate: 11.1%
> Unemployment rate: 4.6%

With 129 reported violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents in 2014, Carrollton, Texas is one of the safest cities in the country. Robberies and aggravated assaults accounted for the bulk of the city’s violent crimes, and there was only one documented murder case last year.

The economic conditions in the Dallas suburb are closely associated with the city’s low violent crime rate. With an unemployment rate of 4.6% — one of the lowest in the nation — a larger segment of the population is gainfully employed and therefore less likely to gravitate towards crime. People in Carrollton are also less likely to be in desperate financial situations that frequently lead to criminal activity. Only 11.1% of Carrollton residents live below the poverty line. The poverty rate across the United States is 15.5%.

22. Fremont, California
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 125
> 2014 murders: 1
> Poverty rate: 6.2%
> Unemployment rate: 4.6%

California is home to 11 of the safest cities in the country, and Fremont is one of them. Like many of the country’s safest cities, Fremont residents are quite wealthy. The typical area household earns $106,921 annually, the second highest median household income of any city in the nation. Located roughly 20 miles outside of Silicon Valley, Fremont is likely home to a large share of tech industry workers. Adults in Fremont are also highly educated. More than half of all adults in the city have earned at least a bachelor’s degree. By contrast, only 30.1% of American adults have similar educational attainment. Of the 14,249 reported homicides in the United States in 2014, only one occurred in the Fremont, California metro area.

21. Round Rock, Texas
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 125
> 2014 murders: 0
> Poverty rate: 12.4%
> Unemployment rate: 4.1%

Situated 20 miles north of the state capitol, Austin, Round Rock is one of four Texas cities among the 25 safest in the United States. With no known murders, the 72 reported incidents of aggravated assault accounted for the largest share of violent crimes in Round Rock in 2014. Like many of the cities with low violent crime rates, property crimes were also relatively rare in Round Rock. Only 1,951 property crimes were reported per 100,000 Round Rock residents in 2014, far lower than the nationwide average of 2,596 property crimes per 100,000 people.

The safest cities are also often prosperous, and Round Rock residents are not poor. The typical Round Rock household earns $73,098 annually, significantly more than the national median household income of $53,657.

20. Woodbridge Township, New Jersey
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 115
> 2014 murders: 0
> Poverty rate: N/A
> Unemployment rate: N/A

Last year, only 19 cities reported no murders whatsoever, and Woodbridge Township is one of them. Home to roughly 101,000 people, reported robberies and aggravated assaults accounted for nearly all of the 116 violent crimes committed in the city last year.

Woodbridge Township is located just 20 miles away from Newark, New Jersey, a city that ranks among the most dangerous in the country. Newark’s violent crime rate of 1,078 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2014 was nearly three times higher than the national violent crime rate of 366 incidents per 100,000 Americans.

19. Sunnyvale, California
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 112
> 2014 murders: 1
> Poverty rate: 7.1%
> Unemployment rate: 4.7%

Sunnyvale slipped in ranking from the 10th safest city in the country last year to 19th safest this year, as the area’s violent crime rate increased from 97.2 reported incidents per 100,000 residents in 2013 to 112 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2014. Still a relatively safe place, Sunnyvale residents are among the wealthiest in the country. A typical household in the area brings in $104,681 annually, more than in all but two other cities in the country. Sunnyvale residents are also more likely to have higher educational attainment. Roughly 63% of area adults have a bachelor’s degree, a higher college attainment rate than in all but a handful of other cities.

18. Simi Valley, California
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 111
> 2014 murders: 0
> Poverty rate: 8.6%
> Unemployment rate: 5.9%

With 111 reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents, Simi Valley, California is one of the safest cities in the country. No murders were reported in the city last year. Aggravated assault accounted for the bulk of the violent crimes with 89 total incidents.

Low poverty rates often accompany low crime rates, and Simi Valley is no exception. Only 8.6% of area residents live below the poverty line, one of the lowest poverty rates in the country, and considerably lower than the national poverty rate of 15.5%. Area residents also report high incomes. The typical Simi Valley household earns $82,168 annually, significantly more than the median household income across the country of $53,657.

17. Surprise, Arizona
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 110
> 2014 murders: 4
> Poverty rate: 12.2%
> Unemployment rate: 6.5%

Last year, 110 violent crimes per 100,000 people were reported in Surprise, Arizona, down from the previous year’s violent crime rate of 122 incidents per 100,000 people — also one of the lowest rates that year. Like a number of other safe U.S. cities, Surprise residents have economic and social advantages of living close enough to a major metropolitan center — that can provide high-paying jobs — but also living far enough to avoid the typically higher crime rates found in larger urban areas. Surprise is located roughly 25 miles from downtown Phoenix, where crime is far more common. Crime is also far more common in poorer areas, and Surprise residents are not poor. The area’s poverty rate of 12.2% is one of the lower rates compared to other U.S. cities and well below the U.S. rate of 15.5%.

16. Amherst Town, New York
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 108
> 2014 murders: 1
> Poverty rate: N/A
> Unemployment rate: N/A

After falling from 2010 through 2012, the violent crime rate in Amherst, New York increased from 75 reported incidents per 100,000 residents in 2012 to 108 per 100,000 residents last year. Despite the increase, Amherst is still one of the safest cities in the country.

Amherst is located roughly 15 miles outside of Buffalo, New York, which is one of the most dangerous cities in the country. In stark contrast to Amherst’s low violent crime rate, 1,228 violent crimes were reported per 100,000 residents in Buffalo, the 14th highest violent crime rate in the country. Also, as is usually the case in the nation’s safest cities, property crimes were also very uncommon in Amherst. For instance, just 37 motor vehicle thefts per 100,000 people were reported in the city, versus the 216 per 100,000 Americans nationwide.

15. Bellevue, Washington
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 106
> 2014 murders: 2
> Poverty rate: 7.4%
> Unemployment rate: 4.1%

As in many of the safest cities in the country, adults in Bellevue are more likely to have high educational attainment. Nearly 64% of the city’s adult population has a bachelor’s degree, a larger share than in all but a handful of other U.S. cities, and more than double the national share. Higher educational attainment contributes to higher incomes in the area. The typical household in Bellevue earns $95,146 annually, about $41,000 more than the national median income.

While in most of the safest cities crime is low across the board, Bellevue is an exception. Roughly 3,400 incidents of property crime were reported in the city per 100,000 residents in 2014. Across the nation, property crime is considerably less common with 2,596 reported incidents per 100,000 people.

14. Corona, California
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 106
> 2014 murders: 0
> Poverty rate: 11.4%
> Unemployment rate: 6.5%

Of the 14,249 murders and non-negligent manslaughters reported across the nation in 2014, none occurred in Corona, California. The 48 aggravated assaults per 100,000 Corona residents, while the most common violent crime in the city, was a fraction of the national aggravated assault rate of 233 per 100,000 Americans. As in most of the nation’s safest cities, Corona residents are relatively wealthy. A typical household earns $69,407 annually, versus the national median household income of $53,657. On the other hand, unlike most of the nation’s 25 safest cities, Corona’s unemployment rate of 6.5% is slightly higher than the national jobless rate of 6.2%.

13. Torrance, California
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 105
> 2014 murders: 2
> Poverty rate: 6.8%
> Unemployment rate: 5.8%

The violent crime rate in Torrance has declined each year since 2012. Last year, 105 violent crimes were reported per 100,000 people in the city, down from 127 per 100,000 area residents in the previous year.

Compared to Americans living in the nation’s largest cities, adults in Torrance are among the most likely to have completed college. Nearly half of all adults in the city have at least a bachelor’s degree, versus the less than one-third of adults nationwide who have similar education. Just as more educated populations are less likely to commit violent crimes, a college education helps increase income. Torrance households are some of the nation’s wealthiest, with a median annual income of $80,198, about $27,000 more than the national median income. The city’s poverty rate of 6.8% is also one of the lowest in the country, at less than half the nationwide rate of 15.5%.

12. Orange, California
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 101
> 2014 murders: 0
> Poverty rate: 13.7%
> Unemployment rate: 5.2%

Orange, California is one of only 19 U.S. cities with no reported murders in 2014. Other types of violent crime, including robbery and aggravated assault, were relatively uncommon. The city’s total violent crime rate of 101 incidents per 100,000 residents is well below the national rate of 366 incidents per 100,000 people. As in most of the safest cities in the country, non violent crimes in Orange are also low. City residents reported 1,592 property crimes per 100,000 people, one of the lowest such rates in the country and considerably lower than the nationwide rate of 2,596 incidents per 100,000 people.

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With fewer than 100 incidents of violent crime per 100,000 residents in 2014, Thousand Oaks is one of the safest cities in the country. The city reported only one murder last year, and only five other cities had fewer robberies than the 22 robberies reported in Thousand Oaks.

One of the reasons for the low crime rates in Thousand Oaks is likely the small share of area residents living below the poverty line, which itself may help maintain the safety of the city in the future. Only 11 major U.S. cities have a lower poverty rate than Thousand Oaks’ rate of 6.6%.

10. Edison Township, New Jersey
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 96
> 2014 murders: 0
> Poverty rate: N/A
> Unemployment rate: N/A

Though it ranks as one of the safest cities in the country, Edison Township is located only about 25 miles from Newark — one of the nation’s most dangerous cities. According to 2014 crime statistics, while Edison Township had no murders and only 96 incidents of violent crime for every 100,000 residents, there were 93 murders in Newark, contributing to the city’s violent crime rate of 1,078 incidents for every 100,000 residents.

Last year’s violent crime rate in Edison Township marked a substantial decrease from the previous year’s figures. There were roughly 25 fewer incidents per 100,00 people in 2014 than there were in 2013 when the rate was 121.4 violent crimes per 100,000 people.

9. Glendale, California
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 94
> 2014 murders: 0
> Poverty rate: 16.6%
> Unemployment rate: 8.0%

With more hours of free time and added financial stress, unemployed individuals are often more likely to commit crimes than their gainfully employed peers. However, despite ranking as one of the nation’s safest cities, Glendale’s unemployment rate is exceptionally high, at 8% last year. Similarly, while the vast majority of the nation’s safest cities are also some of the wealthiest, Glendale residents are not especially wealthy. The city’s median annual household income of $51,020 and poverty rate of 16.6% were each worse than the corresponding national figures. Education levels are also closely tied to crime rates. In Glendale, 85.2% of adults have at least a high school diploma. While this is one of the lower rates, the area’s college attainment rate of 37.4% is one of the nation’s higher college attainment rates.

8. Temecula, California
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 92
> 2014 murders: 2
> Poverty rate: 6.3%
> Unemployment rate: 6.0%

Eleven of the country’s 25 safest cities are in California. One of these cities, Temecula, reported 92 violent crimes per 100,000 area residents last year, the eighth lowest violent crime rate in the nation. Temecula is not quite within commuting distance of Los Angeles or San Diego, but its location between the two major urban centers is likely a desirable feature of living in Temecula. City residents also have relative ease of access to several of California’s beaches. Cities with amenities such as these are often prosperous. Temecula residents are some of the nation’s wealthiest and least likely to live in poverty. A typical area household earns $80,753 annually, and just 6.3% of people live in poverty. By contrast, a typical American household earns $53,657 annually, and 15.5% of Americans live in poverty.

7. Gilbert, Arizona
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 89
> 2014 murders: 0
> Poverty rate: 6.8%
> Unemployment rate: 4.7%

Only a handful of cities have a lower violent crime rate than Gilbert, Arizona. Gilbert is one of only 11 major U.S. metro areas with a violent crime rate of fewer than 100 incidents for every 100,000 residents. As is often the case, low crime in Gilbert is accompanied by low unemployment, high incomes, and a large share of adults with a high school diploma. Only 4.7% of the city’s workforce is unemployed, a significantly smaller share than the national unemployment rate of 6.2%. Additionally, roughly 96% of all area adults have graduated high school, a higher rate than in all but seven other U.S. metro areas. Households in Gilbert also have among the highest incomes in the country. Median annual household income in the metro area is $84,153. By contrast, the typical American household earns $53,657 annually.

The city of Frisco and its residents are exceptionally well off even compared to the wealthy cities comprising the nation’s 25 safest cities. Toyota’s North American headquarters, Liberty Mutual Insurance’s West Plano location, FedEx Office’s corporate offices, and the headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys are all within commuting distance of the city. Billions of dollars are expected to be invested in the area, according to the Dallas Business Journal — on top of investments already made over the city’s history. Residents have also prospered. A typical household earns $115,603 annually, the highest of cities reviewed. The poverty rate of just 3% is also nearly the lowest in the nation. Partially as a consequence of these strong economic indicators, Frisco’s violent crime rate of 82 incidents per 100,000 residents trails only five other large U.S. cities.

5. Naperville, Illinois
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 78
> 2014 murders: 1
> Poverty rate: 5%
> Unemployment rate: 5.5%

As many as 97.3% of Naperville adults have graduated high school, the second largest share in the country after Centennial, Colorado. Disengaged, relatively unskilled, young men are the most likely perpetrators of criminal activity. With nearly every area adult having completed high school, crime rates in Naperville are very low. Only 78 violent crimes were reported for every 100,000 area residents in 2014, a lower violent crime rate than in all but a handful of other U.S. cities. Property crimes such as burglary and motor vehicle theft are also relatively rare in Naperville. Some 1,123 property crimes were reported per 100,000 residents last year, less than half the national property crime rate of about 2,596 incidents for every 100,000 Americans.

4. Olathe, Kansas
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 76
> 2014 murders: 0
> Poverty rate: 8.4%
> Unemployment rate: 3.6%

Olathe touts its two public lakes, high-performing school system, and well-financed public safety services as key features of its prosperous community. The city is a popular destination for hot air ballooning and sailboarding enthusiasts. Like a number of America’s safest cities, Olathe is conveniently located near a concentrated urban center. Kansas City, with the economic and cultural amenities typically found in such large metropolitan centers, is only 20 miles from Olathe. In addition to these qualities, Olathe residents benefit from one of the lowest violent crime rates in the nation. Murders — included in the rate — are virtually nonexistent in the city. And while crime rates did not necessarily decline over the past several years in many of the safest cities, Olathe’s 2014 violent crime rate declined considerably from the previous year.

Cary, North Carolina is one of only five of the 25 safest U.S. cities where the violent crime rate has steadily declined since 2010. Though violent crime was relatively uncommon in Cary in 2010 with roughly 85 incidents per 100,000 residents, the rate declined to as few as 63 incidents for every 100,000 residents last year.

Low unemployment and high educational attainment rates in the area have likely contributed to the scarcity of violent crime. The city’s unemployment rate of 3.7% is one of the lowest in the country and significantly lower than the national unemployment rate of 6.2%. Additionally, roughly 62% of area adults have at least a bachelor’s degree, a larger share than in only a handful of other U.S. cities.

2. Murrieta, California
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 63
> 2014 murders: 1
> Poverty rate: 7.4%
> Unemployment rate: 6.6%

Low violent crime rate areas are often isolated to specific communities bordering more violent cities. McAllen, Texas, for example, borders Edinburgh, which has a relatively high crime rate. Murrieta, however, borders Temecula, another of the nation’s safest cities. Like Temecula, Murrieta residents have the benefit of a convenient location, both in terms of luxury and economic opportunity. Some of California’s coveted beaches, as well as the dense urban centers of Los Angeles and San Diego, are within one or two hours drive from Murrieta. Area residents are among the least likely Americans to live in poverty, as just 7.4% of people live in poverty, half the national rate. Financial stability likely contributes to the safety of the city’s communities. Murrieta’s crime rate of 63 per 100,000 people is lower than every city except for Irvine, and crime has also fallen in each of the past four years.

1. Irvine, California
> Violent crimes per 100,000: 49
> 2014 murders: 0
> Poverty rate: 12.6%
> Unemployment rate: 4.1%

Of the 11 cities on the list located in California, Irvine is the safest. With no reported murders in 2014 and a violent crime rate of less than one incident for every 2,000 residents, Irvine is also the safest city in the country. Adults in the metro area are much more likely to be educated than adults across the nation. While 30.1% of American adults have earned a bachelor’s degree, 67.7% of adults in Irvine have earned a bachelor’s degree, a higher educational attainment rate than in all but four other U.S. cities.

Property crime is similarly rare in Irvine. At roughly 1,253 reported incidents of crimes such as larceny and burglary for every 100,000 area residents, only a handful of cities had a lower property crime rate than Irvine in 2014. By comparison, the national property crime rate the same year was more than double at 2,596 incidents for every 100,000 people.

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