Which are the safest cities in America in 2025? Report rankings explored

The United States of America has been one of the most sought-after destinations for many regarding employment and education. Nonetheless, the place has often been subjected to violence and crime. Besides travelers, safety also concerns the residents.

MoneyGeek has analyzed the latest crime data available (2023) from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to find the cost of crime in over 290 American cities. Based on certain statistical analyses, the report mentioned the top 15 U.S. cities that are deemed to be the safest ones. Given below is the list of safest cities with over 100,000 population.

1. Ramapo Town, New York
2. Frisco, Texas
3. Irvine, California
4. Fishers, Indiana
5. Lakewood Township, New Jersey
6. Cary, North Carolina
7. Pembroke Pines, Florida
8. Elk Grove, California
9. Surprise, Arizona
10. Sterling Heights, Michigan
11. Port St. Lucie, Florida
12. Gilbert, Arizona
13. Pearland, Texas
14. Scottsdale, Arizona
15. Coral Springs, Florida

Speaking to Forbes, Anja Solum, a representative of MoneyGeek, said that American cities are always changing, and staying informed about crime trends helps people understand safety and how communities address crime over time.

She added that this year’s report highlighted crime patterns, their effects on local economies, and public safety discussions. Travelers can also use this analysis to make smarter decisions when visiting new places.

As mentioned, MoneyGeek analyzed 292 cities with over 100,000 residents, comparing violent and property crime rates. Using research on the societal costs of crime, they calculated a per-person cost, reflecting both crime frequency and severity. According to Anja Solum, this approach provides a deeper understanding of community safety beyond traditional crime rates.

Read More: 20 Best international destinations for solo travelers

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Which larger American cities are counted among the safest ones?

The personal finance service platform also shared a list of larger American cities that fall among the safest. Solum mentioned Irvine, California, is now the safest large city, moving up three spots from last year.

Despite a slight rise in crime rates, reductions in serious offenses like murder, assault, burglary, and car theft helped lower the overall societal cost of crime. Here is the full list:

1. Irvine, California
2. Honolulu, Hawaii
3. Virginia Beach, Virginia
4. Henderson, Nevada
5. San Diego, California
6. Lexington, Kentucky
7. Santa Ana, California
8. El Paso, Texas
9. Riverside, California
10. Mesa, Arizona
11. Anaheim, California
12. Arlington, Texas
13. New York City
14. Raleigh, North Carolina
15. Boston

Solum added that crime has a broad impact, increasing public expenses for law enforcement and emergency services while also affecting property values and tourism. According to the key analysis of MoneyGeek, in 2023, the average cost of crime per person in U.S. cities was $2,178, with violent crime making up most of this amount.

Ramapo Town, New York, had the lowest crime cost at $271 per person, while Memphis, Tennessee, had the highest at $11,582. Larger American cities faced higher costs, averaging $3,324 per person, significantly more than medium-sized cities.

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The report highlighted that while safety perceptions matter, crime statistics don’t fully represent a city or community. Jesse Bruhn, a professor at Brown University studying education and gang violence, explains that crime data only show part of the picture. Individual choices and community involvement play a big role, making crime patterns more complex than numbers suggest.