25 Safest Cities to Live in 2026
Crime rates vary wildly across US metros. This ranking finds the cities with the fewest violent and property crimes per capita. For families, retirees, and anyone who values peace of mind, this matters a lot.
Methodology
Scoring weights: violent crime rate (60%, inverted), property crime rate (40%, inverted). Both rates are per 100,000 residents.
Manchester-Nashua
New Hampshire
Violent Crime
107/100k
Property Crime
889/100k
Population
427,354
State
New Hampshire
Lebanon-Claremont
New Hampshire
Violent Crime
107/100k
Property Crime
889/100k
Population
225,159
State
New Hampshire
Concord
New Hampshire
Violent Crime
107/100k
Property Crime
889/100k
Population
157,103
State
New Hampshire
Keene
New Hampshire
Violent Crime
107/100k
Property Crime
889/100k
Population
77,703
State
New Hampshire
Laconia
New Hampshire
Violent Crime
107/100k
Property Crime
889/100k
Population
65,027
State
New Hampshire
Portland-South Portland
Maine
Violent Crime
102/100k
Property Crime
1121/100k
Population
566,329
State
Maine
Bangor
Maine
Violent Crime
102/100k
Property Crime
1121/100k
Population
155,312
State
Maine
Augusta-Waterville
Maine
Violent Crime
102/100k
Property Crime
1121/100k
Population
127,259
State
Maine
Lewiston-Auburn
Maine
Violent Crime
102/100k
Property Crime
1121/100k
Population
113,765
State
Maine
Providence-Warwick
Rhode Island
Violent Crime
168/100k
Property Crime
1121/100k
Population
1,677,803
State
Rhode Island
Boise City
Idaho
Violent Crime
234/100k
Property Crime
809/100k
Population
826,521
State
Idaho
Coeur d'Alene
Idaho
Violent Crime
234/100k
Property Crime
809/100k
Population
185,010
State
Idaho
Idaho Falls
Idaho
Violent Crime
234/100k
Property Crime
809/100k
Population
167,609
State
Idaho
Twin Falls
Idaho
Violent Crime
234/100k
Property Crime
809/100k
Population
120,060
State
Idaho
Pocatello
Idaho
Violent Crime
234/100k
Property Crime
809/100k
Population
90,400
State
Idaho
Rexburg
Idaho
Violent Crime
234/100k
Property Crime
809/100k
Population
68,243
State
Idaho
Lewiston
Idaho
Violent Crime
234/100k
Property Crime
809/100k
Population
65,536
State
Idaho
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford
Connecticut
Violent Crime
150/100k
Property Crime
1558/100k
Population
1,151,543
State
Connecticut
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury
Connecticut
Violent Crime
150/100k
Property Crime
1558/100k
Population
951,558
State
Connecticut
New Haven
Connecticut
Violent Crime
150/100k
Property Crime
1558/100k
Population
568,158
State
Connecticut
Waterbury-Shelton
Connecticut
Violent Crime
150/100k
Property Crime
1558/100k
Population
456,128
State
Connecticut
Norwich-New London-Willimantic
Connecticut
Violent Crime
150/100k
Property Crime
1558/100k
Population
279,634
State
Connecticut
Torrington
Connecticut
Violent Crime
150/100k
Property Crime
1558/100k
Population
113,463
State
Connecticut
Putnam
Connecticut
Violent Crime
150/100k
Property Crime
1558/100k
Population
96,692
State
Connecticut
Cheyenne
Wyoming
Violent Crime
191/100k
Property Crime
1470/100k
Population
100,984
State
Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
Are smaller cities always safer?
Not necessarily. Some mid-size metros have very low crime rates, while others struggle. Our ranking looks at per-capita rates, not raw numbers, which levels the playing field.
What is the national average violent crime rate?
The US national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 incidents per 100,000 residents. Cities scoring below 200 are considered very safe.
Do crime rates vary within a metro area?
Significantly. Metro-level data aggregates city and suburban areas. Specific neighborhoods within a metro can be much safer or more dangerous than the overall metro average.