LeeSecurity plays a big role in people’s quality of life and is an important factor when moving or choosing a university. The 2021 Global Peace Index ranks the United States 122 out of 163 countries. The country experiences frequent hate crimes and natural disasters that put citizens and visitors at risk. But this is not a reason to refuse to move or study in the USA. After all, the level of security in each state is different. In this article, we have prepared a list of the safest states and cities in the United States for 2021-2022.
We divided safety factors into two categories: crime rates and the possibility of natural disasters. Both states and cities are listed in each category.
Safest US states by crime rate
To determine which states are the most secure, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 53 security indicators grouped into categories:
- Personal and household safety
- Financial security
- Road safety
- Workplace Safety
- Emergency Preparedness
1. Maine
Maine is the safest state in the United States with a score of 66.02. The state is located in the east of the country and is part of New England, a quiet region. Maine ranks first in personal and residential safety, traffic safety and emergency preparedness. The state has the lowest number of assaults per capita of any state in the United States.
2. Vermont
With a rating of 65.48, Vermont ranks second for personal and residential security and seventh for financial security. Vermont has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Vermont’s violent crime rate is 1.7 per 1,000 people, two points below the national rate.
3. Minnesota
The state’s overall score is 62.42. Minnesota ranks first in workplace safety, third in traffic safety, and fourth in financial security. The state has the second-fewest number of fatalities per 100 million miles traveled. Some of the safest cities in Minnesota are Lakeville, Plymouth, Eden Prairie, and Maple Grove.
4. Utah
With an overall score of 61.71, Utah ranks fourth in workplace safety, sixth in emergency preparedness and seventh in traffic safety.
5. Wyoming
With a score of 59.21, Wyoming is the fifth safest state in the United States. Wyoming ranks sixth in personal and residential safety rates and third in law enforcement officers per capita, with 2.3 per 1,000 people. Wyoming’s violent crime rate is considered low at 2.1 per 1,000 people. The state has the smallest population in the country, and with a small population, it tends to have a low crime rate. Rumor has it that here you can keep your car keys in the ignition and not worry about your car being stolen.
Safe cities in the USA: TOP 10
The SafeWise service has ranked the cities with the highest levels of safety based on crime rates. The ranking is based on FBI crime data.
- Hopkinton, Massachusetts
- Franklin, Massachusetts
- Buckingham Township, Pennsylvania
- Oakland, Michigan
- Bernards Township, New Jersey
- Ridgefield, Connecticut
- Newcastle Town, New York
- Sparta Township, New York
- Hamburg Township, Michigan
- Bedford Town, New York
The safest US states and cities for natural disasters
Natural disasters are another factor to consider when choosing a state to live in. After all, they happen suddenly, cause great damage and endanger the lives of residents. Natural disasters include floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, forest fires, and earthquakes. Due to the size of the United States, its geographic location, and climate, different regions of the country are susceptible to different types and frequencies of natural disasters. But in these states the likelihood of their occurrence tends to be minimal:
1. Michigan
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Michigan is one of the safest states from natural disasters. The state is least susceptible to hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes. We are not talking about completely eliminating such phenomena; there were several earthquakes and tornadoes in the state, but of lesser magnitude than in other parts of the country.
2. Minnesota
Even though Minnesota has been hit by tornadoes and floods in recent years. Minneapolis-St. The floor is considered one of the safest places from natural disasters.
3. Illinois
Illinois is unlikely to experience natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, or droughts. However, the state is still experiencing heat waves, extreme cold and occasional flooding.
4. Vermont
Vermont, part of New England, is located on the northern border of the United States. The state’s location and landscape protect it from many natural disasters. In addition, Vermont is known for being financially positioned to take care of its citizens in the event of a disaster and is one of the top states for emergency preparedness.
5. Ohio
Another Midwestern state, Ohio, is considered relatively safe from natural disasters. The cities of Cincinnati, Dayton and Cleveland are among the safest cities in the country when it comes to natural disasters. Due to Ohio’s proximity to tornado alley, it experiences several tornadoes per year.
6. Colorado
Ranked among the most beautiful states in the country, Colorado has many forests and mountains that are mostly covered with snow during the winter months. Threats such as hurricanes, earthquakes, droughts and tornadoes are minimal. However, forest fires can be frequent and intense.
7. Maryland
Maryland is generally safe from natural disasters, the most common of which are storms and blizzards. Flooding can occur in Maryland, but it is not as frequent or severe as in other parts of the country.
8. Maine
Maine is the northernmost and easternmost state on the East Coast. The state is located at the northern end of the country’s east coast, where hurricanes are less likely to hit than the rest of the coast below it. But the state is prone to heavy snowfall and summer storms, including thunder, lightning and flooding.
9. New Hampshire
New Hampshire is far enough north that hurricanes typically lose their strength before reaching the state. Flooding and snowstorms are the two main events that can occur in the state. New Hampshire is one of the best in emergency preparedness.
10. Montana
Montana is located to the west, along the Canadian border. Montana has the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains, and is one of the safest states from natural disasters. It is generally protected from hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes, but there is a risk of flooding, although there have only been five significant floods in Montana over the last century.
The safest cities in America: what unites them
To summarize, we can identify common features that characterize safe cities in the United States:
- Suburbs: Note that the cities mentioned in this article do not include large metropolitan areas—91 of the 100 safe cities are within 50 miles of a major city, with 65 of them in the northeastern United States.
- Low crime rates where the population is small: the average population of the 100 safest cities does not exceed 30,000 people.
- Availability of reliable resources: The median income among the 100 safest cities is $106,298, which is nearly 55% higher than the median household income ($68,703) in the United States.
Did you know that the United States of America hosts the largest number of international students in the world? All thanks to quality education, a unique curriculum and a multicultural environment. If you want to study in the states and at the same time be confident in your safety, then during an individual consultationour specialists will take into account all your wishes and select a suitable university. They will also advise on the possibilities of obtaining funding so that studying is not only a joy, but also profitable!
