Connecticut is the third-smallest state by area, but this southern New England exemplar is big on greatness. Along with inviting beach towns, a wealth of art and culture, and antiquing galore, Connecticut also boasts the nation’s highest per capita personal income. Ranking first on the Human Development Index (an average of education, life expectancy, and salaries in all fifty states) is another feather in its cap.
Connecticut’s achievements follow through to its commendable safety record. According to the most recent FBI crime report, the state’s overall crime rate is approximately 30% lower than the United States average. Even more impressive is that altogether, the fifty safest cities in Connecticut are 65% safer than the nation as a whole.
Although all crime is concerning, violent offenses tend to worry citizens the most. Residents of Connecticut’s fifty safest communities will be relieved to learn that on average these cities reported less than one violent crime per 1,000 people in 2015. Twenty-eight of the cities on our list cited no more than ten violent crimes, with four of these cities—Weston, Easton, Madison, and Redding—reporting none.
Similar to violent crime, property crime was also scarce in our featured cities. Every city but five reported fewer than fifteen property crimes per 1,000 people. To put that in perspective, the national average is almost twenty-five property crimes per 1,000 individuals. We send additional congratulations to the citizens and law enforcement officers of New Milford and Old Saybrook, which cited just two and three burglaries, respectively. About 300 theft reports were filed with police in thirtieth-ranked Shelton, but that’s still remarkably few for a city with a population of over 40,000.
You’re less likely to be affected by crime if you live in one of the Constitution State’s safest cities, but it’s still important to take proactive security measures. Turn to our Connecticut Safety Directory for burglary prevention tips, crime prevention resources, and other information to help safeguard your home and loved ones.
How We Chose the Safest Cities in Connecticut
To identify the 50 safest cities in Connecticut, we reviewed the most recent FBI Crime Report statistics from 2015, along with population data. We eliminated all cities with fewer than 5,000 residents as well as any cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI.
From there, we evaluated the remaining cities. We narrowed it down based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) and property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft) in each city. To further level the playing field, we calculated the likelihood of these crimes occurring out of 1,000 people in each city.
Learn more about how we rank our Safest Cities reports.
1. Weston ↑Previous rank: 3 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.00 |
2. Easton ↑Previous rank: 4 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.00 |
3. Madison ↑Previous rank: 10 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.00 |
4. Wilton ↓Previous rank: 2 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.05 |
5. Ridgefield ↓Previous rank: 1 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.08 |
6. Canton ↑Previous rank: 13 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.10 |
7. Simsbury ↑Previous rank: 11 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.12 |
8. Newtown ↑Previous rank: 9 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.42 |
9. Monroe ↑Previous rank: 17 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.15 |
10. Suffield ↓Previous rank: 6 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.06 |
11. Greenwich ↑Previous rank: 15 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.17 |
12. Plainfield ↑Previous rank: 14 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 1.19 |
13. Cheshire ↑Previous rank: 20 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.31 |
14. Redding ↓Previous rank: 5 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.00 |
15. East Hampton ↓Previous rank: 7 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.31 |
16. New Canaan ↓Previous rank: 8 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.10 |
17. Granby ↑Previous rank: 18 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.18 |
18. Coventry ↑Previous rank: 28 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.08 |
19. Thomaston ↑Previous rank: 27 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.52 |
20. Portland ↓Previous rank: 12 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.32 |
21. Avon ↓Previous rank: 23 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.11 |
22. Middlebury ↓Previous rank: 16 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.26 |
23. Brookfield ↑Previous rank: 24 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.35 |
24. Bethel ↓Previous rank: 19 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.20 |
25. Guilford ↑Previous rank: 40 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.58 |
26. Westport ↑Previous rank: 31 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.22 |
27. Darien ↓Previous rank: 22 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.14 |
28. Glastonbury ↓Previous rank: 21 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.46 |
29. Seymour ↓Previous rank: 26 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.73 |
30. Shelton ↓Previous rank: 25 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.74 |
31. South Windsor ↑Previous rank: 33 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.66 |
32. Old Saybrook ↑Previous rank: 41 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 1.17 |
33. Putnam ↑Previous rank: 59 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 2.67 |
34. North Branford ↓Previous rank: 32 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.28 |
35. Vernon ↓Previous rank: 30 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 1.00 |
36. Wethersfield ↓Previous rank: 35 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 1.21 |
37. New Milford ↓Previous rank: 29 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.73 |
38. Wallingford ↓Previous rank: 34 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.89 |
39. Wolcott ↑Previous rank: 49 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.30 |
40. Woodbridge ↓Previous rank: 39 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.22 |
41. Windsor Locks ↑Previous rank: 57 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.48 |
42. Stonington ↑Previous rank: 45 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 1.03 |
43. Fairfield ↑Previous rank: 54 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.34 |
44. Willimantic ↑Previous rank: 52 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 1.40 |
45. Groton Town ↑Previous rank: 56 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 1.51 |
46. Berlin ↓Previous rank: 37 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.72 |
47. Windsor ↓Previous rank: 42 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.65 |
48. Plymouth ↓Previous rank: 36 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 0.76 |
49. Stamford ↓Previous rank: 47 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 2.20 |
50. Middletown ↑Previous rank: 55 Violent Crimes per 1,000: 1.36 |
How Safe is Your Home?
Wherever you live, feeling safe in your home can bring greater peace of mind and happiness. Whether your city made our list or not, we recommend adding extra security to your home with monitored security services provided by the nation’s leading home security providers.
To learn more about the home security options available to you, check out SafeWise’s picks for Best Home Security Systems of 2018 or select the city nearest you in the drop down menu below.
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