What are the safest cities in the U.S. right now? Whether you’re planning a trip or just curious about how your city stacks up, safety is more top-of-mind than ever. To help make sense of it all, WalletHub has just released its annual list of the safest cities in America, ranking 182 places based on everything from violent crime and natural disasters to road safety and fraud risk.
To determine the rankings, WalletHub compared U.S. cities using three key dimensions: home and community safety, natural disaster risk and financial safety. The company then evaluated those dimensions using 41 key indicators of safety, ranging from assaults and traffic fatalities to unemployment rates, bankruptcy rates and the percentage of the population that is uninsured.
But safety in 2025 isn’t just about avoiding crime. WalletHub’s approach is intentionally broad, going beyond traditional crime statistics to capture a more realistic picture of what it means to feel secure. “Safety also means having stability in your daily life, including personal finances and access to basic resources,” Chip Lupo, an analyst at WalletHub, told me in an interview.
“The idea is that people don’t feel truly safe if they are constantly worried about losing their job, being unable to afford housing or healthcare, falling victim to identity theft or being financially wiped out by an emergency,” says Lupo. “Similarly, residents in cities with low crime rates might still feel unsafe if there’s a high risk of hurricanes or wildfires.”
That’s why the report includes metrics like fraud complaints, emergency savings and credit scores. These factors that may not scream “safety” at first glance, but in today’s climate have become crucial to overall security. “Safety today means the presence of both physical protection and economic resilience,” says Lupo.
If you’re looking beyond U.S. borders, don’t miss our list of the Safest Cities in the World, which ranks international destinations for peace of mind.
Or, if affordability is top of mind, explore 14 Places Where You Can Comfortably Live on $1,200 a Month or Less — many are safer than you might think.
The Safest Cities In The U.S.
“What may surprise some people is that many large, well-known metro areas still generally don’t rank near the top,” says Lupo. “Mid-sized cities with stable local economies performed better again this year, reinforcing that safety isn’t just about avoiding crime, it’s also about being protected from financial stress.”
Topping the list as the safest city in America for 2025 is Warwick, Rhode Island, which has been climbing steadily in the rankings over the past few years. It was No. 3 last year and No. 5 the year before.
What’s behind Warwick’s rise? “Warwick’s rise from #5 to #3 and now to #1 is a show of consistency rather than a sudden shift,” says Lupo. “The city stands out because it performs well in everyday safety measures, areas like low assault and theft rates and very low pedestrian fatalities. It also ranks among the top 10 in home and community safety, which is a big part of why residents feel secure.”
Warwick’s financial stability helps solidify its top ranking. The city has one of the lowest uninsured rates and a low poverty rate, which means fewer households are at high economic risk. “When you combine safer streets with a more stable financial environment, you get a city that’s not just safe on paper, but safe in daily life and that’s what solidified Warwick’s position at #1 this year,” says Lupo.
Coming in at No. 2 is Overland Park, Kansas, which scores high for both road safety and financial well-being. According to WalletHub, Overland Park has the fifth-lowest pedestrian fatality rate in the country and the 15th-lowest rate of traffic fatalities overall. It also has the 21st-lowest percentage of uninsured motorists, so people are protected when things do go wrong.
But where the city really stands out is financial safety. It has the 14th-lowest unemployment rate in the country, one of the highest median credit scores and the lowest share of residents living in poverty. Plus, homeowners aren’t overstretched: Very few spend more than 35% of their income on their mortgage.
Third on the list is Burlington, Vermont. The city has some of the lowest rates of violent crime in the country, particularly in terms of rape and assault. Its location in the Northeast means it faces relatively little risk from tornadoes, hurricanes or wildfires. Burlington also ranks highly for health-related factors, including insurance coverage and fraud protection.
Trends In Safety
Other high performers in this year’s top 10 include Juneau, Alaska (No. 4), Yonkers, New York (No. 5), Casper, Wyoming (No. 6), South Burlington, Vermont (No. 7), Colombia, Maryland (No. 8), Lewiston, Maine (No. 9) and Salem, Oregon (No. 10).
Notably, several of these cities have also appeared near the top of WalletHub’s rankings in previous years, which suggests that safety may be less about trendiness or temporary improvements and more about long-term investments in infrastructure, healthcare and public well-being.
“One of the biggest trends this year is that the safest cities continue to be the ones that combine low crime with strong financial stability,” says Lupo. “Just like last year, cities such as Warwick, Overland Park and Burlington stand out not only for their low violent and property crime rates, but also for having steady employment, higher insurance coverage, and more affordable housing.
The report points to other interesting regional patterns. New England cities dominate the upper tier, with Warwick, Burlington, South Burlington and Lewiston, Maine, all making strong showings.
The Midwest and Northwest also perform well, particularly cities with smaller populations and diversified economies.
Major coastal metros continue to struggle. Miami ranks No. 113, New York City ranks No. 117 and Los Angeles ranks No. 156. These lower rankings are often due to higher crime rates, traffic issues and the financial strain of housing in high-cost areas.
Why Are Vermont Cities Doing So well?
Two cities in Vermont—Burlington and South Burlington—crack the top 10 this year. What’s their secret?
“Vermont cities tend to stand out for more than just low crime rates; they also provide strong financial and community safety,” says Lupo. “For example, Burlington ranks among the best in the country for things like low unemployment, high rates of insured residents and even the share of households with emergency savings. South Burlington shows a similar pattern, ranking very high in financial stability and overall natural-disaster risk.”
“So when you see two Vermont cities near the top, it reflects a broader environment where residents feel secure not just physically, but economically as well. That combination is what makes safety truly sustainable.”
Assaults, Hate Crimes and More
WalletHub’s report doesn’t just rank cities overall, it also drills down into specific indicators of safety, highlighting places that excel in individual categories.
Some cities stand out for having exceptionally low rates of assault and other violent crimes. Columbia, Maryland, has the fewest assaults per capita, while Port St. Lucie, Florida and Gilbert, Arizona also rank among the safest when it comes to physical safety on the streets.
Rates of reported hate crimes are also factored into the home and community safety score. Cities like Irvine, California, and Madison, Wisconsin, report some of the lowest incidents per capita, contributing to a broader sense of inclusion and trust within those communities.
Another key indicator is road safety. Cities with walkable neighborhoods and safer infrastructure score better in this category. Sunnyvale, California, has one of the lowest traffic fatality rates, while Overland Park, Kansas, is another standout with especially low rates of pedestrian deaths.
In a digital age, financial security matters more than ever. WalletHub looked at complaints of fraud and identity theft to gauge how well residents are protected. Cities like Fargo, North Dakota, and Boise, Idaho, report fewer cases of financial scams, contributing to their overall safety score.
Disaster preparedness plays a big role in this year’s rankings. Cities with a low risk of natural catastrophes—such as Burlington, Vermont, and Spokane, Washington—score high thanks to their geographic stability and emergency infrastructure.
Ultimately, as concerns about safety continue to shape travel habits, real estate decisions and even political discourse, this report offers a valuable lens on where America stands and where it’s headed.
If you’re thinking beyond city safety or considering an international move, you might also want to explore the safest cities in the world. And if you’re looking to stretch your dollars, 14 places to live on $1,200 a month or less highlights global destinations where your budget goes much further.
Read on for the list of the top 25 safest cities in the U.S. for 2025.
Ranked: The 25 Safest Cities In The U.S.
- Warwick, Rhode Island
- Overland Park, Kansas
- Burlington, Vermont
- Juneau, Alaska
- Yonkers, New York
- Casper, Wyoming
- South Burlington, Vermont
- Columbia, Maryland
- Lewiston, Maine
- Salem, Oregon
- Nashua, New Hampshire
- Boise, Idaho
- Laredo, Texas
- Santa Rosa, California
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Nampa, Idaho
- Irvine, California
- Chesapeake, Virginia
- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
- Bismarck, North Dakota
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Portland, Maine
- Chula Vista, California
- Vancouver, Washington
- Madison, Wisconsin