SAFEST STATE IN THE US 2024
The US ranks 128th out of 163 countries for peace, facing challenges like terrorism and natural disasters. Safety matters for where people choose to live.
To find the Safe States in the US 2024, WalletHub compared all 50 using 53 indicators. These include DUI rates, road conditions, unemployment, debt, poverty, mass shootings, assaults, law enforcement presence, and neighborhood safety. Each state got scores from 0 to 100.
This helps identify the SAFEST STATE IN THE US 2024.
Vermont is the most SAFEST STATE IN THE US 2024, followed closely by Maine.
For overall safety and quality of life, Maine is often considered one of the best states to live in the USA. Other states like New Hampshire, Idaho, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Wyoming, and Virginia also boast low crime rates. Crime rate in USA is 109 incidents per 100,000 people
Top 10 Safest States In the US
- Vermont – Safety Score: 68.79
- Maine – Safety Score: 66.95
- New Hampshire – Safety Score: 63.99
- Utah – Safety Score: 63.48
- Hawaii – Safety Score: 60.36
- Massachusetts – Safety Score: 60.02
- Connecticut – Safety Score: 59.88
- Minnesota – Safety Score: 59.81
- Washington – Safety Score: 59.44
- Rhode Island – Safety Score: 58.99
Top 10 Most Dangerous States in the US
- Louisiana – Safety Score: 31.64
- Mississippi – Safety Score: 32.52
- Arkansas – Safety Score: 33.72
- Texas – Safety Score: 36.77
- Alabama – Safety Score: 37.68
- Oklahoma – Safety Score: 39.34
- Florida – Safety Score: 39.52
- Missouri – Safety Score: 40.25
- South Carolina – Safety Score: 41.03
- Tennessee – Safety Score: 41.34
The following table ranks states based on various safety indicators. Higher Total Scores indicate greater safety overall. Conversely, lower numbers in the subcategory columns reflect higher rankings.
State | Total score | Financial Safety | Personal and Residential Safety | Road Safety | Workplace Safety | Emergency Preparedness |
Louisiana | 32 | 48 | 46 | 34 | 40 | 49 |
Mississippi | 33 | 46 | 30 | 50 | 48 | 50 |
Arkansas | 34 | 43 | 47 | 47 | 47 | 33 |
Texas | 37 | 42 | 40 | 36 | 31 | 48 |
Alabama | 38 | 41 | 36 | 42 | 37 | 46 |
Oklahoma | 39 | 45 | 35 | 29 | 36 | 45 |
Florida | 40 | 25 | 32 | 46 | 44 | 42 |
Missouri | 40 | 32 | 41 | 43 | 24 | 41 |
South Carolina | 41 | 36 | 50 | 44 | 16 | 36 |
Tennessee | 41 | 40 | 49 | 41 | 11 | 38 |
Montana | 42 | 6 | 45 | 28 | 38 | 32 |
Kansas | 43 | 28 | 29 | 21 | 34 | 44 |
South Dakota | 43 | 3 | 28 | 32 | 50 | 39 |
Colorado | 44 | 8 | 44 | 31 | 43 | 28 |
Ohio | 45 | 47 | 32 | 23 | 29 | 24 |
Georgia | 45 | 44 | 22 | 39 | 25 | 34 |
Nebraska | 47 | 9 | 24 | 9 | 39 | 40 |
West Virginia | 47 | 33 | 31 | 26 | 45 | 18 |
Illinois | 48 | 49 | 13 | 18 | 23 | 35 |
Nevada | 48 | 50 | 48 | 37 | 17 | 6 |
North Dakota | 48 | 12 | 20 | 8 | 49 | 37 |
Pennsylvania | 49 | 35 | 18 | 33 | 26 | 27 |
Kentucky | 49 | 39 | 25 | 35 | 20 | 30 |
California | 49 | 22 | 42 | 40 | 18 | 19 |
Michigan | 50 | 34 | 43 | 38 | 15 | 14 |
New Mexico | 50 | 38 | 38 | 48 | 10 | 12 |
Delaware | 51 | 29 | 23 | 25 | 33 | 13 |
Wisconsin | 51 | 21 | 26 | 11 | 32 | 20 |
New York | 52 | 31 | 10 | 4 | 30 | 26 |
North Carolina | 52 | 15 | 12 | 30 | 4 | 43 |
Arizona | 53 | 20 | 33 | 49 | 9 | 8 |
Indiana | 53 | 37 | 15 | 24 | 12 | 29 |
Maryland | 53 | 24 | 9 | 45 | 14 | 23 |
Wyoming | 54 | 27 | 21 | 10 | 22 | 21 |
Alaska | 55 | 16 | 37 | 27 | 21 | 2 |
New Jersey | 55 | 30 | 5 | 16 | 28 | 25 |
Idaho | 55 | 18 | 16 | 6 | 46 | 15 |
Iowa | 55 | 19 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 47 |
Oregon | 55 | 11 | 39 | 12 | 8 | 16 |
Virginia | 56 | 17 | 11 | 22 | 3 | 31 |
Rhode Island | 59 | 26 | 6 | 19 | 35 | 10 |
Washington | 59 | 7 | 27 | 15 | 5 | 9 |
Minnesota | 60 | 4 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 22 |
Connecticut | 60 | 23 | 1 | 17 | 27 | 17 |
Massachusetts | 60 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 42 | 11 |
Hawaii | 60 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 13 | 4 |
Utah | 63 | 2 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
New Hampshire | 64 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 41 | 3 |
Maine | 67 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 1 |
Vermont | 69 | 10 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 7 |
FAQ: Best States to Move to and Safety Rankings in the US
- What are the best SAFEST STATE IN THE US 2024 to relocate? According to reports by Kiplinger and Shoreline Immigration, the top states for relocation include New Hampshire, Wyoming, Virginia, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, Connecticut, North Dakota, and Utah.
- Which U.S. state is considered the safest? The safest states in the US, as per various studies, include Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Utah, and Massachusetts.
- What are the crime statistics in Dallas? Dallas has a 1 in 24 chance of being a victim of any crime, which is lower than the Texas and US averages. Annually, there are approximately 57,043 total crimes reported in Dallas.
- Which state is considered the best for living in the USA? Some of the top states for living in the USA are Utah, known for its blend of natural beauty and academic excellence; Washington, a hub of innovation and education; Idaho, Nebraska, and Minnesota.
- What is the SAFEST STATE IN THE US 2024? Vermont consistently ranks as the number one safest state in the US based on various safety indicators and studies.
Sources
- Crime Data Explorer – https://crime-data-explorer.fr.cloud.gov/pages/explorer/crime/crime-trend
- FBI – Crime Publications – https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucr/publications#cius
- Council on Criminal Justice – Crime Trends Year-End 2021 Update – https://counciloncj.org/crime-trends-yearend-2021-update/
- CDC – Firearm Mortality – https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/firearm_mortality/firearm.htm
- CDC – Homicide Mortality – https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/homicide_mortality/homicide.htm
- Statista – Reported Violent Crime Rate in the US States – https://www.statista.com/statistics/200445/reported-violent-crime-rate-in-the-us-states/
- Crime Data Explorer – Downloads – https://crime-data-explorer.app.cloud.gov/pages/downloads
- The Marshall Project – What did FBI data say about crime in 2021? It’s too unreliable to tell – https://www.themarshallproject.org/2022/06/14/what-did-fbi-data-say-about-crime-in-2021-it-s-too-unreliable-to-tell
- The Hill – Hotter summers, rising gun violence put vulnerable youth at risk: Can advocates keep them safe? – https://thehill.com/changing-america/enrichment/education/3536338-hotter-summers-rising-gun-violence-put-vulnerable-youth-at-risk-can-advocates-keep-them-safe/
- The Center Square – How the murder rate in Maine compares to the rest of the country – https://www.thecentersquare.com/maine/how-the-murder-rate-in-maine-compares-to-the-rest-of-the-country/article_0c2ba1b1-721a-5877-b459-798f18371472.html
- SafeWise – Safest Cities in Maine – https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-maine/#:~:text=2022 Maine crime rates,for 82%25 of property crime.
- SafeWise – Safest Cities in New Hampshire – https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-new-hampshire/#:~:text=2022 New Hampshire crime rates&text=Its already-low violent crime,decreased from 12.2 to 11.0.
- TravelSafe-Abroad – Vermont – https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/united-states/vermont/
- SafeWise – Safest Cities in Vermont – https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-vermont/#:~:text=Vermont’s overall level of concern,crime rates in the country.
- BackgroundChecks.org – Safest Cities in Connecticut – https://backgroundchecks.org/safest-cities-in-connecticut.html
- Connecticut Post – The true facts on CT crime – https://www.ctpost.com/opinion/article/Opinion-The-true-facts-on-CT-crime-16571389.php
- SafeWise – Safest Cities in New Jersey – https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-new-jersey/
- MPDC – District Crime Data at a Glance – https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/district-crime-data-glance
- SafeWise – Safest Cities in Alaska – https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-alaska/#:~:text=Alaska’s violent crime rate is 8.4 per 1%2C000 people%2C more,points above the national average.
- SafeWise – Safest Cities in New Mexico – https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-new-mexico/
- WREG – Crime stats show decrease in violence, a spike in thefts – https://wreg.com/news/local/crime-stats-show-decrease-in-violence-a-spike-in-thefts/
- The Center Square – How the violent crime rate in Arkansas compares to other states – https://www.thecentersquare.com/arkansas/how-the-violent-crime-rate-in-arkansas-compares-to-other-states/article_e515cb78-7670-5a9d-8eee-0e061d4b2148.html