Crime in America 2015: Top 10 Safest Cities Over 200,000

Irvine, California is the Safest City in the United States for the second year in a row, according to data released today by the FBI. The 235 thousand person city experienced a five percent decrease in violent crime throughout 2013–the most recent year for which the FBI has provided data. Gilbert, Arizona also maintained its rank at #2, followed by Fremont, California, which moved up to #3 from #4 last year. Look at the list below to see the full Top 10 Safest Cities in the United States, and click here to see full Crime in America 2015 coverage.

Click here to view a slideshow of the Top 10 Safest Cities.

#1 Irvine, California

Irvine, California maintains its position as the #1 Safest City in America for the second year in a row. Irvine managed to decrease its violent crime rate last year, going from 51 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2012 to 48 in 2013. Irvine also has one of the highest officer to population ratios among large cities, with 1,216 people for every officer in the city. With a population of over 235,000, Irvine’s remarkably low number of violent crimes makes it easy to see why it is ranked as the #1 safest city on our list.

Violent Crime Rate: 48/100,000 people | Murder Rate: 1/100,000 people

Population: 235,830 | Officer to Population Ratio: 1:1,216

Median Household Income: $92,663 | Pop. Below Poverty Line: 11.4%

Rank last year: #1

 

#2 Gilbert, Arizona

For the second year in a row Gilbert, Arizona ranks as the #2 Safest City in the United States. Like many other cities on this list, Gilbert saw a significant decrease in its violent crime rate last year, as it dropped by more than 10 percent. Gilbert covers 76 square miles of land in Maricopa County, Arizona. The city has undergone a significant amount of population growth over the last 30 years, going from fewer than 6,000 inhabitants in 1980 to more than 225,000 in 2013. Gilbert has managed to maintain a very low crime rate and high standard of living for its residents throughout its long period of growth.

Violent Crime Rate: 86/100,000 people | Murder Rate: 0.44/100,000 people

Population: 225,232 | Officer to Population Ratio: 1:997

Median Household Income: $80,121 | Pop. Below Poverty Line: 6.4%

Rank last year: #2

 

#3 Fremont, California

Fremont, California is the #3 Safest City in America, a slight improvement from its #4 rank last year. Located in the Southeast section of the San Francisco Bay Area, Fremont is the area’s fourth largest city. Like many others on this list, Fremont decreased its violent crime rate last year, dropping by over 12 percent. The number of aggravated assaults in Fremont went down 42 percent, which drove the overall decrease. Due to its close proximity to Silicon Valley and San Francisco, Fremont residents generally enjoy a high quality of living with a median household income of nearly $100,000 and only 5.8 percent of its population lives below the poverty line.

Violent Crime Rate: 122/100,000 people | Murder Rate: 0.45/100,000 people

Population: 224,475 | Officer to Population Ratio: 1:1,328

Median Household Income: $99,169 | Pop. Below Poverty Line: 5.8%

Rank last year: #4

 

#4 Santa Clarita, California

Santa Clarita, California makes its debut on the list of Top 10 Safest Cities in the United States at #4. Santa Clarita did not make the list last year because its population was below 200,000, but according to the FBI’s estimate the city now exceeds that number. Located just north of Los Angeles, Santa Clarita is one of three California cities to make the list of America’s safest cities. It saw a significant decrease in violent crime last year, with its violent crime rate dropping by nearly 30 percent.

Violent Crime Rate: 135/100,000 people | Murder Rate: 1/100,000 people

Population: 204,951 | Officer to Population Ratio: N/A

Median Household Income: $84,291 | Pop. Living Below Poverty: 8.6%

Rank last year: Unranked

 

#5 Henderson, Nevada

Henderson, Nevada is the #5 Safest City in America, moving from its spot at #6 last year. Second only to Santa Clarita, Henderson saw the second largest drop in violent crime, as its violent crime rate decreased by 19 percent. Located in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area, Henderson is the second largest city in Nevada. Henderson saw the most significant decrease in the number of aggravated assaults, which dropped from 208 in 2012 to 154 last year.

Violent Crime Rate: 137/100,000 people | Murder Rate: 3/100,000 people

Population: 268,237 | Officer to Population Ratio: 1:820

Median Household Income: $66,141 | Pop. Below Poverty Line: 8.9%

Rank last year: #6

 

#6 Plano, Texas

Plano, Texas is the #6 Safest City in America. It was ranked #3 last year. Plano is one of two cities to see an increase in its violent crime rate, which increased by nearly 8 percent. It is important to note that this increase was primarily a result of the city’s implementation of the FBI’s more expansive rape definition. Despite the increase, Plano remains one of the safest large cities in America, with a violent crime rate of 141 crimes per 100,000 people.

Violent Crime Rate: 141/100,000 people | Murder Rate: 1/100,000 people

Population: 275,795 | Officer to Population Ratio: 1:795

Median Household Income:$83,193 | Pop. Living Under Poverty: 7.4%

Rank last year: #3

 

#7 Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona is the #7 Safest City in America. Scottsdale, like Gilbert, is an affluent city located near Phoenix. It is one of two cities to see an increase in its violent crime rate, moving the city back from its #5 spot last year. Scottsdale’s violent crime rate increase of 1.5 percent was driven largely by higher robbery and aggravated assault numbers.

Violent Crime Rate: 149/100,000 people | Murder Rate: 2/100,000 people

Population: 225,523 | Officer to Population Ratio: 1:550

Median Household Income: $72,163 | Pop. Below Poverty Line: 8.3%

Rank last year: #5

 

#8 Virginia Beach, Virginia

Virginia Beach, Virginia is the #8 Safest City in America. It was ranked #7 last year. Although Virginia Beach’s overall violent crime rate fell by just over four percent, it did slip down in the rankings because of some new cities ranking in higher positions. As the most populous city in Virginia, and best known for its tourism, Virginia Beach’s ability to keep both its citizens and the many visitors who flock there every summer is impressive.

Violent Crime Rate: 162/100,000 people | Murder Rate: 4/100,000 people

Population: 450,687 | Officer to Population Ratio: 1:576

Median Household Income: $65,980 | Pop. Below Poverty Line: 7.4%

Rank last year: #7

 

#9 Garland, Texas

Garland, Texas maintains its ranking as the #9 Safest City in America for the second year in row. Garland’s statistics show that the city has gotten even safer, with a 5 percent decrease in the overall violent crime rate. Garland does have one of the higher murder rates among the Top 10 Safest cities, however it is still quite low at only six murders occurring within city limits.

Violent Crime Rate: 218/100,000 people | Murder Rate: 3/100,000 people

Population: 235,683 | Officer to Population Ratio: 1:743

Median Household Income: $53,060 | Pop. Below Poverty Line: 14.7%

Rank last year: #9

 

#10 Chandler, Arizona

Chandler, Arizona makes its debut on the list of Top 10 Safest Cities in America at #10. It was not in the Top 10 last year. Chandler’s violent crime rate saw a nice dip from 259/100,000 in last year’s report to 231/100,000 this year. In addition, Chandler had only two murders total this year, in comparison to four last year. A prominent suburb of Phoenix, if Chandler keeps cutting its crime rate, we can probably expect to see it higher on the list sometime very soon.

Violent Crime Rate: 231/100,000 people | Murder Rate: 1/100,000 people

Population: 248,718 | Officer to Population Ratio: 1:772

Median Household Income: $71,171 | Pop. Below Poverty Line: 8.6%

Rank last year: #11

—

Research and analysis by Law Street’s Crime in America Team: Kevin Rizzo, Chelsey Goff, and Anneliese Mahoney.

Click here for additional information on Law Street’s crime-ranking methodology.

Sources:

FBI: Violent crime, population, murder, and officer statistics, measured January – December 2013.

U.S. Census Bureau: Median household income, measured 2007-2011.

U.S. Census Bureau: Poverty, measured 2008-2012.

Featured image courtesy of [Infratec via Wikipedia]