Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, and Hawaii are among the safest places to live in the U.S. Safety has become a concern for America over the past year, as many areas are experiencing major crime waves. However, some states have been able to avoid spikes in crime and have remained safe places to live. Read on to discover the thirteen safest states to live in the US.
hash-markKey Findings
- The safest state in the US is Vermont, which has a violent crime rate of only 146 per 100,000 residents.
- Maine is the second safest US state, with a violent crime rate of just 150 per 100,000 people. It has seen crime rates drop for nine consecutive years.
- Rhode Island is the third safest state in America due to its extremely low violent crime rate of 172 per 100,000 people. Rhode Island also has the lowest per capita murder rate in the US, which is only 1.5 per 100,000 people.
- The safest region in the US is New England, as it is home to the four safest states in the country: Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. The two remaining New England states of Massachusetts and Connecticut are also among the twelve safest states in America
hash-markSafest States in America
- Vermont
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- New Hampshire
- Kentucky
- Wyoming
- Utah
- Hawaii
- Minnesota
- Washington
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- Iowa
hash-mark1. Vermont
The safest state to live in the USA is Vermont. It has the lowest violent crime rate in America, with only 1.46 per 1,000 people out of a population of 647,064. In 2022, there were only 15 murders, 64 robberies, and 790 assaults in Vermont. Residents have a 1 in 595 chance of becoming victims of a violent crime. Vermont is known for being a sparsely populated and quiet rural state with a very low violent crime rate and a comparatively low property crime rate.
hash-mark2. Maine
Maine is also one of the safest states in the country. Maine has a population of and a very low overall crime rate of 14 offenses per 1,000 people. During 2023, crime in Maine decreased by 6%, marking the ninth consecutive year of crime dropping. Violent crime has dropped as well, with a rate of only 1.5 incidents per 1,000 people. In 2022, there were 22 murders, 170 robberies, and 788 assaults. The chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Maine is 1 in 929.
hash-mark3. Rhode Island
Another one of the safest states in America is Rhode Island. The state has a violent crime rate of 1.72 per 1,000 residents and a population of 1,099,164. Rhode Island's capital, Providence, has low rates of theft and violent crime, making the city ideal for tourists. The safest cities in Rhode Island are Bristol, South Kingstown, Cumberland, and Smithfield.
hash-mark4. New Hampshire
Another New England State, New Hampshire, is also amongst the safest places to live in the US. New Hampshire has a population of 1,377,529 and an extremely low crime rate. In 2021 there were 12 murders, 280 robbers, and 1,166 assaults statewide, which is quite low compared to New Hampshire's population. Most residents in New Hampshire feel safe living there, and many of the state's cities rank as the safest in the county. The safest cities in New Hampshire are Windham, Nashua, Danville, and Atkinson.
hash-mark5. Kentucky
Kentucky is also one of the safest states in America, with a violent crime rate of 214 per 100,000 people, which is 44% lower than the national average. The state puts an emphasis on safety and its violent crime rate has steadily declined in recent years. Kentucky is home to 4.5 million people, and the state has a reputation for safety and offering residents a high quality of life. Some of the safest places to live in Kentucky include Edgewood, Fort Thomas, Fort Mitchell, and Mount Washington.
hash-mark6. Wyoming
Wyoming is another one of the safest states in the US. It has a population of 582,328 and a crime rate of 1,839 incidents per 100,000 residents, making it 23% safer than the rest of the US. Wyoming is known for its rural atmosphere and sparse open landscapes and doesn’t have many densely populated areas that tend to attract a criminal element. The violent crime rate is 2.02 crimes per 1,000 residents (58% lower than the national average), and the property crime rate is 1637 incidents per 100,000 residents (17% lower than the rest of the US). In 2023, there were only 14 homicides, 66 robberies, and 615 aggravated assaults in the state of Wyoming.
hash-mark7. Utah
Utah has a population of 3,271,616 and a violent crime rate of 2.4 incidents per 1,000 people. The chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 386, with 102 murders, 1,362 robberies, and 5,198 assaults- which is well below the national average in other states. The safest cities in Utah are Syracuse, Harriman, Bountiful, and Pleasant Grove.
hash-mark8. Hawaii
It should come as no surprise that the tranquil island of Hawaii is one of the safest states in the US. Out of a population of 1,455,271, Hawaii has a violent crime rate of 2.5 per 1,000 people. The chance of becoming the victim of a violent crime is 1 in 407, with 41 murders, 867 robberies, and 2,099 assaults being recorded in 2022. Crimes of all types have been declining since 2019, with crimes like vehicle theft decreasing by 2.8%.
hash-mark9. Minnesota
Minnesota has a crime population of 5,717,184 and a violent crime rate of 2.75 per 1,000 people. Although Minnesota has seen some increases in violent crime while property crimes have remained largely unchanged since 2019. The most common crimes in the state are petty thefts and larceny, with the violent crime rate being below the national average. The safest cities in Minnesota are West Hennepin, Cold Spring/Richmond, Rosemount, and Minnetrista.
hash-mark10. Washington
Washington has a population of 7,887,965 and a crime rate of 2.93 per 1,000 residents. In 2021, overall property crime fell as well as other miscellaneous types of personal crime. Murders in Seattle dropped by 19% in 2020 as well. The safest cities in Washington are Enumclaw, Liberty Lake, Battle Grounds, West Richland, Poulsbo, and Marysville.
hash-mark11. Massachusetts
Home to Harvard and Yale, Massachusetts is also one of the safest states in America. With a population of 6,984,723, Massachusetts has a violent crime rate of 3.1 per 1,000 people and a property crime rate of 10.5 per 1,000 people. Since the average violent crime rate in America is 4.0 per 1,000, Massachusetts stacks up well! The safest cities in the state are Wayland, Franklin, Clinton, and Holden. Massachusetts also ranks as one of the most expensive states in the country. Its largest city, Boston, is 30% more expensive than the national average, and the median home price in that city is $423,200.
hash-mark12. Connecticut
Connecticut has a population of 3,605,944, making it the most populous state in the New England region. It is one of the most densely populated states, with the Western part being located in the greater New York City Metropolitan area. Crime in the state has hit a ten-year low as of 2022. Data from the FBI uniform crime report show that Connecticut had a 3% reduction in overall crime, a 9% reduction in violent crime, and a 2% reduction in property crimes. Over the past ten years, crime overall has fallen by at least 30%, with a 43% reduction in violent crime.
hash-mark13. Iowa
Iowa is another one of the safest states in the US. It’s home to 3.16 million residents and has a total crime rate of 1,618 crimes per 100,000 residents, making it 35% safer than the rest of the country. Iowa is also known for its vast stretches of cornfields and beautiful countryside and offers a peaceful atmosphere with minimal crime. The violent crime rate is 25% lower than the national average, and the property crime rate is 38% lower. In 2022, Iowa had 27 homicides, 730 robberies, and 5,213 instances of motor vehicle theft.
hash-markSafest States in America Bottom Line
To determine the safest states in America, we looked at violent crime rates and property crime rates between 2020 and 2023. We used local, state, and federal data, including that from the FBI violent crime report, to determine each state's crime per capita, including property crime and violent crime rates. While no place is truly crime-free, these states are the places you are least likely to experience crime in the United States. In states like Washington, crime rates may vary significantly between cities, but the overall state crime average is low. If you live in an area of the country that is experiencing a surge in crime, consider making one of these states your next destination.
