Which state is the safest to live in?

Editorial team Published on

Vermont is ranked as the overall safest state to live in the United States.

Recent studies by WalletHub evaluate states using 52 metrics. These include personal and residential safety, financial security, road quality, workplace conditions, and emergency preparedness.

Top 5 Safest States Overall

  • Vermont: Ranks first overall. It scores high in neighborhood safety, low unemployment, and top road quality.
  • Massachusetts: Ranks second overall. It features strong financial stability, strict gun laws, and low crime rates.
  • New Hampshire: Ranks third overall. It has very low rates of violent crime and high metrics for residents feeling secure.
  • Maine: Ranks fourth overall. It boasts some of the lowest violent crime and assault rates in the nation.
  • Utah: Ranks fifth overall. It performs well in workplace safety and emergency preparedness.

Key Factors for Safety

  • Northeastern Dominance: New England states frequently top safety lists due to strong healthcare access, economic stability, and low crime rates.
  • Broad Criteria: Safety rankings look beyond just violent crime. They also factor in job security, credit scores, traffic fatalities, and natural disaster risks.

What are the top 3 safest states to live in?

According to recent data analysis from WalletHub and U.S. News & World Report, the top 3 safest states to live in are Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Top 3 Safest States

1. Vermont

  • Rankings: Often placed at #1 overall in comprehensive safety studies like WalletHub, which factor in personal, financial, and road safety.
  • Key Stats: Features very low rates of theft, murder, and aggravated assault, alongside strong community and neighborhood safety perceptions.
  • Strengths: Excellent financial stability, low unemployment, and high-quality roads with very few motor fatalities.

2. New Hampshire

  • Rankings: Ranks #1 for public safety according to U.S. News & World Report and lands in the top three for overall safety.
  • Key Stats: Reports roughly 110 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, which is well below the national average.
  • Strengths: Exceptional property crime rates, high median credit scores, low poverty levels, and strong educational attainment.

3. Maine

  • Rankings: Consistently holds the #2 or #3 spot for lowest violent crime rates and public safety nationwide.
  • Key Stats: Records one of the lowest overall rates of violent crime in the entire country (around 100 incidents per 100,000 residents).
  • Strengths: Tight-knit local communities, clean air quality, and low rates of property crime.

What state is the safest and cheapest to live in?

Finding a single state that is both the absolute cheapest and the absolute safest is difficult because the most affordable states often have higher crime rates, while the safest states usually have a higher cost of living. However, several Midwestern and Northern states offer a great balance between low expenses and strong public safety.

Best Balanced States

  • Iowa: This state combines a cost of living about 9% below the national average with high safety rankings for low violent crime [Movoto Blog]. Housing costs here are roughly 26% below the national norm [Movoto Blog].
  • Maine: This state regularly ranks as one of the safest places in America with very low violent crime rates [Jackman Maine Reddit]. While it is more expensive than the rural South, it remains the most affordable option in the New England region.
  • Indiana: This Midwestern state features a low cost of living and housing market alongside solid safety scores that beat many of its neighbors [Indiana Facebook].

The Cheapest States

If saving money is your top priority, according to US News Affordability Rankings, the most budget-friendly states include:

  • Mississippi: Offers the lowest housing and transportation costs in the nation [Mississippi KFOR], though workplace safety and crime rates rank lower [Mississippi KFOR].
  • Arkansas: Features a very low cost of living and affordable home prices [Arkansas Geography Short], though average incomes also tend to be lower.
  • West Virginia: Leads the country with the lowest median home purchase prices [West Virginia RenoFi], alongside moderate family safety rankings [West Virginia Waterbury Observer].

The Safest States

If personal security is your top priority, the states with the lowest crime rates include:

  • Vermont: Frequently ranked as the safest state in the nation [Vermont RD] with top marks in financial and road safety [Vermont Realtor Video].
  • New Hampshire: Features some of the lowest burglary and assault rates in the country [New Hampshire Consumer Affairs].

What state has the #1 crime rate?

Alaska has the highest violent crime rate in the United States, while New Mexico ranks number one for property crime.

Highest Violent Crime Rates

According to data compiled by the FBI and analysis from SafeHome.org, the states with the highest violent crime rates per 100,000 residents are:

  • Alaska: ~729.3 incidents per 100,000 residents
  • New Mexico: Follows closely behind with severe rates of assault and violent incidents
  • Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana consistently round out the top five highest rates for violent crime

(Note: The District of Columbia frequently records a higher total crime rate than any individual state, but it is a federal district rather than a state.)

Highest Property Crime Rates

When looking strictly at property crimes (such as burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft):

  • New Mexico ranks #1 nationally for property crime per capita
  • Colorado, Washington state, Oregon, and Louisiana also rank among the highest for property offenses

What is the least safe state to live in?

Louisiana is ranked as the overall least safe state in the U.S. in multi-factor studies by WalletHub, while Alaska and New Mexico record the highest per capita violent crime rates based on FBI data.

Overall Safety Rankings

Studies that look at personal safety, financial security, road conditions, workplace safety, and emergency preparedness place certain states at the bottom:

  • Louisiana: Ranks last overall due to high violent crime rates, economic stress, and lower disaster preparedness scores.
  • Mississippi: Ranks near the bottom because of road safety challenges and high crime rates.
  • Texas and Florida: Rank low in broad safety indexes, partly because large populations drive up total incident numbers.

Highest Violent Crime Rates

When measuring only violent crime (such as homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault) per 100,000 residents using FBI data via USAFacts, different states lead:

  • Alaska: Records the highest violent crime rate at about 724 incidents per 100,000 people.
  • New Mexico: Follows closely with high rates of violent crime, property crime, and aggravated assault.

TOP 10 Safest States to Live and Visit in the USA in 2026

9 related questions found

What is the #1 best state to live in?

There is no single #1 best state to live in, because major publications rank them differently based on their own rules and goals.

Top Ranked States by Major Studies

  • U.S. News & World Report Best States: Ranks Utah as #1 overall, praising its strong economy, fiscal stability, and infrastructure.
  • WalletHub Best States to Live In: Frequently places Massachusetts or Idaho at the top, scoring them on livability, safety, economy, and education.
  • CNBC Quality of Life Study: Ranks Vermont as #1 for well-being, health, crime rates, and personal rights.

How to Find Your Best State

Because each report measures different values, your ideal state depends on what matters most to you:

  • For Jobs and Economy: Look at states like Utah or Texas.
  • For Health and Education: Look at Massachusetts or Vermont.
  • For Affordability and Safety: Look at Idaho or New Hampshire.

What are the 10 worst states for crime?

Based on recent U.S. News & World Report safety rankings and USAFacts analyses of FBI data, the 10 states with the highest overall rates of violent and property crime include New Mexico and Alaska at the top.

The 10 Highest-Crime States

  • New Mexico: Ranks near or at the top for both high violent crime and property crime rates per 100,000 residents.
  • Alaska: Frequently records the highest violent crime rate per capita in the nation.
  • Colorado: Experiences high overall crime scores driven heavily by elevated property crime metrics.
  • Louisiana: Features consistently high rates of both violent offenses and property theft.
  • Tennessee: Ranks significantly above the national average for violent crime incidents.
  • Arkansas: Reports high per capita rates for aggravated assault and property offenses.
  • California: Combines large total offense volumes with high rates in specific violent and property categories.
  • Washington: Driven up primarily by high property crime and theft rates across metropolitan areas.
  • Nevada: Influenced by high tourist-to-resident ratios affecting per capita crime calculations.
  • Oregon: Records lower violent crime than some peers but struggles with high property crime and larceny rates.

What state has the worst cost of living?

Hawaii has the highest and most expensive cost of living in the United States, with overall expenses running about 84% to 85% above the national average.

According to the World Population Review, living costs vary greatly across the country based on housing, food, and energy.

Top 5 Most Expensive States

  • Hawaii: Ranked #1 for highest costs, heavily driven by expensive housing and the high price of imported goods.
  • California: Known for very high housing costs and steep gas and utility prices.
  • Massachusetts: High housing demand and elevated healthcare and utility expenses push it near the top.
  • New York: Driven largely by the high cost of living in and around New York City.
  • New Jersey: Features some of the highest property taxes and housing costs in the nation.

Main Cost Drivers

  • Housing: This is the biggest factor, with home prices and rent in states like Hawaii and California doubling or tripling the national average.
  • Transportation & Goods: Island and remote states like Hawaii and Alaska must ship in most food and energy, making everyday items much more expensive.

What is the best state to move to financially?

The best state to move to financially depends on your specific life stage, but South Dakota offers the top overall balance of zero personal income tax, low cost of living, and affordable housing.

Because personal financial situations vary widely and no specific income, debt, or career context was provided, here is a detailed breakdown using proxy assumptions for a household earning around $80,000 annually.

📉 Low Cost & Tax Haven: South Dakota

  • ✅ Why it works: No state income tax and low property taxes.
  • 📊 The numbers: Median home prices hover near $289,000 (well below the national average).
  • ⚠️ Hidden trade-off: Lower public transit infrastructure and rural isolation in outer areas.
  • 💡 Best for: Remote workers, retirees, and budget-conscious families.

📈 High Growth & No Income Tax: Texas

  • ✅ Why it works: Massive job market expansion paired with zero state income tax.
  • 📊 The numbers: Strong median household income with affordable pockets outside major metro lines.
  • ⚠️ Hidden trade-off: Exceptionally high local property taxes that offset income tax savings.
  • 💡 Best for: Active career-builders in tech, energy, or healthcare.

💡 Balanced Affordability & Stability: Iowa

  • ✅ Why it works: Consistently ranked among the highest for housing affordability and lowest cost of living.
  • 📊 The numbers: Everyday utility, grocery, and transportation expenses stay beneath national averages.
  • ⚠️ Hidden trade-off: Slower wage growth compared to major coastal or southern tech hubs.
  • 💡 Best for: Families seeking long-term stability on a median income.

Which states are considered the worst to move to in 2026?

According to the 2026 report by ConsumerAffairs, New Mexico is ranked as the worst state to move to for the third consecutive year.

Top 10 Worst States to Move To in 2026

The 2026 ConsumerAffairs relocation study ranks the ten lowest-scoring states based on affordability, safety, economic strength, healthcare, education, and quality of life:

  • New Mexico – Ranked lowest for safety and struggled with economic strength and school quality.
  • Louisiana – Placed poorly due to high crime rates and weak health and education scores.
  • California – Hit hard by an ongoing cost-of-living crisis, ranking dead last in affordability.
  • Arkansas – Scored low for public safety, health metrics, and school systems.
  • Oklahoma – Faced low marks in healthcare access and education.
  • Nevada – Hindered by high housing costs and lower school performance.
  • Alaska – Impacted by high living costs and limited access to services.
  • Mississippi – Struggled with a lagging economy and poor healthcare rankings.
  • Oregon – Faced significant safety concerns and high housing expenses.
  • Arizona – Listed due to costly housing and weak school metrics.