2020’s Safest Cities in America

Adam McCann, Financial WriterNov 30, 2020

Adam McCann, Financial Writer
Nov 30, 2020

People encounter hazards every day, some serious, others rare and innocuous. We fear certain kinds more than others, though, and COVID-19 is one of the biggest concerns in 2020. A recent Gallup poll found that 49% of Americans are “very” or “somewhat” worried about getting coronavirus, though that number has been as high as 59% in recent months. While COVID-19 has dominated the news this year, Americans still have other dangers to worry about, from mass shootings to riots to traffic accidents.

People can feel unsafe in other ways, too. Aside from the types of hazards that can cause bodily injury or other physical harm, taking out an unaffordable second mortgage, forgoing health insurance or even visiting unsecured websites are also ways people run into danger. One of the biggest worries for many people is the availability of affordable healthcare. In fact, half of all U.S. adults are worried a major health event could lead to bankruptcy.

No one can avoid all danger, however, and we take on a certain level of risk based on where we choose to live. Some cities are simply better at protecting their residents from harm. To determine where Americans can feel most secure — in more than one sense — WalletHub compared more than 180 cities across 42 key indicators of safety. Our data set ranges from COVID-19 cases in the past seven days per 100,000 residents and assaults per capita to the unemployment rate and road quality.

Table of Contents

Main Findings Ask the Experts Methodology

Main Findings

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Safest Cities in the U.S.

Overall Rank (1 = Safest)	City	Total Score	‘Home & Community Safety’	‘Natural-Disaster Risk’	‘Financial Safety’
1	Columbia, MD	84.52	4	63	7
2	South Burlington, VT	83.99	6	36	21
3	Plano, TX	81.20	3	113	30
4	Nashua, NH	80.80	10	27	67
5	Lewiston, ME	80.59	19	12	32
6	Burlington, VT	80.55	17	37	29
7	Salem, OR	80.03	11	70	57
8	Virginia Beach, VA	79.68	9	44	63
9	Raleigh, NC	79.55	21	55	13
10	Gilbert, AZ	79.00	29	14	16
11	Portland, ME	78.92	28	11	34
12	Warwick, RI	78.79	14	22	104
13	Chesapeake, VA	78.27	15	69	72
14	Vancouver, WA	78.09	22	87	38
15	Fremont, CA	78.00	5	157	27
16	Bismarck, ND	77.92	54	64	2
17	Chandler, AZ	77.64	40	8	10
18	Boise, ID	77.01	58	71	1
19	Irvine, CA	76.67	1	150	120
20	Scottsdale, AZ	76.62	45	53	18
21	Juneau, AK	76.48	69	50	22
22	Worcester, MA	76.45	32	17	84
23	Manchester, NH	76.26	41	30	62
24	Yonkers, NY	76.25	20	39	138
25	Peoria, AZ	76.19	53	26	28
26	Winston-Salem, NC	76.17	60	40	59
27	Pearl City, HI	76.00	2	N/A	12
28	Durham, NC	75.98	48	42	24
29	Rochester, NY	75.66	37	4	103
30	Madison, WI	75.62	52	89	11
31	Mesa, AZ	75.25	57	18	40
32	Oceanside, CA	75.12	12	144	87
33	Cheyenne, WY	75.12	63	97	15
34	Buffalo, NY	75.07	46	5	90
35	Chula Vista, CA	74.95	18	132	95
36	Lincoln, NE	74.63	64	105	3
37	Fargo, ND	74.46	87	77	8
38	Newport News, VA	74.44	42	21	110
38	Cedar Rapids, IA	74.44	50	101	49
40	Tempe, AZ	74.33	78	9	39
41	Greensboro, NC	74.30	61	33	68
42	San Diego, CA	74.29	26	130	79
43	Brownsville, TX	74.21	71	2	100
44	Cape Coral, FL	74.18	27	111	135
45	Casper, WY	74.05	92	20	60
46	Dover, DE	74.05	74	1	118
47	Huntington Beach, CA	73.97	8	170	108
48	Missoula, MT	73.86	55	108	73
49	Laredo, TX	73.82	84	24	69
50	Nampa, ID	73.66	107	49	14
51	Sioux Falls, SD	73.48	82	103	4
52	Santa Rosa, CA	73.21	24	153	92
53	Charlotte, NC	73.19	77	57	45
54	Grand Prairie, TX	73.08	43	112	96
55	Spokane, WA	72.98	98	19	33
56	San Jose, CA	72.94	35	169	26
57	Glendale, AZ	72.79	102	13	55
58	Santa Clarita, CA	72.76	7	168	165
59	Grand Rapids, MI	72.65	85	7	85
60	Fort Wayne, IN	72.64	76	59	89
61	Norfolk, VA	72.62	39	81	147
62	Aurora, IL	72.57	38	91	143
63	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	72.46	25	159	93
64	Henderson, NV	72.27	49	95	121
65	Huntington, WV	72.22	88	47	83
66	Irving, TX	71.99	56	125	86
67	Bridgeport, CT	71.98	65	16	163
68	Garden Grove, CA	71.84	13	171	154
69	Sacramento, CA	71.76	51	119	91
70	Glendale, CA	71.76	16	151	161
71	Oxnard, CA	71.63	34	148	116
72	Omaha, NE	71.41	93	107	17
73	New Haven, CT	71.40	86	6	144
74	Fayetteville, NC	71.22	83	51	139
75	Overland Park, KS	71.10	105	121	6
76	Salt Lake City, UT	71.06	103	116	9
77	Anaheim, CA	71.05	23	154	155
78	Colorado Springs, CO	70.97	79	126	36
79	Portland, OR	70.65	96	86	71
80	Arlington, TX	70.58	67	122	101
81	Des Moines, IA	70.39	73	143	36
82	Tampa, FL	70.33	70	92	142
83	Richmond, VA	70.30	89	75	126
84	Moreno Valley, CA	70.27	33	166	137
85	Tallahassee, FL	70.23	108	28	115
86	Corpus Christi, TX	70.17	126	3	76
87	Billings, MT	70.09	143	58	23
88	Gulfport, MS	70.09	90	56	167
89	Santa Ana, CA	70.07	31	167	152
90	Las Cruces, NM	69.88	114	66	132
91	Toledo, OH	69.88	91	60	148
92	Huntsville, AL	69.80	80	142	52
93	Pembroke Pines, FL	69.77	72	48	173
94	San Antonio, TX	69.74	99	73	114
95	Fort Worth, TX	69.69	68	134	107
96	Columbus, GA	69.66	97	38	158
97	Providence, RI	69.65	112	10	122
98	Ontario, CA	69.46	44	156	128
99	Austin, TX	69.44	116	98	43
100	Fort Smith, AR	69.03	133	94	58
101	Reno, NV	68.96	81	158	51
102	Rapid City, SD	68.80	130	129	19
103	Fontana, CA	68.79	47	163	136
104	Phoenix, AZ	68.79	139	25	65
105	Akron, OH	68.68	101	68	164
106	Minneapolis, MN	68.55	106	131	50
107	Pittsburgh, PA	68.39	123	72	82
108	Augusta, GA	68.38	153	61	125
109	Aurora, CO	68.36	95	133	80
110	Fresno, CA	68.25	104	117	113
111	Knoxville, TN	68.24	122	78	102
112	Riverside, CA	68.21	62	164	117
113	North Las Vegas, NV	68.09	94	99	149
114	Mobile, AL	68.08	121	43	156
115	Tulsa, OK	67.82	120	120	53
116	Seattle, WA	67.75	124	141	5
117	Charleston, WV	67.67	152	45	70
118	Boston, MA	67.64	144	35	74
119	Honolulu, HI	67.63	30	N/A	78
120	Jacksonville, FL	67.60	134	62	106
121	Louisville, KY	67.49	125	106	75
122	Nashville, TN	67.39	128	115	66
123	San Francisco, CA	67.27	136	123	25
124	Amarillo, TX	67.27	110	162	47
125	Columbia, SC	67.16	135	83	109
126	Long Beach, CA	66.95	66	152	162
127	Houston, TX	66.88	115	102	140
128	Modesto, CA	66.73	119	135	77
129	New York, NY	66.66	141	34	130
130	Atlanta, GA	66.53	111	82	169
131	Jersey City, NJ	66.27	129	84	151
132	Port St. Lucie, FL	66.06	36	N/A	99
133	Cincinnati, OH	65.94	138	76	141
134	Montgomery, AL	65.88	131	93	172
135	Wilmington, DE	65.85	151	23	145
136	Hialeah, FL	65.79	75	128	181
137	Garland, TX	65.71	145	110	94
138	Springfield, MO	65.58	149	127	31
139	Tacoma, WA	65.28	137	145	61
140	Charleston, SC	65.24	132	165	48
141	Bakersfield, CA	65.11	118	146	111
142	St. Paul, MN	65.07	59	N/A	44
143	Albuquerque, NM	64.91	146	88	133
144	El Paso, TX	64.51	156	74	98
145	Chicago, IL	64.51	140	79	168
146	Tucson, AZ	64.46	162	65	54
147	Columbus, OH	64.14	158	46	97
148	Indianapolis, IN	63.83	147	124	105
149	Wichita, KS	63.79	127	172	88
150	Newark, NJ	63.68	142	29	178
151	Milwaukee, WI	63.40	155	52	157
152	Kansas City, MO	63.34	150	138	81
153	Miami, FL	63.06	113	118	182
154	Stockton, CA	62.73	148	140	123
155	Baltimore, MD	62.28	163	67	134
156	Shreveport, LA	62.17	154	100	170
157	Lubbock, TX	61.92	168	114	41
158	West Valley City, UT	61.53	109	N/A	20
159	Orlando, FL	61.41	166	32	146
160	Washington, DC	61.14	172	80	56
161	Dallas, TX	61.11	165	104	119
162	Cleveland, OH	60.66	157	54	176
163	Las Vegas, NV	59.94	167	96	150
164	New Orleans, LA	59.52	169	31	171
165	Denver, CO	59.43	170	139	64
166	Philadelphia, PA	59.00	178	15	129
167	Lexington-Fayette, KY	58.98	117	N/A	35
168	Oakland, CA	58.88	160	155	131
169	Little Rock, AR	58.42	159	147	159
170	St. Petersburg, FL	57.89	100	N/A	127
171	Anchorage, AK	57.82	173	161	42
172	Los Angeles, CA	57.61	161	149	166
173	Chattanooga, TN	57.51	177	109	124
174	Oklahoma City, OK	56.12	164	173	46
175	Memphis, TN	56.11	174	85	177
176	Baton Rouge, LA	55.67	182	90	112
177	Jackson, MS	55.59	171	137	175
178	Detroit, MI	55.11	181	41	174
179	Birmingham, AL	53.71	175	136	180
180	San Bernardino, CA	53.14	180	160	153
181	St. Louis, MO	40.60	179	N/A	160
182	Fort Lauderdale, FL	38.96	176	N/A	179

Note: With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that city, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

Ask the Experts

For the best ways to improve safety, we asked a panel of experts to weigh in with their thoughts on the following key questions:

What steps should local authorities take to help reduce the public costs associated with cleanups after major natural disasters? Should flood or other types of insurance be mandatory?
What measures can police departments take to increase public trust? How important is it to have a police force that is representative of the local community?
What can local authorities do to ensure a safe reopening of businesses and prevent new surges in coronavirus cases?
What can consumers do to increase their financial literacy, considering sound financial decisions increase a person's financial safety?

Ask the Experts

: Roberta P. Lavin
Ph.D., FNP-BC, FAAN – Professor and Ph.D. Program Director – University of New Mexico, College of Nursing
Read More

: Jeremy Brooks
Senior Program Coordinator, National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) , The Earth Institute – Columbia University
Read More

: Alessandra Jerolleman
Ph.D., MPA, CFM – Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Management – Jacksonville State University
Read More

: Duane Hagelgans
Center for Disaster Research & Education – Millersville University
Read More

: Stanley J. Kania III
Ph.D. – Adjunct Instructor, Ph.D. Program, Strategic Leadership & Administrative Studies – Marywood University
Read More

: Rebecca A. Rouse
DM – Professor of Practice & Associate Program Director, Emergency and Security Studies – Tulane University
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to determine the safest cities in which to live, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Home & Community Safety, 2) Natural-Disaster Risk, and 3) Financial Safety.

We evaluated those dimensions using 42 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest level of safety.

We then determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample. In determining our sample, we considered only the city proper in each case, excluding cities in the surrounding metro area.

Home & Community Safety - Total Points: 50

Average COVID-19 Cases in the Last Seven Days per 100,000 Residents: Triple Weight (~6.82 Points)
Presence of Terrorist Attacks: Triple Weight (~6.82 Points)
Note: This binary metric considers the presence or absence of terrorist attack or terrorist-related incident in the city between 2010 and 2020.
Number of Mass Shootings: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
Murders & Non-Negligent Manslaughters per Capita: Triple Weight (~6.82 Points)
Forcible Rapes per Capita: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
Assaults per Capita: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
Thefts per Capita: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
Sex Offenders per Capita: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
Law-Enforcement Employees per Capita: Half Weight (~1.14 Points)
Active Firefighters per Capita: Half Weight (~1.14 Points)
EMTs & Paramedics per Capita: Half weight (~1.14 Points)
Note: “EMTs” refer to Emergency Medical Technicians.
Hate Crimes per Capita: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
Share of Sheltered Homeless: Half Weight (~1.14 Points)
Perception of Safety (Safety walking alone during daylight/night): Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
Note: These data are based on perceptions of visitors of Numbeo website in the past 3 years. If the value is 0, it means it is perceived as very low, and if the value is 100, it means it is perceived as very high.
Drug Poisoning Deaths per Capita: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
Traffic Fatalities per Capita: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)
Pedestrian Fatalities per Capita: Full Weight (~~2.27 Points)
Note: “Pedestrians” also includes pedacyclists.
Road Quality: Full Weight (~2.27 Points)

Natural-Disaster Risk - Total Points: 30

Earthquake Risk Level: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Flood Risk Level: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Hail Risk Level: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Hurricane Storm-Surge Risk Level: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Tornado Risk Level: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)
Wildfire Risk Level: Full Weight (~5.00 Points)

Financial Safety - Total Points: 20

Unemployment Rate: Double Weight (~2.11 Points)
Underemployment Rate: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Share of Uninsured Population: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Share of Uninsured Drivers: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Foreclosure Rate: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Median Credit Score: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Debt-to-Income Ratio: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Share of Owner Occupied Housing Units Spending at Least 35% of Their Household Income on Housing: : Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Poverty Rate: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Fraud & Other Complaints per Capita: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Note: “Other” includes both financial and nonfinancial complaints.
Identity-Theft Complaints per Capita: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Share of Unbanked Households: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Job Security: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Note: This metric was calculated as follows: (Total Workers in 2019 – Total Workers in 2018) / Total Workers in 2018.
Employment Growth: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Note: This metric was adjusted for the working-age population growth and compares figures between 2019 and 2018.
Share of Households with Emergency Savings: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Note: This metric measures the share of households that saved for unexpected expenses or emergencies in the past 12 months.
Retirement Plan Access & Participation Rate: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Note: “Retirement Plan” includes only employer-based plans.
Personal Bankruptcy Filings per Capita: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Share of Underwater Homes: Full Weight (~1.05 Points)
Note: “Underwater” describes homes with negative equity.

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the U.S. Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, TransUnion, Parents for Megan’s Law, U.S. Fire Administration, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Insurance Research Council, Wm. Robert Johnston, Federal Trade Commission, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Chmura Economics & Analytics, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, The Road Information Program, Renwood RealtyTrac, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Zillow, County Health Rankings, Numbeo, Gun Violence Archive, ATTOM Data Solutions and The New York Times.

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Questions & Answers (6 questions)

The hate crime statistics used are nonsense. Those statistics rely on those cities/states to report them as hate crimes which they don't

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I would like to see why Frisco, Tx isn’t safer than Plano, Tx.

Upvotes

When was the Covid data taken? Given the rankings, I'd guess this is September data when the NE looked "good" and the SE looked "bad".

Upvotes

Rating for Wilmington, NC?

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Mentor ohio Crime rate

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