United States is a vast country with diverse culture, different educational approaches, as well as distinct climates and geography. It becomes difficult and overwhelming to choose a city where you would want your children to go and to grow up. Usually parents settle down in cities depending on the job and financial condition. In this case, there are certain cities which have an edge over the others. These cities are good choices for family from the aspect of health, safety, economy and culture.
Top 10 Safest Cities in America
Safety should and mostly does get the top priority when looking for a new home, whether the home you are looking for is for an individual or a family. In the United States, it would be a humongous task to list down the safest cities to choose from.
1. Irvine, California
Irvine, California has ranked number 1 as the safest city in the America for 9 consecutive years. It has the lowest number of crime by population, a good police officer to population ratio and low murder rate. It is a planned city with lots of common space, commercial centers, schools and churches. The school system has been top-ranked and is home to upper middle class families. It is a mixture of White (50.48%), Asian (39.16%) and Hispanics and black. Lots of people are employed by University of California Irvine.
2. Fremont, California
Fremont is a bay-area city in the state of California and ranked in the top 5 as one of the safest cities in America. The city has very low crime rate and a low murder rate of one per 100,000 people. It is in the center of Silicon Valley and has over 30 technical and IT companies. The median income of the city is also high which boosts the population growth, new business and safety. It is an affluent and progressive city with a lot of safety.
3. Franklin, Massachusetts
Franklin, MA is a medium sized city of mixed ethnic and racial group comprising mainly of Whites and Asians. It has a high annual income and comprises of 50% of adults with high education. Almost 90% of the population works in white-collared jobs as professionals, sales persons, managers etc. It has plenty of family oriented services and communities. With the lowest overall crime rates in the country, it is a very safe city to live in.
4. Gilbert, Arizona
Gilbert has been ranked at No.2 in 2011 as the safest city in America. This is mainly because of the low crime rates and the number of police officers that are employed in the city. The ratio is as low as 1 officer per 965 people. The median household income is around $80,000. The safe environment of Gilbert has been attributed to the dedicated work of the police department and community work of the residents. The population has increased steadily due to the safe nature of the city. It is not just one of the safest cities in America but a vibrant city to live and work.
5. Plano, Texas
Plano has been named the best city to live in the Western United States thrice in the past by CNN Money. It is a very safe city due to the lack of murders or violent crimes. It has been named after the vast, flat plains of the East Texas. It has many companies which provide career opportunities to the city residents. Increase in job growth and a favorable business climate have helped in economic expansion and reduction in crime rates of the city.
6. Henderson, Nevada
Henderson is situated in the metropolitan area of Las Vegas and has the benefits of being close to the City of Light, however, none of the drawbacks. The crime rate of Henderson as compared to Las Vegas is very low. It has White population, followed by African American and Asians. The officer to population ratio is also high. It has plenty of recreational parks and community facilities. The security within the city has been reinforced due to high standard of living as well as financial stability of the residents.
7. Scottsdale, Arizona
Scottsdale has been ranked in the top 10 safest cities in America mainly due to the low number of crimes in the city. The violent crime rate is only 147 per 100,000 residents. It is a homogenous city with 90% of the population formed by Whites. The city has a high officer to population ratio which is responsible for the safety and low murder rate. It boasts of a vibrant economy and employment is mainly in the healthcare, IT, education and city government sector.
8. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach has a combination of good weather, amazing beaches and a low crime rate. The number of violent crimes and assaults is minute as compared to the national average. The overall crime index is 9% less than the average of US. Being close to Atlantic Ocean gives it good weather and diverse mix of industries gives it good economy. It has the largest presence of military personnel besides Pentagon and also has good tourism with 5 million footfall visitors annually.
9. Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is a surprise entry in the safest cities in America mainly due to the size of the city and the large number of tourists visiting the city every year. The number of violent crimes is 18% less than national average of US. Vehicle thefts are more common though in Honolulu. Majority of the population is English speaking, and the population has decreased by almost 9% in 12 years. Majority of the population is employed in the education, health and social service sector.
10. Portland, Oregon
Portland is located in one of the most peaceful states in America—Oregon. It has lower than average violent crime rates. The city park system has been rated as one of the best in the country. It has also been awarded the ‘Greenest City in America’ often. It was also listed as one of the best places to retire by CBS Money Watch in 2012. Almost 76% population is Whites, followed by Asians, African Americans, etc. It was ranked the third safest city in America by Forbes magazine in 2009.