It’s the prime responsibility of families to shift into a location that offers them safety. This OpinionFront article comes up with the ten safest cities in America where crime rates are low.
Only 271 police officers protect the residents of Irvine. This makes it 1.3 officers per 1,000 people, which is 54% less than the National average.
America is the most powerful nation in the world. It’s not only renowned for its wealth, power, and vanity, but is also touted as the best educational and scientific hub. The economy has created huge job opportunities, and it’s the perfect place to earn money and settle down. Nevertheless, being the most powerful nation, it is not free from crimes. Crime is a part of every city; however, there are certain locations that are relatively secure to reside or visit.
Violent crimes are defined in the UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) Program as those offenses that involve force or threat of force (such as murder, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault). The following ten cities have been accounted to have low violent crime rates, and hence, considered safe to reside according to stats collated by the FBI’s UCR Statistics, as of September 16, 2013, and NeighborhoodScout.
1. Irvine, California
Annual Violent Crime Per 1,000 Residents: 0.56
Irvine is a planned city in Orange County, California. It was reported to have the lowest per capita violent crime rate among other cities with a population of more than 100,000 by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in June, 2010. In 2012, there have been reports of only 110 instances of violent crime. This is based on three factors: (i) overall economic prosperity and uniformity among its occupants; (ii) integration; and (iii) highly educated, often highly skilled population. It is an affluent city with a large number of good public schools and an ample space for recreational purposes. This city lives up to its mission statement which is―”to create and maintain a community where people can live, work, and play in an environment that is safe, vibrant, and aesthetically pleasing.”
2. Gilbert, Arizona
Annual Violent Crime Per 1,000 Residents: 0.96
Gilbert is a city in the state Arizona, located in Maricopa County. Its population is growing at a very high rate because of its low crime rate. Its violent crime rate was reported to be only 95 per 100,000 people. The reason for this is to do with the number of police officers in the city which is 1 officer per 956 people. Gilbert was the largest town in the United States with zero murders in 2005 according to the FBI records. According to a report by GreatSchools.org, this city was recognized in 2010 as the 36th Best Place to Live in the nation.
3. Plano, Texas
Annual Violent Crime Per 1,000 Residents: 1.31
Declared as the wealthiest cities in 2008 by the United States Census Bureau, Plano is situated in the Texas state, within Collin County. There have been reports of only 131 violent crimes per 100,000 people. It was selected as the safest place to live in America by Forbes in 2010 and 2011. Plano has won many such accolades due to its low crime rate and low cost of living, making it one of the greatest sought-after places to live in. The presence of corporate headquarters of many companies, like Alliance Data, Cinemark Theatres, Dell Services, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Ericsson, Frito-Lay, Pizza Hut, Rent-A-Center, and Toyota Motors USA, and the steady growth in jobs are contributing factors towards the city’s prosperity and low crime rate.
4. Fremont, California
Annual Violent Crime Per 1,000 Residents: 1.40
Fremont is a city located in the Alameda County. Its violent crime rate has been reported as 140 per 100,000 people. The city is not so famous for its night life, but it is the closest East Bay city to Silicon Valley. Fremont is home to a great number of good schools and affordable housing, making it a comfortable and safe place to live in for budding families.
5. Scottsdale, Arizona
Annual Violent Crime Per 1,000 Residents: 1.47
Scottsdale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, with the slogan “The West’s Most Western Town.” It has reported only 147 violent crimes per 100,000 people. Factors responsible for the low crime rate include its strong economy, high police officer to population ratio, and average age of the residents. Scottsdale has been named as one of the most hippiest and happening cities in America by the New York Times. With its tourism website describing it as the city that celebrates passion in all its forms, the tourism industry has been Scottsdale’s primary employer.
6. Henderson, Nevada
Annual Violent Crime Per 1,000 Residents: 1.68
The city of Henderson is located in the state of Nevada in Clark County. After Las Vegas, it is the second largest city in Nevada. With a violent crime rate of 168 per 100,000 people, Henderson was ranked as America’s second safest city in 2011 by the Forbes magazine. This city comprises a large number of recreational facilities for its population. Its unemployment rate has been steadily declining since 2010, a factor contributing to the city’s security.
7. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Annual Violent Crime Per 1,000 Residents: 1.69
Not belonging to any particular county, Virginia Beach is a city located in the state of Virginia. The violent crime rate has been reported to be 169 per 100,000 people. A popular tourist destination, this city is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as having the longest pleasure beach in the world. Apart from tourism, the military and agribusiness sectors also play a major role in the city’s economy.
8. Irving, Texas
Annual Violent Crime Per 1,000 Residents: 2.27
Irving in Texas boasts of fifty Fortune 500 companies, which has helped the city with its growing economic development. Although the average household income dips below the national poverty line, the rate of unemployment is still low. Its high level of diversity, setting up of small businesses that spur industrial growth, and economic opportunities are factors that account for the low level of crime rate.
9. Garland, Texas
Annual Violent Crime Per 1,000 Residents: 2.30
Garland is a city located in Texas, with its major part within Dallas County and a small portion in Collin County. With a violent crime rate of 229 per 100,000, it is the twelfth most populous city in Texas. Garland was ranked number 67 among the “Top 100 Places to Live” in 2008 by CNN and Money magazine. It is a great city to live in with an affordable cost of living and great weather.
10. Chula Vista, California
Annual Violent Crime Per 1,000 Residents: 2.33
Chula Vista stands for ‘beautiful view’ in Spanish. One of the largest cities of the United States, it is situated in Southern California. The violent crime rate of this city is 232 per 100,000 people. This culturally diverse city has tourism as one of its major economic growth factors. Another advantage that aids this city is its appropriate location of the coastline. Along with this, the city boasts of stable economic growth and development. All these factors make it one of the safest cities in the US. Located only a few miles away from downtown San Diego, Chula Vista has abundant restaurants along with shopping and cinema complexes.
