Safety is consistently one of the top factors Americans consider when choosing where to live. Whether you are raising a family, retiring, or simply want peace of mind, crime rates matter. We analyzed FBI Uniform Crime Report data for all 3,143 US counties to find the 25 safest places in America.
The safest counties have total crime rates near zero — some reporting fewer than 30 incidents per 100,000 residents annually. For comparison, the national average total crime rate exceeds 2,000 per 100,000. The difference between the safest and most dangerous counties is staggering.
The 25 Safest Counties in America (2026)
These counties have the highest safety scores in our ranking system, filtered to include only counties with active crime reporting. Safety scores use percentile-rank methodology — a score of 94 means the county is safer than 94% of all US counties.
| Rank | County | State | Safety Score | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate | Total Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bronx County | NY | 94.9 | 0 | 0.6 | 0.6 |
| 2 | Kings County | NY | 94.9 | 0 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 3 | New York County | NY | 94.9 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
| 4 | Wayne County | IN | 94.8 | 0 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 5 | Iberia Parish | LA | 94.8 | 0 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| 6 | Stokes County | NC | 94.8 | 0 | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| 7 | Gulf County | FL | 94.7 | 0 | 6.7 | 6.7 |
| 8 | Cass County | IL | 94.7 | 0 | 7.7 | 7.7 |
| 9 | Edgar County | IL | 94.7 | 0 | 5.9 | 5.9 |
| 10 | Brown County | IN | 94.7 | 0 | 6.4 | 6.4 |
| 11 | Crawford County | IN | 94.6 | 0 | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| 12 | Mitchell County | TX | 94.6 | 0 | 11.2 | 11.2 |
| 13 | Wakulla County | FL | 94.5 | 0 | 11.9 | 11.9 |
| 14 | Carroll County | IN | 94.5 | 0 | 14.7 | 14.7 |
| 15 | Wadena County | MN | 94.5 | 0 | 14.2 | 14.2 |
| 16 | Holmes County | MS | 94.5 | 0 | 11.9 | 11.9 |
| 17 | Stark County | IL | 94.4 | 0 | 18.5 | 18.5 |
| 18 | Spencer County | IN | 94.4 | 20.1 | 0 | 20.1 |
| 19 | Union Parish | LA | 94.4 | 4.8 | 14.3 | 19.1 |
| 20 | Washington County | IL | 94.3 | 0 | 21.8 | 21.8 |
| 21 | Williamson County | IL | 94.3 | 6 | 16.4 | 22.4 |
| 22 | Owsley County | KY | 94.3 | 0 | 24.7 | 24.7 |
| 23 | Nance County | NE | 94.2 | 0 | 29.7 | 29.7 |
| 24 | Sioux County | ND | 94.2 | 0 | 25.7 | 25.7 |
| 25 | San Jacinto County | TX | 94.2 | 21.7 | 7.2 | 28.9 |
Note
Crime rates shown are per 100,000 residents per year. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 381 per 100,000 and the national average property crime rate is approximately 1,954 per 100,000.
Where Are the Safest Counties?
The safest counties cluster in specific regions. Indiana (5 counties), Illinois (5 counties), New York (3 counties), Louisiana (2 counties), Florida (2 counties) dominate the top 25. Several patterns stand out:
- The Midwest and Plains states lead: Rural Midwestern communities consistently report some of the lowest crime rates in the nation.
- Population density is the strongest predictor: Nearly every county on this list has a population under 50,000. Smaller communities have fewer total crime incidents.
- Economic stability matters: Counties with low poverty rates and stable employment tend to have lower crime.
- Community cohesion: Smaller communities where residents know each other create natural deterrents to crime.
Safest vs. Most Dangerous: The Gap
The gap between the safest and most dangerous counties is enormous. While the top 25 counties have total crime rates below 100 per 100,000, the most dangerous counties report rates exceeding 10,000 per 100,000 — a 100x difference.
Counties like Osage County, Oklahoma (safety score: 0) sit at the opposite end of the spectrum. This disparity underscores why county-level safety data should be a critical input in any relocation decision.
How Safety Scores Are Calculated
Safety scores are calculated using FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) data from 2022. Violent crime includes murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. Property crime includes burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. Rates are per 100,000 residents. Counties are ranked using percentile methodology — a safety score of 94 means the county is safer than 94% of counties nationally.
Data sources: FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program (2022), County Health Rankings (2024). All figures are estimates and may differ from other published analyses due to methodology differences.