100 Safest Cities in the US

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Despite alarming headlines about rising violent crime and gun violence across the US, there are still plenty of hamlets that remain relatively immune to the crime trends plaguing America’s largest cities. 

The 100 cities and towns that made our list this year bucked nationwide trends, showing a collective drop in both violent and property crime rates. Comparatively, the US violent crime rate jumped 5% year over year.

Here are the 10 Safest Cities in America for 2022

See if your city made the full list.

In this report

What’s new to the report this year

Over 60% of the cities on our list are new this year. Because FBI crime data relies on voluntary reporting from local jurisdictions, the number and demographics of the cities that report can vary widely from year to year. 

This year there were several states that had fewer reporting cities than in previous years, leading to a lower median population threshold than in previous years. Last year, cities with populations below 17,375 were excluded from our list. This year, that threshold fell to 10,779, which opened the door to lots of newcomers. The median population of our 100 safest cities of 2022 is 19,638—nearly 10,000 below last year.

Are America’s safest cities even safer than before?

All signs point to yes. Last year, we saw a stagnant violent crime rate and rising property crime among our 100 safest cities. That anomaly alerted us to a potential nationwide uptick in violent crime—something the US hadn’t seen since 2016. 

Unfortunately, that prediction was on the nose. America’s violent crime rate saw a jump year over year. But, happily, that’s not the case for our 100 safest cities of 2022—both violent and property crime rates fell among these towns year over year.

Bar chart of violent and property crime rates per 1,000 in the 100 Safest Cities in America vs. the national average.

Image: SafeWise

Violent crime trends in America’s safest cities

The nationwide violent crime rate rose 5% year over year, from 3.7 incidents per 1,000 people to 4.0. Among the 100 safest cities, violent crime dropped from 0.30 incidents per 1,000 to 0.26.

There were 531 total violent crimes reported by the cities on our list, with four total murders. Compared to the 15 murders reported among the safest cities last year, that’s a 73% decline year over year. Nationwide, there was a 22% jump in murders.

Line graph of violent and property crime rates over the past three years in the 100 safest cities vs. the national crime rates.

Image: SafeWise

Property crime trends in America’s safest cities

Last year’s rise in property crime per capita was unusual among the 100 safest cities, and it flew in the face of national trends. Property crime has declined every year across the US since 2002, and this year is no exception. 

In the most recent FBI reports, property crime incidents declined both nationwide and among the 100 safest cities. The US saw a 7% drop in the national property crime rate, from 21.3 incidents per 1,000 people to 19.6. Property crime in the safest cities fell from 4.5 incidents to 3.1 per 1,000. 

These cities did better when it came to pandemic-related crime trends as well. During 2020, the US saw a 9% spike in motor vehicle thefts (the highest numbers in over a decade), but the safest cities had a 23% drop.

Image: SafeWise


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What do America’s 100 safest cities have in common?

Small populations

One thing that jumps out about the safest cities in America every year is the seemingly low population numbers. But, surprisingly, most of them are above the average size of an incorporated place in the US. About 76% of all American cities and towns have fewer than 5,000 residents—and only 4% have over 50,000.

Northeast addresses

A whopping 65% of the cities on our list hail from three Northeastern states: New Jersey (31), Massachusetts (22), and New York (12). When you throw in other cities from New England you get nine more—making 75% of the cities on our list from the Northeast. Imperial, California is the westernmost city that made the list.  Rexburg, Idaho and Frederick, Colorado are the only other cities from the West.

Suburban vibes

Even though these cities seem small, many of them are suburbs of major metropolitan areas. Suburbs often benefit from close access to the perks of big city life without having the harsher realities follow them home at night. That provides a kind of insulation from many major crimes, especially violent crime, which is nearly non-existent in many of the cities that made our list.

Higher household income

There’s no denying that cities with bigger budgets can devote more resources to public safety and community support programs. The average median household income among the 100 safest cities is $128,445—almost double the national median household income of $67,521. Just 5% of the cities on our list (for which we have income data) are below the national median household income.

A graphic highlighting the states with the most safe cities on the list of the 100 safest cities in America.

Image: SafeWise

What makes America’s safest cities so safe?

While there’s no one thing that indicates if a city will report higher or lower numbers of crimes, we’ve noticed some things that stand out about the 100 cities on our list. Here’s a rundown of some of the most interesting factors we’ve uncovered during our analysis.

Crime insights 

  • The violent crime rate among the safest cities is 0.26 incidents per 1,000 people—that’s 94% lower than the national rate of 4.0.
  • The property crime rate among the safest cities is 3.1 incidents per 1,000—that’s 84% lower than the national rate of 19.6.
  • 13 cities reported 0 violent crimes and 82 reported fewer than 10.
  • 97% of the cities had no murders reported.
  • 2 cities reported 0 property crimes and 42 reported fewer than 50. 
  • 32 cities reported 5 or fewer burglaries and 10 had no motor vehicle thefts. 

Demographic insights 

  • The average population of our 100 safest cities is 19,639—nearly double the national average (10,608) of all incorporated places in the US.
  • Every city on our list has a population above the national average but below 50,000 residents—last year, 4 cities over that benchmark made the list. 
  • 74% of the cities come from the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions of the US. Those regions also boast the lowest crime rates in the US.
  • For the fourth consecutive year, New Jersey boasts the most safe cities with 31—2 more than last year. 
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The 100 safest cities in America

VC= Violent crime, PC=Property crime

Lewisboro Town NY
#1
Lewisboro Town, NY
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    12,533
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $158,299
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.00
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    0.00
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    Image source
    lewisborogov.com
Wayland, Massachusetts
#2
Wayland, MA
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    13,859
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    Median Income
    $185,375
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.07
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    0.00
  • bullet
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
Historic building in Rye, NY.
#3
Rye, NY
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    15,692
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $192,688
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.00
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    1.27
  • bullet
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
Broadview Commons building in Broadview Heights, OH
#4
Broadview Heights, OH
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    19,059
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $89,224
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.10
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    1.00
  • bullet
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
Image of a welcome sign in Franklin, Massachusetts
#5
Franklin, MA
(
-3
bullet
)
  • bullet
    Population
    34,281
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $60,950
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.18
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    0.93
  • bullet
    Image source
    Facebook @OfficialTownofFranklin
Norfolk, MA map
#6
Norfolk, MA
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    12,068
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $103,291
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    VC Rate 2022
    0.17
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    0.99
  • bullet
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
Brick building with columns in front in Sparta Township, NJ
#7
Sparta Township, NJ
(
+1
bullet
)
  • bullet
    Population
    18,467
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $138,061
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.22
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    0.97
  • bullet
    Image source
    Twitter @SpartaTwpNJ
#8
Hasbrouck Heights, NJ
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    11,988
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $94,801
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.00
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    2.42
  • bullet
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
Berkeley Heights, NJ
#9
Berkeley Heights Township, NJ
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    13,371
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $183,056
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.00
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    2.54
  • bullet
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
Historic clock in Holden, MA
#10
Holden, MA
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    19,412
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $108,964
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.31
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    1.08
  • bullet
    Image source
    Holden, MA
Clearcreek Township, OH
#11
Clearcreek Township, OH
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    16,312
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $59,583
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.12
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    2.02
  • bullet
    Image source
    clearcreektownship.com
Olmsted Township, OH
#12
Olmsted Township, OH
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    13,478
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $80,403
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.00
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    2.67
  • bullet
    Image source
    olmstedtownship.org
Town hall building in Clinton, MA
#13
Clinton, MA
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    13,967
  • bullet
    Median Income
    Not available
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.43
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    0.64
  • bullet
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
Sagamore Hills park sign
#14
Sagamore Hills, OH
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    10,917
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $86,025
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.00
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    2.75
  • bullet
    Image source
    mysagamorehills.com
Image of a park in Hopkinton, Massachusetts
#15
Hopkinton, MA
(
-14
bullet
)
  • bullet
    Population
    18,806
  • bullet
    Median Income
    Not available
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.27
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    1.54
  • bullet
    Image source
    Facebook @hopkintonma.gov
Historic home in Ringwood, NJ
#16
Ringwood, NJ
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    12,177
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $125,476
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.16
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    2.05
  • bullet
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
Historic building in Bedford Town, NY
#17
Bedford Town, NY
(
-7
bullet
)
  • bullet
    Population
    17,672
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $129,140
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.11
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    2.38
  • bullet
    Image source
    Facebook @Town of Bedford Town Clerk - NY
Public library in Avon Lake, OH
#18
Avon Lake, OH
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    24,724
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $83,018
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.16
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    2.14
  • bullet
    Image source
    Wikimedia Commons
Historic building in Bernards Township, NJ
#19
Bernards Township, NJ
(
-14
bullet
)
  • bullet
    Population
    27,130
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $151,871
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.00
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    3.02
  • bullet
    Image source
    Facebook @BernardsTwp
Park in Kent Town, NY
#20
Kent Town, NY
(
New
)
  • bullet
    Population
    13,123
  • bullet
    Median Income
    $100,385
  • bullet
    VC Rate 2022
    0.08
  • bullet
    PC Rate 2022
    2.82
  • bullet
    Image source
    Facebook @Town of Kent

Didn't find your city in the top 20?

We calculated crime rates for every city in the country that met our population threshold of 10,779. See how the remaining cities ranked in the list below.

NOTE: If you don’t see your city on the list, it means that it was below the population threshold or didn’t submit a complete crime report to the FBI in 2020.

2022 Rank
City
State
Population
Median Household Income
Violent crime rate (per 1,000)
Property crime rate (per 1,000)
2021 rank
21WestfordMassachusetts25,011Not available0.162.4425
22Long BeachNew York33,461Not available0.391.3740
23WestonMassachusetts12,146$207,7020.082.88N/A
24Monroe Township, Middlesex CountyNew Jersey45,653$90,4510.202.5033
25DyerIndiana15,932$84,2020.063.20N/A
26Hamburg TownshipMichigan21,867$93,2450.461.519
27Robbinsville TownshipNew Jersey14,628$155,1070.143.08N/A
28Oakland TownshipMichigan19,882$146,2280.501.314
29SharonMassachusetts19,011Not available0.421.7936
30Stony Point TownNew York15,338$112,8930.202.93N/A
31Shawangunk TownNew York13,782$797,7780.222.83N/A
32Woolwich TownshipNew Jersey13,278$141,8750.083.54N/A
33Randolph TownshipNew Jersey25,311$142,4590.043.7138
34Warren TownshipNew Jersey15,689$170,2640.063.63N/A
35HanoverMassachusetts15,143Not available0.133.30N/A
36Trophy ClubTexas13,053$147,4770.003.98N/A
37MadisonConnecticut18,004Not available0.063.72N/A
38Denville TownshipNew Jersey16,400$125,6550.123.41N/A
39Carmel TownNew York34,093$104,0160.153.3114
40ShrewsburyMassachusetts38,656Not available0.103.6015
41WindhamNew Hampshire15,017Not available0.133.46N/A
42WanaqueNew Jersey11,828$95,0230.422.11N/A
43Roxbury TownshipNew Jersey22,439$113,9570.093.7923
44FrederickColorado14,712$105,8270.203.26N/A
45Poland TownshipOhio11,772$81,6040.342.63N/A
46BristolRhode Island21,748$72,6100.233.17N/A
47Vernon TownshipNew Jersey21,819$95,8880.054.0819
48NewtownConnecticut27,924$127,6020.213.2611
49New Castle TownNew York17,824$247,0900.004.327
50MedfieldMassachusetts13,034$127,0480.462.15N/A
51Jefferson TownshipNew Jersey20,626$106,8920.392.5252
52Mahwah TownshipNew Jersey26,201$107,0810.193.5143
53Clinton TownshipNew Jersey12,465$142,1620.243.29N/A
54RidgefieldConnecticut24,990$163,9450.123.886
55Glen CoveNew York27,186Not available0.113.9417
56Mamaroneck TownNew York12,017$137,1350.004.49N/A
57Glen RockNew Jersey11,705$187,0000.094.10N/A
58KennebunkMaine11,719$75,5170.004.52N/A
59WeirtonWest Virginia18,111$49,4960.661.33N/A
60Raritan TownshipNew Jersey22,402$135,1150.273.3028
61CliveIowa17,447Not available0.9716.45N/A
62GrotonMassachusetts11,337$129,0850.353.09N/A
63RexburgIdaho29,865$31,1280.303.3830
64BrecksvilleOhio13,591$108,6060.154.19N/A
65FulshearTexas14,094$166,8630.213.90N/A
66DumontNew Jersey17,507$100,2190.403.0329
67WestwoodNew Jersey11,079$110,4730.005.05N/A
68New ProvidenceNew Jersey13,741$143,6720.224.00N/A
69St. JohnIndiana19,289$105,8520.214.10N/A
70GraftonMassachusetts18,908$106,2500.532.5984
71MilfordMichigan17,038$86,9970.353.46N/A
72DurhamNew Hampshire16,510Not available0.552.54N/A
73LexingtonMassachusetts33,138$186,2010.363.4437
74ScituateMassachusetts19,655$128,8640.562.4993
75MiltonMassachusetts27,600Not available0.293.8022
76Highland TownshipMichigan20,281$87,0110.492.9144
77Cranford TownshipNew Jersey24,186$129,7810.124.71N/A
78ImperialCalifornia18,528$85,6540.492.97N/A
79Harrison TownNew York29,110$123,0300.214.3321
80DuxburyMassachusetts16,561Not available0.662.11N/A
81ZionsvilleIndiana28,824$137,3770.492.9813
82BergenfieldNew Jersey27,347$96,3350.483.0747
83Hopewell TownshipNew Jersey17,641$136,2310.234.3149
84Rocky RiverOhio19,951$74,9500.552.76N/A
85Readington TownshipNew Jersey15,813$131,7550.134.87N/A
86Montgomery TownshipNew Jersey23,268$195,8070.393.6139
87WellesleyMassachusetts28,687Not available0.353.8332
88West Milford TownshipNew Jersey26,310$100,4610.423.5383
89Mount Olive TownshipNew Jersey28,973$88,0730.413.5964
90NicevilleFlorida16,345Not available0.552.94N/A
91Plainsboro TownshipNew Jersey22,847$113,1310.353.94N/A
92CharltonMassachusetts13,720$101,1110.513.21N/A
93TyngsboroMassachusetts12,590Not available0.642.62N/A
94PowellOhio13,593$157,1490.005.74N/A
95Independence TownshipMichigan37,302$94,0180.483.40N/A
96Springfield TownshipMichigan14,551$93,2520.483.44N/A
97GorhamMaine18,167Not available0.284.46N/A
98Pequannock TownshipNew Jersey14,887$105,3160.274.50N/A
99ArlingtonMassachusetts45,582Not available0.592.98N/A
100PortsmouthRhode Island17,162Not available0.523.32N/A

How we ranked the safest cities in America

To identify the 100 safest cities in the country, we analyzed FBI crime report statistics and population data. The FBI data is from 2020 (the most recent year for which data was available). Our rankings were based solely on crime data; no other factors were included.

Population thresholds 

We started by pulling every city listed in the FBI’s 2020 Offenses Known to Law Enforcement database. We removed all cities with a population under 2,500 (rural/small town) and all cities under the median population of the remaining cities, which was 10,779. Cities that fell below the population threshold were excluded, along with cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI.

Crime rates 

In the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Violent crimes are defined in the UCR Program as those offenses that involve force or threat of force. 

In the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Larceny-theft offenses involve the taking of money or property (like pick-pocketing), but with no force or threat of force against the victims.

We looked at the number of reported violent crimes in each city and the number of reported property crimes. To level the playing field, we calculated the rate of crimes per 1,000 people in each city. Both violent and property crime numbers were weighted equally. We also standardized violent and property crime for each state before weighting.

Consult our full methodology to learn more about how we rank the Safest Cities.

Whether your city made our list or not, we encourage everyone to be proactive about home security. One of the best ways to stop a burglary before it happens is to add a home security system.

How to make a safe home anywhere

We encourage everyone to be proactive about home security. One of the best ways to stop a burglary before it happens is to add a home security system.

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Find the safest cities in each state

Click on the state image or dropdown menu below to check out the safest cities for each state.

Related articles on SafeWise


Sources

FBI: Crime Data Explorer, Accessed March 16, 2022.

FBI: Uniform Crime Reporting Program, “2019 Crime in the United States,” Accessed March 16, 2022.

US Census Bureau, Toukabri and Medina. “Latest City and Town Population Estimates of the Decade Show Three-Fourths of the Nation’s Incorporated Places Have Fewer than 5,000 People,” May 21, 2020. Accessed March 16, 2022.

US Census Bureau, “City and Town Population Totals: 2010–2019,” April 20, 2021. Accessed March 16, 2022.

Rebecca Edwards
Written by
Rebecca Edwards
Rebecca is the lead safety reporter and in-house expert for SafeWise.com. She has been a journalist and blogger for over 25 years, with a focus on home and community safety for the past decade. Rebecca spends dozens of hours every month poring over crime and safety reports and spotting trends. Her expertise is sought after by publications, broadcast journalists, non-profit organizations, podcasts, and more. You can find her expert advice and analysis in places like NPR, TechCrunch, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Miami Herald, HGTV, MSN, Reader's Digest, Real Simple, and an ever-growing library of podcast, radio and TV clips in the US and abroad.

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