For a state that’s home to one of the most violent cities in America, crime and safety can be a real worry, but there is some good safety news coming out of Delaware recently. Many cities, like Lewes and Milton, are upping police and community efforts and are actually getting safer according to 2016 FBI crime reports.
Large cities like Wilmington skew the crime statistics for the state as a whole and give Delaware a bad reputation for crime that it doesn’t deserve. Close-knit communities like Lewes actually boast property crime rates 27% lower and violent crime rates 79% lower than national averages. Their rates went from 2.67 violent crimes per 1,000 people in 2015 to 0.98. Property crimes also fell, going from 25.73 per 1,000 people to 20.55.
One safety initiative gaining traction across the state is Peace Week Delaware. Entering its third year, the week-long peace celebration happens in September and involves three counties. Another group, the Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence, has events in multiple cities across the state in hopes of finding solutions to gun violence and better supporting families touched by crime.
These efforts, along with others by police (like the new crackdown on distracted driving), make the First State one with many efforts to build safer communities. For even more information and resources in Delaware, see our Delaware Safety Directory, where you’ll find tips on emergency preparedness, crime prevention, and more.
The 10 Safest Cities in Delaware
1. Lewes
Population: 3,065
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.98
Property crimes per 1,000: 20.55
Total crime: 4.77% violent, 95.23% property
2. Milton
Population: 2,875
Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.04
Property crimes per 1,000: 11.13
Total crime: 9.34% violent, 90.66% property
3. Clayton
Population: 3,165
Violent crimes per 1,000: 1.90
Property crimes per 1,000: 11.69
Total crime: 16.25% violent, 83.75% property
4. Newark
Population: 34,297
Violent crimes per 1,000: 3.32
Property crimes per 1,000: 22.31
Total crime: 14.88% violent, 85.12% property
5. Middletown
Population: 20,666
Violent crimes per 1,000: 3.39
Property crimes per 1,000: 24.19
Total crime: 14.01% violent, 85.99% property
6. Selbyville
Population: 2,440
Violent crimes per 1,000: 3.69
Property crimes per 1,000: 31.97
Total crime: 11.54% violent, 88.46% property
7. Camden
Population: 3,512
Violent crimes per 1,000: 3.99
Property crimes per 1,000: 55.81
Total crime: 7.15% violent, 92.85% property
8. Elsmere
Population: 6,149
Violent crimes per 1,000: 4.55
Property crimes per 1,000: 24.56
Total crime: 18.53% violent, 81.47% property
9. Millsboro
Population: 4,286
Violent crimes per 1,000: 4.67
Property crimes per 1,000: 41.76
Total crime: 11.18% violent, 88.82% property
10. New Castle
Population: 5,392
Violent crimes per 1,000: 5.93
Property crimes per 1,000: 35.05
Total crime: 16.92% violent, 83.08% property
How We Chose the Safest Cities in Delaware
To identify the ten safest cities in Delaware, we reviewed the 2016 FBI crime report statistics and population data. Cities that fell below identified population thresholds or that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI were excluded from the ranking system.
Our evaluation is based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape, and robbery) in each city. If there was a tie, we also factored in the number of property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft). To level the playing field, we calculated the rate of crimes per 1,000 people in each city. This makes it easier to directly compare the likelihood of these crimes occurring in cities with vastly different populations.
Learn more about how we rank our Safest Cities Reports.
How to Make a Safe Home Anywhere
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.
If you would like to contact a SafeWise Safest Cities Analyst, please email info@safewise.com.
