The 5 safest cities in America — and the 5 least safe

Barry Winiker / Getty Images

Yonkers ranks among the safest U.S. cities thanks to its low levels of violent crime and a strong perception of safety among residents. The city has one of the lowest rates of thefts per capita and one of the highest percentages of insured residents, reflecting both community security and financial stability. Yonkers also ranks high for its number of active firefighters and emergency responders per capita.

Malorny / Getty Images

Juneau benefits from both geography and governance when it comes to safety. The city faces the nation’s lowest natural-disaster risk, scoring especially well for minimal tornado and wildfire danger. Juneau’s overall crime levels are relatively low, and it maintains a moderate unemployment rate alongside a strong share of households with emergency savings.

halbergman / Getty Images

Burlington performs well across multiple categories, from crime prevention to financial resilience. The city reports one of the lowest rates of murder and sexual assault in the country, plus very few cases of identity theft. Burlington’s residents also enjoy solid economic footing, with one of the lowest unemployment rates and a high share of households that have emergency savings. Its low risk for flooding and tornadoes adds another layer of safety.

Dee Liu / Getty Images

Overland Park’s second place score is rooted in financial and community stability. The city has one of the lowest poverty rates in the nation and ranks high for retirement plan participation and credit scores. It also boasts safe roads, with a low rate of traffic and pedestrian fatalities. Plus, it has one of the lowest unemployment rates nationwide.

Jeremy D'Entremont, www.lighthouse.cc / Getty Images

Warwick tops the list as America’s safest city overall. It ranks third in the nation for the fewest assaults per capita and seventh for the lowest number of thefts, making it a place where residents can feel secure both at home and in public spaces. Warwick also stands out for its strong financial health, with one of the smallest uninsured populations and a low poverty rate.

Cyndi Monaghan / Getty Images

Baltimore struggles with high rates of violent crime, elevated levels of theft, and a below-average perception of safety among residents. Economically, Baltimore faces challenges like high poverty and foreclosure rates.

Feifei Cui-Paoluzzo / Getty Images

Detroit ranks near the bottom for multiple safety factors, including one of the highest assault rates. Financial safety is also a concern, since Detroit posts the highest unemployment rate in the country among major cities and one of the nation’s largest shares of homeowners spending too much of their income on housing.

jmsilva / Getty Images

Baton Rouge faces high crime rates and significant exposure to natural disasters. The city’s risk from flooding and hurricanes places it near the bottom of the list for environmental safety. It struggles economically, too, with a relatively high poverty rate and a large percentage of residents who are uninsured.

Westend61 / Getty Images

Memphis ranked second-to-last, with the highest rate of assaults in the country and is tied for the most traffic fatalities per capita. The city also struggles with economic instability, including one of the lowest shares of households with emergency savings and high unemployment.

Lightvision, LLC / Getty Images

New Orleans ranks as the least safe city overall, largely because of to its high violent crime rates and elevated natural-disaster risk. The city’s exposure to hurricanes and flooding is among the worst in the nation. Financially, New Orleans residents face above-average poverty rates, low job security, and have of the highest rates of being uninsured.