World Safety Map

Safest cities in United States

173 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04

What official travel advice warns about

Terrorism

  • Terrorism in the USATerrorists are very likely to try and carry out attacks in the US.

Crime

  • Protecting your belongingsDo not leave passports in rental cars, especially not in the boot. Gangs may target vehicles driven by people who look like tourists.
  • Violent crimeViolent crime and gun crime rarely affect tourists, but take care in unfamiliar areas. Try not to walk through quieter areas alone, especially at night. You can find public advisories and information about recent incidents on local law enforcement websites.
  • ProtestsProtests are common and can become violent. Follow the instructions of local authorities who may introduce curfews or emergency orders. If you attend peaceful protests or mass gatherings:

Laws and cultural differences

  • Personal IDAlways carry a passport showing you have permission to enter or remain in the US.
  • Alcohol lawsThe national legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 21 across the US.
  • Illegal drugsIllegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through airports. US law prohibits the importation, exportation, manufacture, sale or transportation of drug paraphernalia. If you are convicted of any of…
  • LGBT+ travellersThe US is a very diverse society and attitudes towards LGBT+ people differ hugely across the country. Check state and local laws for the areas you plan to travel to. Refer to entry requirements which may apply to LGBT+ travellers (see entry requirements).

Transport risks

  • Road travelIf you are planning to drive in the US, see information on driving abroad and check the driving rules in the states you’ll be visiting.
  • Vehicle safetyWhen travelling by car, you should:
  • Petrol stationsPetrol stations that do not display the price of fuel usually charge considerably more than the national average. They’re often close to tourist destinations and airports. Make sure you know the price of fuel before using these services.
  • Air travelBefore you travel, check the security measures you’re likely to face at the airport on the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) website. If you have a medical condition or disability and need assistance, contact TSA Cares.

Extreme weather and natural disasters

  • SnowstormsSnowstorms can disrupt critical infrastructure, and cause power cuts, or delays and cancellations in major transport hubs. Contact your travel company or airline before you travel.
  • HurricanesThe Atlantic hurricane season normally runs from June to November. The Pacific hurricane season normally runs from May to November. Hurricanes can affect coastal regions, Hawaii and Guam. The South Pacific tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to May and can affect American Samoa.
  • EarthquakesWhile earthquakes can happen anywhere without warning in the US, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington and the entire Mississippi River Valley are at higher risk for earthquakes.
  • TornadoesTornadoes can happen anytime depending on weather conditions. The FEMA website has advice about what to do before, during and after a tornado.
  • Volcanic eruptionsThere is volcanic activity across parts of the US with Alaska, Hawaii, California, Washington and Oregon having the largest number of active volcanoes. You should follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders.
  • WildfiresForest and brush fires (wildfires) are a danger in many dry areas, particularly in canyons, hills and forests. High winds can mean fires spread rapidly.
  • Flash floodingFlash floods can cause travel disruption and damage to property and infrastructure. Check weather warnings from the US’s National Weather Service (NOAA) before travel and follow the advice of the local authorities.

Arctic travel

  • Parts of the US are in the Arctic Circle, including some very remote areas of land and sea. Emergency medical assistance and search and rescue are limited in these areas. See Arctic travel safety advice.

Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for United States, updated 2026-08-18 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →

Country figures

Homicide rate
5.76 /100k2023
Income inequality
Gini 41.82024
Human development
HDI 0.9382023
Income
$89,490/yrGNI per capita PPP
Road deaths
12.7 /100kWHO, 2019
Political stability
64/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
Rule of law
74/100WGI, 2024
Corruption perceptions
64/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
Natural-hazard risk
3.3/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Women, Peace & Security
0.84GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
Air quality
7.0 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
Safe drinking water
98%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
Healthcare capacity
3.7 doctors /1k2.7 hospital beds per 1,000

Natural hazards

Earthquake
7.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Cyclone
7.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Flood
7.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Tsunami
7.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Drought
4.2/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier

Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in United States (as of 2025).

How United States compares

United States against the median of all 180 countries in the dataset. Green means better than the median.
MeasureUnited StatesWorld medianDifference
Homicide rate5.8 /100k2.4 /100k+3.4 /100k — better for World median
Income inequality (Gini)41.835.2+6.6 — better for World median
Human development (HDI)0.9380.763+0.175 — better for United States
Road deaths12.7 /100k15.4 /100k−2.7 /100k — better for United States
Rule of law74/10052/100+22/100 — better for United States
Corruption perceptions64/10039/100+25/100 — better for United States
Air quality (PM2.5)7.0 µg/m³19.7 µg/m³−12.7 µg/m³ — better for United States
Natural-hazard risk3.3/103.8/10−0.5/10 — better for United States
And against its own region — often the more useful comparison, since North America shares much of the context a global median averages away.
MeasureUnited StatesNorth America medianDifference
Homicide rate5.8 /100k17 /100k−11 /100k — better for United States
Income inequality (Gini)41.841.1+0.7 — better for North America median
Human development (HDI)0.9380.776+0.162 — better for United States
Road deaths12.7 /100k14.8 /100k−2.1 /100k — better for United States
Rule of law74/10052/100+23/100 — better for United States
Corruption perceptions64/10037/100+27/100 — better for United States
Air quality (PM2.5)7.0 µg/m³15.4 µg/m³−8.4 µg/m³ — better for United States
Natural-hazard risk3.3/104.0/10−0.7/10 — better for United States

Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.

All 173 cities, safest first

  1. Plano76.0 · #2183 worldwide
  2. Stonebridge76.0 · #2184 worldwide
  3. Mission Viejo71.5 · #3232 worldwide
  4. Madison70.8 · #3325 worldwide
  5. Lincoln69.8 · #3435 worldwide
  6. Norfolk68.5 · #3585 worldwide
  7. Riverside67.4 · #3765 worldwide
  8. Moreno Valley67.4 · #3766 worldwide
  9. Corona67.4 · #3767 worldwide
  10. Boston67.0 · #3779 worldwide
  11. Lynn67.0 · #3780 worldwide
  12. Peabody67.0 · #3781 worldwide
  13. San Francisco66.8 · #3787 worldwide
  14. New York66.6 · #3790 worldwide
  15. Omaha66.4 · #3793 worldwide
  16. San Francisco65.9 · #3854 worldwide
  17. Edgecliff Village64.3 · #4046 worldwide
  18. Raleigh64.2 · #4061 worldwide
  19. New Hope64.2 · #4062 worldwide
  20. Miami64.0 · #4069 worldwide
  21. Fresno64.0 · #4070 worldwide
  22. Cutler Bay64.0 · #4071 worldwide
  23. Austin63.9 · #4081 worldwide
  24. Fort Lauderdale63.7 · #4087 worldwide
  25. West Palm Beach63.7 · #4088 worldwide
  26. Salt Lake City63.7 · #4089 worldwide
  27. Provo63.7 · #4090 worldwide
  28. West Valley City63.7 · #4091 worldwide
  29. Providence63.7 · #4092 worldwide
  30. Modesto63.7 · #4093 worldwide
  31. Arlington Heights63.7 · #4094 worldwide
  32. Tacoma63.7 · #4095 worldwide
  33. Gaithersburg63.7 · #4096 worldwide
  34. The Woodlands63.7 · #4097 worldwide
  35. Rochester63.7 · #4098 worldwide
  36. Cinco Ranch63.7 · #4099 worldwide
  37. Oxnard63.7 · #4100 worldwide
  38. Spokane63.7 · #4101 worldwide
  39. Layton63.7 · #4102 worldwide
  40. Schaumburg63.7 · #4103 worldwide
  41. Grand Rapids63.7 · #4104 worldwide
  42. Bridgeport63.7 · #4105 worldwide
  43. Dale City63.7 · #4106 worldwide
  44. Federal Way63.7 · #4107 worldwide
  45. Eugene63.7 · #4108 worldwide
  46. Antioch63.7 · #4109 worldwide
  47. Aurora63.7 · #4110 worldwide
  48. Trenton63.7 · #4111 worldwide
  49. Indio63.7 · #4112 worldwide
  50. Hartford63.7 · #4113 worldwide
  51. West Boise63.7 · #4114 worldwide
  52. Urbandale63.7 · #4115 worldwide
  53. Surprise63.7 · #4116 worldwide
  54. Salinas63.7 · #4117 worldwide
  55. Richmond63.7 · #4118 worldwide
  56. Syracuse63.7 · #4119 worldwide
  57. Vallejo63.7 · #4120 worldwide
  58. New Haven63.7 · #4121 worldwide
  59. Santa Rosa63.7 · #4122 worldwide
  60. Fort Collins63.7 · #4123 worldwide
  61. Hemet63.7 · #4124 worldwide
  62. Homestead63.7 · #4125 worldwide
  63. Keizer63.7 · #4126 worldwide
  64. Dayton63.7 · #4127 worldwide
  65. Worcester63.7 · #4128 worldwide
  66. Denton63.7 · #4129 worldwide
  67. Ogden63.7 · #4130 worldwide
  68. Allentown63.7 · #4131 worldwide
  69. Reading63.7 · #4132 worldwide
  70. Springfield63.7 · #4133 worldwide
  71. Zee Zee Gardens63.7 · #4134 worldwide
  72. Wilmington63.7 · #4135 worldwide
  73. Sarasota63.7 · #4136 worldwide
  74. Bradenton63.7 · #4137 worldwide
  75. Delray Beach63.7 · #4138 worldwide
  76. Waukegan63.7 · #4139 worldwide
  77. Bayonet Point63.7 · #4140 worldwide
  78. Stamford63.7 · #4141 worldwide
  79. New Bedford63.7 · #4142 worldwide
  80. Lawrence63.7 · #4143 worldwide
  81. Wheaton63.7 · #4144 worldwide
  82. Greeley63.7 · #4145 worldwide
  83. Bethlehem63.7 · #4146 worldwide
  84. Lowell63.7 · #4147 worldwide
  85. Simi Valley63.7 · #4148 worldwide
  86. Honolulu63.0 · #4199 worldwide
  87. Reno62.9 · #4203 worldwide
  88. Jonestown62.6 · #4217 worldwide
  89. Seattle62.5 · #4231 worldwide
  90. Bellevue62.5 · #4232 worldwide
  91. Burien62.5 · #4233 worldwide
  92. Laredo62.5 · #4238 worldwide
  93. Los Angeles62.4 · #4240 worldwide
  94. Orlando62.4 · #4241 worldwide
  95. Oak Ridge62.4 · #4242 worldwide
  96. Buenaventura Lakes62.4 · #4243 worldwide
  97. Alafaya62.4 · #4244 worldwide
  98. Sacramento62.1 · #4265 worldwide
  99. Murrieta61.8 · #4289 worldwide
  100. Brownsville61.8 · #4290 worldwide
  101. Phoenix61.8 · #4297 worldwide
  102. Mesa61.8 · #4298 worldwide
  103. Laveen61.8 · #4299 worldwide
  104. Saint Petersburg61.7 · #4300 worldwide
  105. Tampa61.7 · #4301 worldwide
  106. Colorado Springs61.4 · #4335 worldwide
  107. Las Vegas61.2 · #4345 worldwide
  108. Corpus Christi61.2 · #4346 worldwide
  109. San Antonio61.1 · #4349 worldwide
  110. Wetmore61.1 · #4350 worldwide
  111. Denver61.0 · #4360 worldwide
  112. Bakersfield60.1 · #4430 worldwide
  113. Wichita60.0 · #4448 worldwide
  114. Portland59.5 · #4468 worldwide
  115. Hazel Dell59.5 · #4469 worldwide
  116. Charlotte59.5 · #4470 worldwide
  117. Moore59.2 · #4495 worldwide
  118. Bethany59.2 · #4496 worldwide
  119. Anchorage58.7 · #4542 worldwide
  120. Tucson58.6 · #4551 worldwide
  121. Castlegate Estates58.0 · #4586 worldwide
  122. Columbus57.9 · #4603 worldwide
  123. Valley View57.9 · #4604 worldwide
  124. Houston57.7 · #4613 worldwide
  125. Copperfield57.7 · #4614 worldwide
  126. Jacinto City57.7 · #4615 worldwide
  127. Pittsburgh57.6 · #4622 worldwide
  128. Dallas57.6 · #4651 worldwide
  129. North Richland Hills57.6 · #4652 worldwide
  130. Arlington57.6 · #4653 worldwide
  131. Cockrell Hill57.6 · #4654 worldwide
  132. Flower Mound57.6 · #4655 worldwide
  133. Lindberg57.6 · #4656 worldwide
  134. Irving57.6 · #4657 worldwide
  135. Toledo57.5 · #4659 worldwide
  136. Buffalo56.7 · #4724 worldwide
  137. Stockton56.4 · #4750 worldwide
  138. Philadelphia56.1 · #4771 worldwide
  139. Albuquerque56.1 · #4772 worldwide
  140. Atrisco56.1 · #4773 worldwide
  141. Paradise Hills56.1 · #4774 worldwide
  142. Minneapolis [Saint Paul]55.8 · #4787 worldwide
  143. Emery Park55.6 · #4794 worldwide
  144. Concord55.6 · #4817 worldwide
  145. McAllen55.4 · #4831 worldwide
  146. Chicago54.4 · #4899 worldwide
  147. Hammond54.4 · #4900 worldwide
  148. Elmhurst54.4 · #4901 worldwide
  149. Kansas City54.1 · #4940 worldwide
  150. Milwaukee53.9 · #4946 worldwide
  151. Louisville53.9 · #4947 worldwide
  152. Cincinnati53.9 · #4948 worldwide
  153. Indianapolis53.9 · #4952 worldwide
  154. Farleys Addition53.9 · #4953 worldwide
  155. Atlanta53.7 · #4963 worldwide
  156. Edgemoor53.7 · #4964 worldwide
  157. Clarkston53.7 · #4965 worldwide
  158. Washington53.0 · #5021 worldwide
  159. Parma51.9 · #5077 worldwide
  160. Euclid51.9 · #5078 worldwide
  161. Metairie51.2 · #5121 worldwide
  162. New Orleans51.2 · #5122 worldwide
  163. Baltimore51.0 · #5129 worldwide
  164. Detroit50.7 · #5143 worldwide
  165. Sterling Heights50.7 · #5144 worldwide
  166. Lincoln Park50.7 · #5145 worldwide
  167. Dearborn Heights50.7 · #5146 worldwide
  168. Memphis50.5 · #5158 worldwide
  169. St. Louis48.7 · #5321 worldwide
  170. Escondido48.6 · #5329 worldwide
  171. Poway48.6 · #5330 worldwide
  172. San Diego48.6 · #5331 worldwide
  173. El Paso45.8 · #5477 worldwide