Did you know that 56% of Americans feel that their local area crime rates have increased?
This is the highest figure in over 56 years! This has even made it harder for residents and foreigners to find a safe place to call home.
But not all states are unsafe. In fact, there are the least dangerous states in US where you can leisurely walk every day without constantly peeking over your shoulder.
Whether you are a local, an international student, or a tourist, you can find and live in the safest states.
Surprisingly, the safest states aren’t the ones we’d expect. Size, population, or the state’s popularity among tourists don’t necessarily equate to safety.
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How we ranked the least dangerous states in the USA
According to the FBI, violent crimes are offenses related to murder, robbery, aggravated assaults, and sexual assaults.
On the other hand, property crimes involve acts like burglary, motor vehicle theft, and more.
Our list has factored these crime statistics in every state and ranked them based on the lowest rates.
Safest States in The US
- Maine
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- Vermont
- Massachusetts
Maine
A great place to start when talking about the least dangerous states is Maine.
This state may not just be your top choice based on crime rates, but also the environment. Let’s see why it’s our number one safest state.
Most people actually rank a state’s safety based on homicide rates. And when it comes to this, Maine stands out with just 39 reported cases overall!
This is way too low for its population, and when compared with states like California, which has more than 3,400 reported cases on average.
In fact, Maine comes 4th with a 2.9 homicide rate per 100,000 people. This puts the state in the 2nd spot in the whole nation for low homicide rates.
It’s not just homicides that make Maine the safest state. With just 1,856 crimes reported per 100,000 people in the state, it’s safe to say that most towns and locations within the state are generally safe.
Besides, when it comes to gun-related crimes, Main is ranked 11th among all states (only 10.4 for every 100,000 people).
This shows that Maine is not only a beautiful place but also one of the safest states to call home.
New Jersey
Second on the list is New Jersey, a state known to have the lowest number of rapes per 100,000 people (14.4).
When it comes to homicides, the state is ranked 14th in the US with just 497 reported cases, which is 5.4 for every 100,000 residents. This means that the state experiences fewer homicides compared to several states.
In terms of gun-related deaths, it comes 3rd with the least reported cases, at 5 per 100,000 people. These low numbers are a result of the state’s commitment to gun safety and regulations, which has helped maintain a safer community for the locals.
Other than low rates of violent crimes, the state has outperformed its counterparts when it comes to low crime rate statistics. New Jersey is ranked among the top states with the lowest rates of burglaries, and motor vehicle thefts per capita.
Additionally, it has a high number of law enforcement officers, with 452 per 100,000 people, a strong law enforcement presence that has helped maintain peace and order.
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New Hampshire
You might be wondering why this state is not topping the list!
Most people actually argue that it’s the safest state overall. And that could be true, bearing in mind that it only has 20 reported homicides per 100,000 people on average! This is the lowest of any state in the United States!
All seems good for the state but only the overall crime rate is higher compared to Maine and New Jersey. The crime rate in New Hampshire is slightly higher (3,390.7 per 100,000 people).
Besides, while New Hampshire excels in most safety categories, it holds middle rankings for rape (25th) and law enforcement officers (28th), which you might want to consider.
But this does mean it’s unsafe. In fact, despite the high numbers in crime rates, it’s ranked 23rd in the section, which means it’s still safer than most states.
While ago, the state achieved the remarkable feat of having the lowest murder in the entire United States, with less than 1 murder for every 100,000 people!
Moreover, it ranked second-lowest for aggravated assaults and sixth-lowest for robberies.
When it comes to property crimes, New Hampshire boasts the lowest number of burglaries per capita, the third-lowest motor vehicle thefts, and the fourth-lowest larceny thefts.
Vermont
Vermont comes fourth in terms of safety and measures it has put in place to keep its communities safe.
This state is actually ranked 2nd in the whole of the United States based on homicide rates (just 24 per 100,000 people). The crime rate (2,5,41 per 100,000 residents) is also lower compared to other safer states like New Hampshire.
What sets this state apart is its strong sense of community. When you live in Vermont, you will be treated like a local, one of their own, and will indeed feel safe among residents.
Neighbors look out for each other, which has really increased the sense of trust and security.
Besides, Vermont is known to have the most minor incidences of social problems like drug abuse, which has increased security overall.
Vermont’s dedication to safety is further underscored by its outstanding performance in violent crime categories.
It ranks among the top five states for three key types: having the third-lowest murder rate, the second-fewest robberies, and the fourth-fewest aggravated assaults.
And it doesn’t end here. The state’s safety rate extends to its motor vehicle thefts, which is the lowest in the United States, standing at 42.4 per 100,000 people.
Overall, you will feel safer here than in most other states.
Massachusetts
Having the 5th lowest rape and murder rate is not enough reason to rank Massachusetts as the 5th least dangerous state in US. There are several reasons why it made it into the top 5.
First, this state tops all the states when it comes to the lowest property crime rates in the United States.
There are only 804 reported larceny cases per 100,000 residents. Having the 5th lowest burglary and motor vehicle theft cases also makes this state a choice for many when considering safety.
The state takes a proactive approach to maintaining its safety status by focusing on public safety, social services, and public health initiatives. For this reason, it has seen one of the lowest reported homicide cases (230).
A good example is Boston’s Community Policing Program, which has played a pivotal role in reducing crime in the city by more than 14% over the years.
Massachusetts has also ensured a remarkable gun safety environment for its residents. With just 3.7 gun deaths per 100,000 residents, the state ranks as second-lowest in this category.
Enacting laws such as extreme risk protection orders, has allowed concerned families and law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily take firearms from individuals who are considered at risk of committing violent crimes.
Final Thoughts
No matter which corner of the world you go to, it’s not possible to avoid crime altogether.
Crime is everywhere, whether you live in Maine, or the least safest place in the United States.
But choosing to live in one of these least dangerous states is a step ahead to minimize the risks.
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