SmartAsset Study Reveals Safest Cities in the US
*This report is guaranteed to shock a whole lot of folks and one orange person in particular. Why? Because of who’s number 1 and 2 on a new list of safe cities. With that in mind, SmartAsset‘s new report has revealed the safest major cities in the US for 2025. The study analyzed 50 of the largest American cities, based on 2023 US Census data.
Unlike traditional crime-focused rankings, this report combined violent and property crime rates with health and behavioral data. Metrics included drug overdose deaths, traffic fatalities, and binge drinking rates.
The findings highlight how safety is tied not only to crime but also to public health and lifestyle factors. For residents, investors, and families, these results provide a deeper view of urban living.
How the Safest Cities Were Ranked
The study’s methodology ranked cities using five equally weighted categories. Data was collected from FBI’s 2023 crime database, the US Census, and public health reports.
- Violent crime rate per 100 adults
- Property crime rate per 100 adults
- Vehicular mortality rate per 100,000 residents
- Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 residents
- Excessive drinking percentage among adults
Cities were scored into a safety index, with the best performers excelling in both crime reduction and health outcomes. Affordability metrics like income and housing costs were noted but did not directly affect rankings.
Top 10 Safest Major Cities in the US for 2025
Based on SmartAsset’s data, here are the 10 safest large US cities. These metros stood out for low crime and strong public health performance.
- 1. San Jose, CA – Lowest violent and property crime rates; low overdose deaths; high income, but expensive housing.
- 2. Los Angeles, CA – Surprising rank due to very low traffic deaths despite its large population.
- 3. Fort Worth, TX – Low crime rates with affordable housing and family-friendly amenities.
- 4. Omaha, NE – Balanced metrics with low vehicular deaths and affordable living costs.
- 5. Virginia Beach, VA – Strong public safety with low violent crime rates.
- 6. Las Vegas, NV – Moderate across categories, but improvements in crime placed it high.
- 7. Arlington, TX – Low crime and low excessive drinking, boosting its safety index.
- 8. El Paso, TX – Low violent crime and affordable housing, making it ideal for families.
- 9. Charlotte, NC – Strong public health and affordable cost of living.
- 10. Raleigh, NC – Low crime and overdose rates with steady growth and livability.
Why San Jose Ranked #1 Safest City
San Jose stood out for its balanced safety across multiple categories. It posted the third-lowest violent crime rate and fifth-lowest property crime rate among major US cities.
The city also had one of the lowest drug overdose and vehicular death rates, supported by strong infrastructure and health initiatives. However, affordability remains a challenge with median housing costs above $2,500…