Kudos to the residents of Thetford Township, the safest city in Michigan. Not only does this Genesee County township boast the lowest violent crime rate among the 20 safest cities in the state but also the lowest property crime rate. Along with Michigan’s second-safest city, Raisin Township, Thetford reported no incidents of violent crime in 2016, based on the most recent FBI crime report.
While these two cities ranked highest on our list, every city in the top 20 cited remarkably few incidents of violent crime, with an average of just 0.34 crimes of this type reported for every 1,000 people—that’s 93% lower than the national average. Equally impressive is that, on average, violent offenses such as murder, rape, and robbery, accounted for less than 5% of all crimes reported by Michigan’s 20 safest cities.
From small towns like Oakland Township and Northville to much more populated ones like Bloomfield Township and Novi, all 20 safest cities in the Great Lakes State experienced significantly low property crime rates. With an average of just seven property crimes reported per 1,000 people (compared to the US average of 28), it’s easy to see why these cities made our list.
Help protect your loved ones and make your city safer by checking out our Michigan Safety Directory, where you’ll find home security information, emergency preparedness tips, and links to safety programs.
The 20 Safest Cities in Michigan
1. Thetford Township
Population: 6,696
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.00
Property crimes per 1,000: 1.19
Total crime: 0% violent, 100% property
2. Raisin Township
Population: 7,577
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.00
Property crimes per 1,000: 3.56
Total crime: 0% violent, 100% property
3. Kinross Township
Population: 7,536
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.13
Property crimes per 1,000: 1.73
Total crime: 7.69% violent, 92.31% property
4. Gaines Township
Population: 6,177
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.16
Property crimes per 1,000: 4.05
Total crime: 4.00% violent, 96.00% property
5. East Grand Rapids
Population: 11,436
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.17
Property crimes per 1,000: 8.31
Total crime: 2.11% violent, 97.89% property
6. Grosse Ile Township
Population: 10,123
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.20
Property crimes per 1,000: 1.48
Total crime: 13.33% violent, 86.67% property
7. Beverly Hills
Population: 10,455
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.29
Property crimes per 1,000: 7.65
Total crime: 3.75% violent, 96.25% property
8. Oakland Township
Population: 19,659
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.31
Property crimes per 1,000: 2.65
Total crime: 11.54% violent, 88.46% property
9. Huntington Woods
Population: 6,360
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.31
Property crimes per 1,000: 6.76
Total crime: 4.65% violent, 95.35% property
10. Northville
Population: 6,019
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.33
Property crimes per 1,000: 9.30
Total crime: 3.57% violent, 96.43% property
11. Northville Township
Population: 28,890
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.42
Property crimes per 1,000: 11.87
Total crime: 3.50% violent, 96.50% property
12. Birmingham
Population: 21,012
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.43
Property crimes per 1,000: 11.52
Total crime: 3.72% violent, 96.28% property
13. Commerce Township
Population: 38,218
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.47
Property crimes per 1,000: 9.37
Total crime: 5.03% violent, 94.97% property
14. Bloomfield Township
Population: 42,313
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.47
Property crimes per 1,000: 9.95
Total crime: 4.75% violent, 95.25% property
15. Farmington
Population: 10,553
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.47
Property crimes per 1,000: 11.09
Total crime: 4.27% violent, 95.73% property
16. White Lake Township
Population: 31,135
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.48
Property crimes per 1,000: 10.25
Total crime: 4.70% violent, 95.30% property
17. Springfield Township
Population: 14,467
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.48
Property crimes per 1,000: 5.46
Total crime: 8.86% violent, 91.14% property
18. Novi
Population: 59,441
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.54
Property crimes per 1,000: 11.12
Total crime: 4.84% violent, 95.16% property
19. Grosse Pointe Farms
Population: 9,188
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.54
Property crimes per 1,000: 17.09
Total crime: 3.18% violent, 96.82% property
20. Plymouth
Population: 8,865
Violent crimes per 1,000: 0.56
Property crimes per 1,000: 9.93
Total crime: 5.68% violent, 94.32% property
How We Chose the Safest Cities in Michigan
To identify the 20 safest cities in Michigan, 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.
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.
Written by Alexia Chianis
Wanderlust junky and mom of two, Alexia is a former police officer and U.S. Army Captain who draws on her experiences to write about a myriad of safety topics. Learn more