Crime levels have declined sharply in the US over the past two decades. According to FBI statistics, the rate of violent crime fell 50% between 1993 and 2015, the most recent full year available.
However, public perceptions about crime don't always align with the data. In 21 Gallup surveys since 1989, the majority of Americans said there was more crime compared to the year before, despite the downward trend in both violent and property crime rates in the US during that period.
Niche, a company that researches and collects reviews on cities, recently pinpointed the safest cities in the country in a 2018 ranking.
The researchers analyzed public crime data — including larceny, vehicular theft, and homicide rates — from sources like the US Census and the FBI. They also considered over 100 million reviews from users, who rated how safe they feel in their cities. The ranking suggests that California, with 12 of the top 33 cities, is one of the safest states in the nation.
One caveat: the cities below have relatively low population numbers. As The Atlantic notes, cities with higher densities tend to have more crime. But within a city, high traffic areas are generally safer than low-traffic areas.
Check out the 33 safest cities in America, according to Niche:
33. Boise, Idaho
Population: 218,677
Annual violent crimes (e.g. assault, homicide) per 100,000: 302
Annual property crimes (e.g. burglary, motor vehicle theft) per 100,000: 2,326
32. Alexandria, Virginia
Population: 151,473
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 183
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,801
31. Elgin, Illinois
Population: 111,919
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 212
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,386
30. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Population: 449,733
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 150
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,176
29. Scottsdale, Arizona
Population: 234,495
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 161
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,365
28. Sandy Springs, Georgia
Population: 102,212
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 132
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,635
27. Fort Collins, Colorado
Population: 157,251
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 204
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,451
26. College Station, Texas
Population: 104,684
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 233
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,067
25. Orange, California
Population: 139,919
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 151
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,839
24. Torrance, California
Population: 147,307
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 178
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,160
23. Corona, California
Population: 161,614
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 105
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,218
22. Boulder, Colorado
Population: 105,420
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 232
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 3,000
21. Richardson, Texas
Population: 108,350
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 144
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,184
20. McAllen, Texas
Population: 138,475
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 134
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 3,143
19. Santa Clara, California
Population: 122,725
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 126
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,195
18. Roseville, California
Population: 128,276
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 153
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,501
17. Cape Coral, Florida
Population: 170,063
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 123
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,716
16. Bellevue, Washington
Population: 136,718
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 102
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 3,259
15. Temecula, California
Population: 108,965
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 130
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,262
14. Ann Arbor, Michigan
Population: 118,087
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 193
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,743
13. Burbank, California
Population: 104,583
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 185
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,769
12. Rochester, Minnesota
Population: 111,396
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 188
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,187
11. Port St. Lucie, Florida
Population: 175,652
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 146
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,327
10. Overland Park, Kansas
Population: 183,775
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 231
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,482
9. Plano, Texas
Population: 279,088
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 144
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,901
8. Glendale, California
Population: 197,895
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 100
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,701
7. Sunnyvale, California
Population: 149,596
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 108
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,388
6. Carlsbad, California
Population: 112,008
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 179
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,902
5. Round Rock, Texas
Population: 112,767
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 153
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,224
4. Provo, Utah
Population: 115,718
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 131
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,344
3. Thousand Oaks, California
Population: 128,623
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 123
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,298
2. Irvine, California
Population: 246,992
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 52
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,401
1. Naperville, Illinois
Population: 145,789
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 62
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,071
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