The 8 Safest Big Cities in the US Right Now
What Are the Safest Big Cities In America? (And how they compare to European Countries)
Big cities can be dangerous. That’s why in this article I present to you the eight safest big cities in the US right now.
The idea for this article came after the amazing (and polemical) repercussion of two of my previous writings: The 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Europe and Is São Paulo Safe? PS: Most People Answer It Wrong.
I could write about the most dangerous cities in the US just like I did with Europe, but everyone knows where they are, and there are plenty of lists on the internet with the same names: Detroit, Baltimore, etc.
I could also write about the safest cities in the US overall, without specifying only big cities. But then it would be a list dominated by tiny towns in the midwest.
That is how I came up with the idea of this list of the safest big cities in America.
But choosing the safest big cities in the US can be a difficult task — which starts by defining what “big” is. It’s certainly not easy to compare cities that are vastly different from one another.
In order to make your decision easier, we researched the data and gathered objective criteria to arrive at a definitive result.
Listen to “The 8 Safest Big Cities in the US Right Now” on Spreaker.The criteria used to define the safest big cities in the US
I considered only cities with more than 350 thousand residents. Yes, it is an arbitrary threshold, but if it was much lower, it would not be about big cities, and if it was higher, the number of candidates would be too small.
The indicators considered were:
- Murder rate per 100,000 people
- Rape rate per 100,000 people
- Robbery rate per 100,000 people
- Aggravated assault rate per 100,000 people
The fact that all of them are calculated by 100,000 people guarantees a fair comparison between cities of distinct sizes.
All the data provided is either from the FBI and documents published in 2020 or from the U.S. Census Bureau. The data regarding European countries comes from the World Population Review.
The comparisons with European countries are between homicide rates because while murders often have accurate numbers independent of their location, other violent crimes are subject to differences in the reporting methodology between countries.
The 8 Safest Big Cities in the US
08 — Tampa, Florida
Population: 384.360 inhabitants
Murder rate: 10.15
Comparable European country: Russia (8.21 murders per 100,000 people). Talking about Russia, check our article about what to do in case of war.
Rape rate: 31.48
Robbery rate: 105.63
Aggravated assault rate: 317.15
Total violent crime rate: 464.41
Recommended tourist attraction: The impressive Florida Aquarium (be aware that it may have lines to enter, but here you can buy tickets with skip-the-line).
Why Tampa is safe to live
Tampa, FL is the safest large city in Florida and the 8th safest in the entire United States. It is also a great place to live and work. Violent crimes are low compared to the rest of the United States, as are property crimes.
Florida is overall a safe state for US standards, and while the homicide rate of Tampa is quite high compared to other cities on this list, other crimes like burglary and theft have lower indicators.
Overall, it is a very safe city. For comparison, Orlando, also in Florida, has a violent crime 60% higher than Tampa.
07 — Mesa, Arizona
Population: 492,268 inhabitants
Murder rate: 4.67
Comparable European country: Lithuania (4.57 murders per 100,000 people)
Rape rate: 51.19
Robbery rate: 92.23
Aggravated assault rate: 267.74
Total violent crime rate: 415.83
Recommended tourist attraction: Aside from being entertaining, this scavenger hunt will teach you a lot about Arizona’s cultural capital.
Why Mesa is a safe place to live
According to the local website Ktar News, Mesa maintains the pressure on criminals through effective policing that includes community outreach, enhanced training, and openness for better accountability Residents of this highland and arid city enjoy lower-than-average crime rates.
Other large cities in Arizona like Phoenix and Tucson also have remarkably low violence numbers.
06 — Austin, Texas
Population: 971,949 inhabitants
Murder rate: 2.57
Comparable European country: Hungary (2.49 murders per 100,000 people)
Rape rate: 85.81
Robbery rate: 101.55
Aggravated assault rate: 224.91
Total violent crime rate: 414.84
Recommended tourist attraction: This small-group driving tour of the best of Austin with a local guide
Why Austin is a safe place to live
It is a very active city with many ways to get involved in the community and meet people who share similar interests. The employment opportunities are abundant and unemployment rates are low.
Several other factors make Austin a safe place to live, including its police force and its community-oriented policies.
The Austin Police Department is well trained and professional. The APD has more than 1,600 officers, making it one of the largest departments in the US relative to the size of the city.
05 — San Jose, California
Population: 1,037,529 inhabitants
Murder rate: 3.08
Comparable European country: Hungary (2.49 murders per 100,000 people)
Rape rate: 55.03
Robbery rate: 132.62
Aggravated assault rate: 212.91
Total violent crime rate: 403.65
Recommended tourist attraction: An exciting day trip from San Jose to the majestic sequoias and dramatic landscapes of Yosemite
Why San Jose is a safe place to live
San Jose has a diverse economy that includes companies in advertising, biotechnology, computers, and electronic equipment manufacturing, food processing and packaging (canned fruit), healthcare services, hospitality management, insurance, medical technology, and software development.
This diversity helps to protect the city from economic downturns that lately are affecting more and more often the Californian cities. The unemployment rate in San Jose is among the lowest in California.
The San Jose police department works hard to keep crime rates low through community policing and strategic enforcement techniques. They work with community groups like the Citizens’ Police Academy and Citizens on Patrol to engage citizens and create a safer place for everyone to live or visit.
04 — El Paso, Texas
Population: 688,667 inhabitants
Murder rate: 2.76
Comparable European country: Hungary (2.49 murders per 100,000 people)
Rape rate: 53.87
Robbery rate: 58.08
Aggravated assault rate: 264.13
Total violent crime rate: 378.85
Why El Paso is a safe place to live
El Paso is consistently ranked among U.S. cities with low crime rates because it has a large population of families and retirees who are attracted by the city’s affordable housing and high quality of life.
You read it correctly: Affordable housing. Despite its good quality of life, El Paso frequently tops the rankings of the most affordable homes in the US.
It’s affordable
You get more bang for your buck when living in El Paso. Many affordable neighborhoods offer good schools, parks, and restaurants with low crime rates. The cost of living is low compared to other major cities like Austin or Dallas making it easier on your budget.
The local Police Department has done a good job in deterring border crime. Because of El Paso’s proximity to Juarez, Mexico, they have an ample supply of people who can speak Spanish and can communicate with Mexican police officers when needed.
03 — San Diego, California
Population: 1,424,116 inhabitants
Murder rate: 2.46
Comparable European country: Hungary (2.49 murders per 100,000 people)
Rape rate: 39.25
Robbery rate: 99.01
Aggravated assault rate: 225.89
Total violent crime rate: 366.61
Recommended tourist attraction: Observe migrating whales and dolphins frolicking in the Pacific Ocean.
Why San Diego is a safe place to live
The overall crime rate in San Diego is extremely low by American standards. We may even consider it the safest big city on the US west coast (if we don’t consider the slightly safer Huntington Beach as a big city, of course). It is, for example, safer than Anaheim.
Many areas have a crime rate close to zero, meaning almost no crime has been committed there in recent years. These areas include Scripps Ranch, Carmel Valley, and Fairbanks Ranch.
In these districts, the crime rate is up to 83% lower than the national average.
San Diego has adopted a data-driven approach to fighting crime and reducing re-incidence. The police force is highly trained and very well equipped. This is due in part to an exceptionally generous budget which allows them to recruit top officers and provide them with state-of-the-art equipment.
In addition, there are more officers per capita than in similar-sized cities, meaning you’re never far from assistance when you need it.
02 — Honolulu, Hawaii
Population: 990,384 inhabitants
Murder rate: 3.23
Comparable European country: Moldova (4.1 murders per 100,000 people)
Rape rate: 28.78
Robbery rate: 91.68
Aggravated assault rate: 122.68
Total violent crime rate: 246.37
Recommended tourist attraction: On this popular Oahu snorkel tour from Honolulu, you may see dolphins in their native habitat and swim close to green sea turtles.
Why Honolulu is a safe place to live
The low crime rates are attributed to several different factors, including the strong law enforcement presence throughout the city and surrounding areas like Waikiki and North Shore Oahu.
There are also community programs like the Neighborhood Security Watch that train volunteers to be security monitors for their neighborhoods. These volunteers are then able to help out with issues like graffiti and littering, in addition to reporting crimes so they can be solved quickly.
There is also the obvious geographical advantage of Honolulu (maybe the most important factor of all). Since it is located on an island, there is a strong incentive against criminality since it is much harder for criminals to escape to other states or countries. In most rankings, no matter the measure, the safest city in the US is often a relatively isolated place.
Book recommended: Moving Out, Working Abroad and Keeping Your Sanity: 11 secrets to make your expatriate & digital nomad life better than you imagine
The Safest Big City in the Us: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Population: 454,353 inhabitants
Murder rate: 3.08
Comparable European country: Hungary (2.49 murders per 100,000 people)
Rape rate: 22.45
Robbery rate: 59.87
Aggravated assault rate: 52.16
Total violent crime rate: 137.56
Recommended tourist attraction: A 2-hour kayak tour from Virginia Beach allows you to observe native dolphins in their natural habitat.
Why Virginia Beach is a safe place to live (and perhaps the safest city in the US)
Virginia Beach residents benefit from a thriving economy, a 3.6 percent unemployment rate, a wellness culture, and the lowest tax rate in the Hampton Roads area.
This is combined with a long-standing core community that is strongly committed to the safety of Virginia Beach, both financially and in terms of time.
Regarding safety, Virginia Beach is a world away from most large American cities, and it may be the only large city in the US with a truly European level of crime (or even lower, if we consider some of the most dangerous cities in Europe).
Virginia Beach is a wonderful destination to visit, live, and raise a family. It is a tourism center in the state of Virginia, and it is heavily impacted by the hotel elite. That means things can get expensive, but not violent.
How to Make Your Stay Even Safer in These Cities
If you are traveling to any of the cities listed in this ranking, you don’t need to be paranoid about crime. However, there are a few things you can do to travel even SAFER and avoid any unpleasant surprises.
1st – Buy travel insurance that also covers theft-related expenses. Although it is often very inexpensive to purchase such insurance in Europe, many people ignore this small precaution and end up disappointed. I recommend the company Ekta, which provides some of the most innovative solutions for travelers, allowing you to relax and enjoy your vacation without worry.
2nd – Don’t be taken in by “drivers” who offer to pick you up from the airport or train/bus stations. They are frequently con artists, which can be dangerous. I prefer to use GetTransfer, a website that compares multiple, reputable transfer providers and offers you the best price. It is the best way to plan ahead of time.
3rd – Avoid walking around with your luggage. Radical Storage is a website that shows safe locations where you can leave your luggage, pay a small fee, and pick it up after touring the city.
What are the safest big cities in America: Conclusion
The 8 safest big cities in the US are:
- Tampa, Florida
- Mesa, Arizona
- Austin, Texas
- San Jose, California
- El Paso, Texas
- San Diego, California
- Honolulu, Hawaii
- Virginia Beach, Virginia (The safest big city in America)
Now some additional stats:
- None of the safest cities in the US is localized above latitude 37. The northernmost city is Virginia Beach. Meanwhile, when we consider the most violent cities in the US, the majority are in the northern portion of the country.
- 5 of the eight are close to the ocean.
- The safest cities in the US are distributed among 6 states, where 2 are governed by Democrats and 4 by Republicans.
If you enjoyed this article about the safest big cities in the US, check also:
Argentina — Once a Paradise for War Criminals, Now a Great Place to Retire
The Best Cities to Retire in Europe
Best Place to Visit in Europe on Each Month of the Year
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Levi Borba is the founder of the Expatriate Consultancy, creator of the channel Small Business Hacks, and best-selling author.
