Safety and security are major determinants of quality of life, especially in midsize cities where residents seek a balance of opportunity, affordability, and peace of mind. A recent study by SmartAsset examined over 300 midsize cities to identify the safest in the United States.
Key Findings
The study considered violent crime, property crime, traffic fatality rates, and natural disaster risk to determine the safest cities. Broomfield, Colorado, boasts below-average violent and property crime rates, with 1.48 and 18.56 incidents per 1,000 residents, respectively. The city also has a modest motor vehicle fatality rate of about five per 100,000 residents and a Federal Emergency Management Agency natural disaster risk rating of ‘very low’.
In contrast, Little Rock, Arkansas, ranks last due to high property and violent crime rates, elevated natural disaster risk, and an above-average traffic fatality rate. The study found that inland states account for most of the highest-ranked cities, with 15 of the 20 safest midsize cities located in noncoastal states.
Other notable cities on the list include State College, Pennsylvania; Warwick, Rhode Island; and Ames, Iowa, which all have low crime rates and relatively low disaster risk. However, some cities, such as Auburn, Washington, and San Ramon, California, have low crime rates but face elevated natural disaster risk due to their location.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
