11 Small Towns And Cities In The US That Are Safe AND Charming

Safe Small Towns

What makes a location safe? Job opportunities, natural features, and self-promotion can play a huge part. We are probably all concerned about the crime rates where we live, whether it’s a small town or a big city. And if we’re talking about the US, there are many cities with a high risk of violent attacks. According to the latest statistics by the FBI, violent crime in our country went up last year.

But, there ARE still a few places in the United States that boast surprisingly meager crime rates. These diverse small towns and cities have done an excellent job controlling their criminal element, allowing their residents to leave their belongings in their cars without worry and be able to walk alone at night. So, let’s look at 11 of the safest small towns and cities in the US.

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Irvine, CA

Even though this small town is growing, they’ve managed to keep the crime rate down. With a population of about 217,528, Irvine has continuously been on the top list of cities with the least crime rates for many years. It is also among the biggest of the safest cities in our country.

The reason behind the low crime rate in this small town may be due to their active community outreach programs. They have actively been focused on various outreach programs like counseling the people and conducting multiple support systems in emergency cases. Irvine also offers a Community Police Academy for public help.

Arlington, VA

Even though Arlington is close to the high-crime city of Washington, it has a much lower crime rate, and it’s actually been dropping recently. Because of its secure neighborhoods, this small town has been a popular place for DC families to put down roots. Nationally, this city is safer than 75% of other American cities.

Arlington was part of the “10 miles square” examined in 1791 to be the US capital and is known for the walkable urban villages like Crystal City, Rosslyn, and Ballston. Across the Potomac from Washington, Arlington is home to the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, the Marine Corps War Memorial, and Air Force Memorial. With 11 Metro stops, Arlington is car-optional and offers visitors everything from eclectic theater to Bohemian cafes.

Bellevue, WA

The city’s name comes from the French term belle vue (“beautiful view”), and its population is roughly 124,283. Known for its biennial Bellevue Sculpture Exhibition, it draws thousands of visitors to its Park Downtown to see up to 46 three-dimensional artworks from artists around the country.

Also, in celebration of its strawberry farming history, Bellevue holds a Strawberry Festival on the fourth weekend in June annually at Crossroads Park. The small town has also made outstanding progress in law enforcement by making use of the latest technological innovations.

Bellevue Police afforded the technologies like Crime Analysis Software, T-3 Electronic Vehicle for downtown patrols, Digital Forensics Server, IPads for field use, etc. Since it began in 2009, Bellevue Police Foundation has collected more than $233,000 in donations. So, Bellevue is considered to be one of the safest cities in Washington.

Gilbert, AZ

Gilbert is a small town in Maricopa County, located southeast of Phoenix within the city’s metro area. What was once the “Hay Shipping Capital of the World” is now the fifth-largest municipality in Arizona, covering an area of almost 69 square miles.

The pleasant weather, diverse amenities, and low crime rates are what draw families and retirees to Gilbert, Arizona. The city has grown at an extraordinary pace from only 5,000 people in 1980 to over 200,000 today.

However, the city has managed to keep its small-town origins and even its crime rate low even with this growth. In fact, the property crime rate is less than half of Arizona’s average.

Arvada, Colorado

Arvada has more than enough activities to fill your day, weekend, or even just an afternoon, from dining and shopping to all the festivals and cultural events! This adorable small town in Colorado ranks as one of the US cities with the least amount of crimes. With its population of roughly 102,125, Arvada has progressed in minimizing crime rates dramatically.

Throughout the last year, only 77 violent crimes occurred in the city. The Police Department of Arvada boasts all-wheel drive Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles to control criminal activities throughout the city, so Arvada is among the safest cities in our country.

Fremont, CA

In Alameda County, within the East Bay region, you’ll find Fremont, which has a population of 230,504 residents as of 2020, making it the fourth most populous city in the Bay Area. It is the closest East Bay city to the high-tech Silicon Valley network of businesses and has a strong tech industry presence.

Even though the city has a high cost of living, the low crime rates seem to draw in lots of residents every year. Assault is rare in this small town, putting Fremont’s violent crime rate 69% lower than the rest of California. Although it isn’t as skilled at ensuring that people’s belongings stay where they belong, the city’s property crime rates are still solidly below the rest of California and the nation.

Plano, TX

Besides being one of the most wealthiest cities in the US, Plano is home to numerous top companies, making it a popular spot for business travelers to the area. Its closeness to Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington makes it perfect for a vacation, as well, with plenty of entertainment within reach, including the Six Flags Over Texas park to Southfork Ranch.

You also shouldn’t miss Plano’s annual Balloon Festival, which draws visitors from all over the country. But most importantly, Plano offers a safe environment for its residents.

The city’s rate is 65% lower than Texas’ and 61% lower than the country’s average, allowing locals to enjoy the Texas sunshine without fear of assault. With its many tempting targets, Plano’s property crime rate is 37% lower than the Texas average.

Norman, Oklahoma

According to the latest statistics by the FBI, this small town ranks seventh on the list of US cities with the least crime rates. The entire population of Norman is around 112 thousand, and in the last year, only 78 violent crimes have occurred in the city.

Various community safety awareness campaigns conducted by the Norman Police Department and their law enforcement policies are the main reasons why this location could achieve such a low crime rate.

A recent survey conducted shows that the locals are very pleased with their law enforcement agency. Norman is definitely one of the safest cities in the country, with a minimal crime.

Scottsdale, AZ

Scottsdale is a popular dessert destination for snowbirds, retirees, AND new families. It even seems as though Scottsdale’s crime rate numbers keep decreasing each year. Particularly, violent crime rates are lowering, adding to the feeling of security for people who reside in the city.

Scottsdale’s violent crime rate of just 149/100,000 residents makes its locals 65 percent less likely to be victims of a horrific crime than any other average Arizona resident. Even in property crimes, usually a common Achilles’ heel for desirable cities, Scottsdale appears to be a notable improvement on both Arizona and the national average. Property crimes are 24 percent less common in Scottsdale than in any other city in the state.

Virginia Beach, VA

This “small town” is home to almost half a million people, so it’s technically not THAT small, but it boasts beautiful beaches, historical sites, and a handful of state parks within close distance. With the city’s enormous population and flourishing tourism industry, it wouldn’t be unusual for Virginia Beach to be home to a big criminal population as well.

However, it has done an excellent job of keeping property crimes in check, with its crime rate just 20% higher than the Virginia average, but that’s still 10% lower than the national average. The city sometimes can’t protect your wallet, but it DOES do a good job protecting its residents and many visitors from violent crimes. Compared to the nation, the violent crime rate in Virginia Beach is 55% lower.

Round Rock, Texas

What was once a small town has grown into Round Rock city and now has a population of around 101,989, with a mere 67 violent crimes occurring in the last year. This low crime rate wouldn’t be possible if the police department of Round Rock didn’t heavily involve themselves with their community.

The Lock Box program conducted by the police department was very effective in reducing the crime rate of the city. According to the program, the citizens that are at high risk for emergencies would be placed in the lock box. Round Rock is now just another of the safest cities in the US regarding violent crimes.

…Also Check Out: 48 Charming Small Towns You Haven’t Heard of (But Should Visit ASAP)