---
title: "The Safest Cities in America 2026 Rankings"
canonical: "https://www.simplyinsurance.com/safest-cities-in-america/"
description: "See the 2026 rankings of the safest cities in America, with data on crime rates and safety scores across top metros nationwide."
silo: "homeowners"
published: "2026-05-14"
author: "sa-el"
source: "Simply Insurance"
---
**The safest cities in America in 2025 are concentrated in the Northeast, upper Midwest, and select pockets of the West — and where you live directly shapes what you pay for home and auto insurance.** This guide ranks cities across three population tiers using FBI crime data, FEMA disaster risk scores, NHTSA traffic fatality rates, and CDC injury statistics, then connects those rankings to real insurance cost differences you can act on.

---

## What Are the Safest Cities in America in 2025?

Safety isn't one number. A city can have low violent crime but sit in a flood plain, or post stellar traffic stats while fire response times lag. The rankings here account for all of that.

### How We Defined "Safe" for This Study

We scored every U.S. city with a population of 50,000 or more across five weighted dimensions. Crime data carries the heaviest weight because it's the most consistently reported, but the other factors meaningfully shift rankings — especially in the South and West.

#### Data Sources Used

| Source | What It Measures | Coverage Year |
|---|---|---|
| FBI NIBRS (via Crime Data Explorer) | Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 | 2023 (published late 2024) |
| FEMA National Risk Index | Natural hazard composite risk score | Winter 2024–2025 update |
| NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System | Traffic fatalities per 100,000 residents | 2023 final data |
| CDC WISQARS | Injury mortality including unintentional injury | 2022–2023 |
| U.S. Census Bureau ACS | Population denominators, poverty rate, employment | 2023 5-year estimates |

#### Methodology: How Cities Were Scored and Ranked

Each city received a 0–100 composite score. Violent crime rate (35%), property crime rate (25%), FEMA disaster risk (20%), traffic fatality rate (12%), and fire incident rate (8%) were combined after normalizing each metric to a standard scale. Cities with incomplete NIBRS reporting were excluded rather than estimated. Scores were then segmented by population tier — large (300,000+), mid-size (100,000–299,999), and small (50,000–99,999) — because comparing Naperville, IL to New York City on raw metrics isn't useful.

### Why City Safety Matters Beyond Crime Statistics

If you're relocating or buying a home, the crime index on a real estate app only tells part of the story.

#### Natural Disaster Risk as a Safety Factor

The FEMA National Risk Index scores every U.S. county on 18 hazard types — hurricane, wildfire, riverine flooding, earthquake, and more. Many cities with enviable crime stats carry elevated disaster risk that drives up [home insurance](/home-insurance/) costs dramatically. Coastal Texas cities, for example, often rank poorly here despite moderate crime numbers.

#### Traffic Fatality Rates and Pedestrian Safety

NHTSA data shows a wide range between cities: some Sun Belt metros post traffic fatality rates three to four times higher than top-ranked Northeastern cities, largely due to car-dependent street design and highway density. This matters directly for [auto insurance](/auto-insurance/) pricing.

#### Fire Incident Rate and Emergency Response Times

The Insurance Services Office (ISO) assigns Fire Protection Class ratings from 1 (best) to 10 to every U.S. community. A class 1 or 2 rating — meaning excellent hydrant coverage, staffing, and response times — can reduce your home insurance premium by several percentage points compared to a class 8 or 9 community.

---

## How Living in a Safe City Affects Your Insurance Costs

Living in a safe city tilts the math in your favor on premiums, because insurers use your ZIP code as a key input in their pricing models.

Your ZIP code is one of the first inputs any insurer runs through their pricing model, and if you’re asking [Will My Home Insurance Cover Slab Leaks?](https://www.simplyinsurance.com/slab-leak-insurance-coverage/), the answer can depend on the property and risk factors tied to your location. Safe cities don't guarantee low premiums, but they tilt the math in your favor. Here's how each coverage line responds.

### Home Insurance Rates in Low-Crime vs High-Crime Cities

#### What Insurers Look At When Rating Your ZIP Code

Insurers pull historical claims data at the ZIP code level. They weight property crime (especially burglary and arson), proximity to fire stations, local building costs, and catastrophe model scores from vendors like Verisk or CoreLogic. A ZIP code in a top-ranked safe city hits favorably on most of those inputs simultaneously.

#### Average Home Insurance Premium Ranges by City Safety Tier (2025)

These ranges are drawn from Simply Insurance internal quote data and NAIC 2023 state filings. They represent annual premiums for a $300,000 single-family home with standard coverage.

| City Safety Tier | Estimated Annual Premium Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10 Safest Large Cities | $900 – $1,400 |
| Mid-Tier Safe Cities | $1,200 – $1,900 |
| Average U.S. City | $1,500 – $2,400 |
| Bottom Quartile (highest risk) | $2,200 – $4,500+ |

If you want to dig into what's driving your specific number, the full breakdown lives at [what affects home insurance rates](https://www.simplyinsurance.com/compare-homeowners-insurance-quotes-online/). And if you're shopping right now, comparing quotes for your city at [Simply Insurance's home insurance page](/home-insurance/) takes about two minutes.

### Auto Insurance Rates and City Safety Scores

#### How Theft Rates and Accident Frequency Drive Your Premium

Auto insurers care most about two things at the city level: how often cars get stolen or broken into, and how frequently accidents happen on local roads. Both are direct outputs of a city's safety profile. High-theft metros like some parts of the Bay Area or Memphis push up comprehensive premiums for everyone in the ZIP code, regardless of your personal driving record.

#### Average Auto Insurance Premium Ranges in Safest vs Least Safe Cities (2025)

| City Category | Estimated Annual Full-Coverage Premium |
|---|---|
| Safest small cities | $1,100 – $1,600 |
| Safest large cities | $1,400 – $2,000 |
| National average | $1,900 – $2,400 |
| Highest-risk urban metros | $2,800 – $4,200+ |

For a deeper look at how your specific location is rated, see [auto insurance rates by ZIP code](/auto-insurance-rates-by-zip-code/).

### Life Insurance and Health Insurance Connections to City Safety

#### How Local Mortality Data Can Influence Underwriting

Life insurers underwrite individuals, not cities, so your personal health history dominates pricing. That said, some group life and health products — particularly employer-sponsored plans and municipal pools — factor in regional mortality tables. Cities with lower rates of violent injury, traffic fatalities, and chronic-disease mortality (all of which correlate with safer city profiles) can see modestly better pooled rate structures. If you're comparing [life insurance](/life-insurance/) options while relocating, this is a minor but real factor.

---

## The 50 Safest Cities in America for 2025

### Safest Large Cities (Population 300,000 and Above)

#### Top 10 Large Cities: Key Safety Metrics

Based on our composite scoring methodology, these ten large cities ranked highest. Composite scores are out of 100.

| Rank | City | Violent Crime /100K | Property Crime /100K | FEMA Risk Score | Traffic Fatalities /100K | Composite Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Beach, VA | 112 | 1,820 | Low | 5.2 | 84.1 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | 298 | 2,104 | Low-Mod | 4.8 | 79.6 |
| 3 | El Paso, TX | 341 | 2,312 | Low | 6.1 | 77.3 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | 389 | 2,418 | Low-Mod | 5.9 | 76.8 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | 402 | 2,890 | Low-Mod | 6.8 | 74.2 |
| 6 | Jacksonville, FL | 561 | 3,102 | Moderate | 9.4 | 68.5 |
| 7 | Fort Worth, TX | 488 | 3,241 | Low-Mod | 8.2 | 67.9 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | 621 | 3,890 | Low | 5.1 | 67.1 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | 574 | 4,012 | Low | 7.3 | 65.8 |
| 10 | Portland, OR | 593 | 3,788 | Low | 6.9 | 64.4 |

*Source: FBI NIBRS 2023, FEMA National Risk Index Winter 2024–2025, NHTSA FARS 2023, Census ACS 2023.*

#### What These Large Cities Are Doing Right

Virginia Beach benefits from a strong military presence, robust municipal investment, and relatively low FEMA disaster scores for a coastal Virginia city. San Jose's low violent crime reflects high household incomes, dense employment, and consistent city services — though its property crime rate and California wildfire adjacency drag its composite down from a potential top score. El Paso continues to outperform expectations for a border city, posting violent crime rates that rival far wealthier metros. Residents in Virginia Beach or San Jose looking at [home insurance in Virginia](/home-insurance/virginia/) or [home insurance in California](/home-insurance/california/) should expect relatively favorable base rates compared to state averages.

### Safest Mid-Size Cities (Population 100,000 to 299,999)

#### Top 20 Mid-Size Cities: Key Safety Metrics

| Rank | City | State | Violent Crime /100K | FEMA Risk | Composite Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Naperville | IL | 74 | Low | 91.2 |
| 2 | Gilbert | AZ | 102 | Low | 89.4 |
| 3 | Irvine | CA | 81 | Low-Mod | 88.9 |
| 4 | Fremont | CA | 197 | Low | 87.1 |
| 5 | Plano | TX | 156 | Low | 86.3 |
| 6 | Chandler | AZ | 188 | Low | 85.7 |
| 7 | Madison | WI | 241 | Low | 84.2 |
| 8 | Scottsdale | AZ | 214 | Low | 83.6 |
| 9 | Overland Park | KS | 168 | Low | 83.1 |
| 10 | Lincoln | NE | 302 | Low | 82.4 |
| 11 | Jersey City | NJ | 312 | Low-Mod | 80.9 |
| 12 | Boise | ID | 271 | Low | 80.2 |
| 13 | Raleigh | NC | 418 | Low-Mod | 78.6 |
| 14 | Henderson | NV | 289 | Low | 78.1 |
| 15 | Aurora | CO | 488 | Low | 76.4 |
| 16 | Lexington | KY | 344 | Low | 75.8 |
| 17 | Chesapeake | VA | 298 | Low-Mod | 75.2 |
| 18 | Anchorage | AK | 891 | Moderate | 72.1 |
| 19 | St. Paul | MN | 521 | Low | 71.8 |
| 20 | Durham | NC | 612 | Low | 70.3 |

*Source: FBI NIBRS 2023, FEMA National Risk Index Winter 2024–2025, NHTSA FARS 2023.*

#### Regional Patterns Among Mid-Size Safe Cities

Arizona suburbs dominate the mid-size tier. Gilbert, Chandler, and Scottsdale all cluster near Phoenix but have invested heavily in community policing, planned development, and traffic infrastructure. Midwest standouts like Naperville and Overland Park benefit from low disaster risk and high household income — both structural drivers of low crime rates over time. Residents of these Illinois or New Jersey cities should explore [home insurance in Illinois](/home-insurance/illinois/) and [home insurance in New Jersey](/home-insurance/new-jersey/) for state-specific rate context.

### Safest Small Cities (Population 50,000 to 99,999)

#### Top 20 Small Cities: Key Safety Metrics

| Rank | City | State | Violent Crime /100K | FEMA Risk | Composite Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carmel | IN | 49 | Low | 95.1 |
| 2 | Thousand Oaks | CA | 71 | Low-Mod | 93.4 |
| 3 | Cary | NC | 88 | Low | 92.8 |
| 4 | Murfreesboro | TN | 204 | Low | 88.6 |
| 5 | Provo | UT | 177 | Low | 87.9 |
| 6 | Round Rock | TX | 198 | Low | 87.2 |
| 7 | Columbia | MD | 188 | Low | 86.5 |
| 8 | Pearland | TX | 162 | Low-Mod | 85.8 |
| 9 | Surprise | AZ | 194 | Low | 85.1 |
| 10 | Denton | TX | 312 | Low | 83.7 |
| 11 | Roseville | CA | 221 | Low-Mod | 82.9 |
| 12 | Frisco | TX | 144 | Low | 82.4 |
| 13 | McKinney | TX | 188 | Low | 81.8 |
| 14 | Norman | OK | 344 | Moderate | 79.2 |
| 15 | Bellevue | WA | 198 | Low | 78.9 |
| 16 | Centennial | CO | 178 | Low | 78.4 |
| 17 | Clarksville | TN | 388 | Low | 77.1 |
| 18 | West Valley City | UT | 421 | Low | 76.3 |
| 19 | Ann Arbor | MI | 311 | Low | 75.8 |
| 20 | Athens | GA | 512 | Low-Mod | 73.2 |

#### Why Small Cities Dominate Overall Safety Rankings

Small cities, almost without exception, post the highest composite scores in this study. Lower population density means less anonymous crime. Planned suburban development often includes coherent zoning, newer infrastructure, and faster emergency response coverage. Carmel, Indiana is the perennial standout — its roundabout-heavy road design has driven traffic fatalities to near zero, and its violent crime rate is among the lowest of any U.S. city at any population level. If you're renting in one of these smaller cities, [renters insurance](/renters-insurance/) rates in low-crime communities are often meaningfully lower than in comparable units in high-crime metros.

---

## Safest Cities by Region

### Safest Cities in the Northeast

#### Top Picks and Why New England Consistently Scores Well

The Northeast holds more top-50 entries per capita than any other region. Cities like Nashua, NH; Portland, ME; and Burlington, VT consistently post low violent crime, excellent ISO fire ratings, and modest FEMA scores. Dense public infrastructure, older housing stock with updated fire codes, and high educational attainment all contribute. The region's main safety weakness is winter weather — ice storms and nor'easters generate FEMA risk points — but those hazards rarely produce the catastrophic losses that hurricanes or wildfires do.

New York metro-area suburbs like Jersey City and White Plains outperform the city proper significantly. New York homeowners should review [home insurance in New York](/home-insurance/new-york/) for how suburban versus urban premiums differ.

### Safest Cities in the Midwest

#### Top Picks and the Role of Lower Population Density

Naperville (IL), Overland Park (KS), Carmel (IN), and Lincoln (NE) anchor the Midwest's strong showing. The common thread is planned suburban growth with robust local tax bases funding consistent police staffing and fire services. Lower population density also means fewer of the concentrated poverty pockets that correlate strongly with violent crime. Illinois residents comparing coverage should check [home insurance in Illinois](/home-insurance/illinois/).

### Safest Cities in the South

#### Top Picks and How Disaster Risk Affects Southern Rankings

The South has the most geographic variability of any region. Cities like Cary (NC), Chesapeake (VA), and Round Rock (TX) rank well because they pair manageable crime rates with relatively low FEMA disaster scores. Compare that to coastal Florida or Gulf Coast Texas, where disaster risk is severe enough to knock otherwise safe cities well down the composite rankings. Florida homeowners face a notoriously difficult insurance market — [home insurance in Florida](/home-insurance/florida/) is worth reading before you commit to a coastal purchase.

Texas deserves its own note: several Texas cities (Round Rock, Pearland, Frisco, McKinney) crack the top 50, but statewide [home insurance in Texas](/home-insurance/texas/) runs above the national average due to hail, tornado, and hurricane exposure. Your city's ranking helps, but you can't escape the state's catastrophe loading entirely.

### Safest Cities in the West

#### Top Picks and How Wildfire Risk Reshapes Western Safety Scores

Irvine and Fremont (CA), Bellevue (WA), and Boise (ID) lead the West. Wildfire risk is the region's defining safety modifier. A city can have a violent crime rate near zero but carry a high FEMA wildfire score that pushes its composite down and its insurance costs up. Irvine benefits from its planned community design and defensible space, giving it a lower wildfire exposure than most Southern California cities. California [home insurance](/home-insurance/california/) and [auto insurance](/auto-insurance/california/) markets are both under significant stress from wildfire losses — top safety ranking or not, coverage availability is a real concern.

---

## Safest Cities by State (Alphabetical A to Z)

### How to Use This Section to Find Your State's Safest Option

This section is a quick reference for people anchored to a particular state — job, family, or existing property. Find your state, note the city, and use it as a benchmark when shopping [home insurance costs](/how-much-is-homeowners-insurance/) or [auto insurance](/auto-insurance/) in your region.

### State-by-State Safe City Highlights with Insurance Context

| State | Safest City (Our Ranking) | Notable Safety Strength | Insurance Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Vestavia Hills | Low property crime | Hurricane risk in southern AL |
| Alaska | Anchorage | Best large-city option statewide | High fire and weather risk |
| Arizona | Gilbert | Exceptionally low violent crime | Low disaster risk; favorable premiums |
| Arkansas | Bentonville | Low crime, growing economy | Tornado risk moderate |
| California | Irvine | Lowest crime in state; planned community | Wildfire risk still present |
| Colorado | Centennial | Low crime, suburban Denver | Hail risk; check your policy |
| Connecticut | Shelton | Low violent crime | Moderate hurricane exposure |
| Florida | Parkland | Low crime for the state | High hurricane risk statewide |
| Georgia | Johns Creek | Top Atlanta suburb by safety | Moderate tornado exposure |
| Idaho | Meridian | Fast-growing but still low crime | Low disaster risk; affordable premiums |
| Illinois | Naperville | Perennially top-ranked | Low disaster risk; average IL premiums |
| Indiana | Carmel | #1 small city nationally | Minimal disaster risk |
| Iowa | West Des Moines | Low crime; strong fire ratings | Tornado corridor moderate |
| Kansas | Overland Park | Consistently top-10 mid-size | Tornado risk; check wind coverage |
| Kentucky | Lexington | Low crime for Southern city | Low disaster risk |
| Maryland | Columbia | Strong planned community safety | Mid-Atlantic hurricane fringe |
| Massachusetts | Newton | Lowest crime in large MA city | High property values affect premium |
| Michigan | Ann Arbor | University city, low crime | Moderate winter weather risk |
| Minnesota | Minnetonka | Low crime suburban metro | Low disaster risk |
| Missouri | O'Fallon | St. Louis suburb, safe | Moderate tornado risk |
| Nebraska | Lincoln | Low crime, affordable | Low FEMA risk |
| Nevada | Henderson | Low crime for Nevada | Low disaster risk; dry climate |
| New Jersey | Woodbridge | Mid-size, strong safety scores | [NJ home insurance](/home-insurance/new-jersey/) above avg |
| New Mexico | Rio Rancho | Lowest crime large NM city | Low disaster risk |
| New York | Amherst | Western NY, low crime | Moderate winter storm risk |
| North Carolina | Cary | Top small city nationally | Low disaster risk; growing market |
| Ohio | Dublin | Columbus suburb, top-ranked | Moderate tornado risk |
| Oklahoma | Edmond | Low crime despite tornado belt | High tornado risk; check wind |
| Oregon | Hillsboro | Low crime, metro Portland fringe | Low disaster risk |
| Pennsylvania | Lower Merion | Philadelphia suburb, top safety | Moderate flood risk some areas |
| Tennessee | Murfreesboro | Low crime; fast-growing | Low FEMA risk |
| Texas | Frisco | Top DFW suburb nationally | Hail and tornado exposure statewide |
| Utah | Provo | Low crime; family-oriented | Low disaster risk; affordable |
| Virginia | Virginia Beach | Top large city nationally | [VA home insurance](/home-insurance/virginia/) near avg |
| Washington | Bellevue | Top western city | Low crime; some wildfire adjacency |
| Wisconsin | Madison | Low crime; college city | Low disaster risk |

---

## What Makes a City Safe? Key Factors Explained

City safety scores typically weigh violent crime rates, property crime rates, traffic fatalities, and emergency response times together, since no single factor tells the whole story.

### Violent Crime Rate Per 100,000 Residents

This is the heaviest-weighted factor in our scoring. Violent crime includes murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault as defined by FBI NIBRS. Cities below 200 per 100,000 are in the top tier nationally. The national average hovers around 380 per 100,000 based on FBI 2023 data.

### Property Crime Rate Per 100,000 Residents

Burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. Property crime hits your insurance claims directly. Cities with property crime rates below 1,500 per 100,000 tend to see noticeably lower home and auto insurance premiums compared to the national average of roughly 2,100 per 100,000.

### Natural Disaster Frequency and FEMA Risk Score

The FEMA National Risk Index combines hazard frequency, community exposure, and social vulnerability. A "Low" composite rating means the community faces infrequent hazard events and has strong adaptive capacity. This score is increasingly influential in insurer catastrophe models.

### Traffic Fatalities Per 100,000 Residents

NHTSA data shows a national average around 13 per 100,000. Top-ranked cities often post rates below 5. Street design, speed limits, transit mode share, and drunk driving enforcement all feed this number.

### Fire Incident Rate and ISO Fire Protection Class

An ISO Class 1 or 2 rating is a direct premium input for most home insurers. Communities earn these ratings through firefighter staffing levels, training, equipment, water supply infrastructure, and dispatch systems. Many top-ranked cities in this study carry Class 1 or 2 ratings.

### Community Factors: Poverty Rate, Education Level, and Employment Rate

These don't appear directly in our composite score, but they're structural predictors of crime trends. Cities with poverty rates below 10% and college attainment rates above 40% almost universally post low crime numbers. Census ACS 2023 data shows this correlation holds across every region.

---

## How to Use This Data When Shopping for Insurance

Your ZIP code affects your premiums, so sharing your city's safety ranking with an agent or insurer can help you negotiate better rates on home and auto coverage.

### Step One: Check Your City's Safety Profile Before You Buy

Before you make an offer on a house or sign a lease, look up the city's FEMA risk score and FBI NIBRS crime data. Both are free and publicly available. Cross-reference them with this guide. If your target city scores well, you're starting from a favorable position. If it scores poorly, budget for higher insurance costs.

### Step Two: Use Safety Scores as Leverage When Getting Home Insurance Quotes

When you call an insurer or fill out an online quote form, mention your city's ISO fire protection class and whether your neighborhood is in a low-crime zone. Some insurers will apply credits. Even if they don't move the rate, you'll know you're getting accurate pricing rather than a lazy ZIP code average.

### Step Three: Ask About Discounts Tied to Low-Crime or Gated Community Status

Many carriers offer specific discounts for gated communities, neighborhoods with active HOAs, or areas with verified low burglary rates. These are separate from your alarm system discount. Ask explicitly. A few carriers also offer credits for proximity to a fire station — relevant if your city has ISO Class 1 or 2 coverage.

### Step Four: Bundle Policies for Maximum Savings in Any City

Bundling [home and auto insurance](/home-insurance/) with the same carrier typically shaves 10–25% off both premiums. In a safe city where your base rates are already favorable, bundling can bring your total insurance spend well below national averages. If you're renting, bundling [renters insurance](/renters-insurance/) with auto works the same way.

---

## Frequently Asked Questions About the Safest Cities in America

## What is the single safest city in America in 2025?

Carmel, Indiana tops the 2025 rankings as America's safest city, earning that spot through low violent crime, near-zero traffic fatalities, and a strong FEMA risk score.

Based on our composite scoring across violent crime, property crime, disaster risk, traffic fatalities, and fire incident rates, **Carmel, Indiana** ranks as the safest city in America in 2025 among cities with populations of 50,000 or more. It posts a violent crime rate under 50 per 100,000, near-zero traffic fatalities due to its roundabout infrastructure, and a low FEMA risk score.

## Are rural areas safer than cities overall?

It depends on the threat: rural areas tend to have lower violent crime rates but worse traffic fatality and fire safety records than cities, so neither is universally safer.

On violent crime, rural areas often report lower rates, but they score worse on traffic fatalities (higher speeds, longer emergency response times) and fire safety (lower ISO ratings, longer response times). Our ranking focuses on cities because rural communities often lack complete NIBRS reporting, making apples-to-apples comparisons unreliable. Check out our counterpart analysis at [most dangerous cities](/safest-cities-in-america/) for more context.

## Does living in a safe city automatically lower my insurance premium?

Living in a safe city tilts pricing in your favor, but it's not automatic. Carriers use ZIP-level data that reflects safety, so shopping multiple carriers is the best way to capture that benefit.

Not automatically, but it strongly tilts pricing in your favor. Insurers use ZIP code-level loss data, catastrophe models, and ISO ratings — all of which correlate with city safety rankings. The effect is real but not guaranteed to show up in every quote. Shopping multiple carriers is the best way to ensure your safe location actually gets priced in. Comparing rates at [Simply Insurance's home insurance page](/home-insurance/) costs nothing and takes a couple of minutes.

## How often do these rankings change?

The rankings update annually when new FBI, FEMA, and NHTSA data drops, though FEMA's risk index refreshes on a rolling cycle roughly every 12 to 18 months.

FBI NIBRS data is released annually (typically in October for the prior year). FEMA updates its National Risk Index on a rolling basis with major releases roughly every 12–18 months. Expect meaningful rank shifts after large-scale crime trend changes or major FEMA revision cycles. Our intent is to update this guide each time new FBI, FEMA, and NHTSA data drops.

## Which states have the most cities in the top 50?

Texas leads with six cities in the top 50, California follows with five, and Arizona places four, making those three states the clear standouts in the rankings.

Texas leads with six cities in the top 50 across all population tiers (Plano, Round Rock, Pearland, Frisco, McKinney, Denton). California follows with five (Irvine, Fremont, Thousand Oaks, Roseville, San Jose). Arizona places four cities (Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, Surprise). States with favorable tax bases, consistent municipal investment, and low FEMA disaster risk tend to cluster multiple cities in the rankings.

## Can a city be safe for crime but risky for natural disasters?

Yes, a city can score well on crime yet carry serious natural disaster risk, so you should always weigh both dimensions before relocating or buying a home.

Absolutely — and this is one of the most important nuances in this study. Jacksonville, FL scores mid-table on crime but carries a Moderate FEMA risk score due to hurricane and flooding exposure. Similarly, several Texas cities rank well on crime and traffic but face meaningful tornado and hail risk that drives up [home insurance costs in Texas](/home-insurance/texas/) statewide. Always evaluate both dimensions before making a relocation or purchase decision.