Rhode Island’s Safest Cities of 2025

See crime rates for the safest cities.

According to our most recent State of Safety report, residents of Rhode Island experience some of the lowest levels of gun violence, violent crime, and property crime in the nation. Rhode Islanders worry about these issues less than the average American, but they're starting to feel more concerned about some issues than in previous years.

We didn't have enough viable data to calculate statewide crime rates this year, but our annual State of Safety survey offers insight into crime experiences and concerns across The Ocean State.

Half of the Rhode Islanders we surveyed said they felt safe in their state, which represents an 11-point decrease year over year. Their confidence level still puts them above the national average of 48%. 

Our survey results don't suggest a clear reason for this decline. Rhode Islanders' experiences with property crime, violent crime, and gun violence fell year over year, and they're among those least likely to experience these crimes nationwide. Daily concern about overall safety and security also fell, dropping from 53% to 41%. 

In the meantime, Rhode Islanders' concern about gun violence jumped 14 percentage points. They began to worry more about violent crime and package theft too, and they experienced more package thefts first-hand. 

Only 26% of Rhode Islanders said they added safety or security measures in the 8 months prior to our survey, which is the lowest percentage in the nation and a year-over-year decrease of 7 percentage points. They're also among those most likely to believe crime is decreasing (RI 24%, US 15%). 

Find safety and security resources in Rhode Island.

Property crime experiences and concerns decreased in Rhode Island year over year, reaching some of the lowest levels nationwide. However, package theft is on the rise.

• 19% of Rhode Islanders experienced a property crime in the 8 months prior to our survey, down from 22% the year before (US 27%).
• Only residents in North Carolina (17%) and Massachusetts (16%) experienced less property crime than Rhode Islanders.
• Concern about property crime fell from 43% to 38% year over year (US 54%).
• Only North Dakotans (34%) worry less about property crime than Rhode Islanders. 
• Property crime is the least worrisome crime issue among Rhode Island residents.
• Package theft experiences increased from 31% to 37% year over year (US 37%).
• Concern about package theft rose slightly from 49% to 50% (US 52%).
• 36% of Rhode Islanders said they don't use any form of security to protect their property, which is the second-highest percentage nationwide behind Vermont at 38% (US 22%).
• Rhode Islanders prefer to protect their property with security cameras (43%), guard dogs (21%), and security systems (19%).

In our latest survey, the percentage of Rhode Islanders who personally experienced violent crime decreased year over year and fell below the national average. However, Rhode Islanders' worries continue to climb.

• 10% said they experienced a violent crime first-hand in the 8 months prior to our survey, down from 16% the year before (US 14%).
• Concern about violent crime rose from 48% to 55% year over year.
• 24% of Rhode Island survey participants say they use some form of personal protection, which is the same percentage as the year before (US 35%).
• Only residents of Hawaii (23%) and Massachusetts (20%) were less likely to use personal protection than Rhode Islanders.
• Rhode Island residents prefer to protect themselves with pepper spray (15%), pocket knives (11%), and whistles or personal alarms (8%).

• 5% of Rhode Islanders said they experienced gun violence in the 8 months prior to our survey, down from 13% the year before (US 11%).
• Rhode Islanders tie with Delawareans and Nebraskans for the lowest level of gun violence experiences nationwide. 
• Concern about gun violence increased from 41% to 55% year over year (US 57%).
• Zero mass shooting events took place in Rhode Island in 2024.
• 16% of Rhode Islanders said they use firearms for property protection, making it the fourth most popular security measure in the state (US 29%).
• 5% said they carry a concealed firearm for personal protection (US 15%). Only people living in Hawaii, California, and New Jersey were less likely to carry a firearm. 

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

• 19 cities met the criteria for ranking this year.
• Bristol and South Kingstown held on to the top 2 spots for the sixth consecutive year.
• The top 4 safest cities saw year-over-year decreases in both property crime and violent crime. 
• Cumberland's violent crime rate decreased for the second year in a row.
• Bristol reported no murders, rapes, or robberies. 
• North Kingstown reported no murders or robberies.
• Smithfield reported no murders.

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