Farmers Insurance Rates Most Secure U.S. Cities

American families seek security, just like families everywhere. But where are the safest cities nationwide?

For the seventh year in a row, Farmers Insurance Group has ranked U.S. metropolitan areas for safety and security. The Madison, Wisconsin, insurance provider divided American cities into three groups for their annual security rankings, based on population.

Cities were ranked in terms of data collected by Sperling's BestPlaces for air quality, crime statistics, environmental hazards, extreme weather, home foreclosures, housing depreciations, job loss statistics, life expectancies, natural disaster risks, terrorist threats and other security concerns,

Here are the top results in each category, listing the most secure U.S. cities in each size category.

Intriguingly, two of the nation's safest cities (Madison, Wisconsin, and Olympia, Washington) are known for their artistic and cultural community atmospheres. Perhaps coincidentally, both of these are state capitols as well.

Madison, Wisconsin, is the safest large city in America, according to the Farmers Insurance report.

Among American metropolitan areas boasting populations of 500,000 or more, Wisconsin's state capitol city is named the most secure. Madison, ranked third in last year's study, is home to the University of Wisconsin's main campus. With remarkably low unemployment, relatively speaking, Madison is also known for outdoorsy and organic lifestyle choices among its residents.

The most secure large cities in America, based on the 2011 report, are as follows:

1. Madison, Wisconsin
2. Des Moines/West Des Moines, Iowa
3. Syracuse, New York
4. Austin/Round Rock, Texas
5. Portland/South Portland/Biddeford, Maine
6. Rochester, New York
7. Honolulu, Hawaii
8. El Paso, Texas
9. Bethesda/Gaithersburg/Frederick, Maryland
10. Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Washington
11. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
12. Minneapolis/St. Paul/Bloomington, Minn.
13. Nassau/Suffolk Counties, New York
14. McAllen/Edinburg/Mission, Texas
15. Bridgeport/Stamford/Norwalk, Connecticut
16. Raleigh/Cary, North Carolina
17. Albany/Schenectady/Troy, New York
18. Wichita, Kansas
19. Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York
20. New Haven/Milford, Connecticut

Olympia, Washington, is the most secure mid-sized town, according to the Farmers Insurance claims.

Among American metropolitan areas with populations ranging from 150,000 to 500,000, Olympia, Washington, was tagged the safest. This Western city, the capitol city of Washington state, held the top ranking in both 2007 and 2008. Olympia, Washington, boasts excellent air quality and traditionally milder weather than many U.S. cities, as well as recent job growth.

The most secure mid-sized towns in America, according to this year's report, are as follows:

1. Olympia, Washington
2. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
3. Bellingham, Washington
4. Kennewick/Richland/Pasco, Washington
5. Fargo, North Dakota/Moorhead, Minnesota
6. Rochester, Minnesota
7. Duluth, Minnesota/Superior, Wisconsin
8. Binghamton, New York
9. Lynchburg, Virginia
10. Burlington, Vermont
11. St. Cloud, Minnesota
12. Green Bay, Wisconsin
13. Yakima, Washington
14. Appleton, Wisconsin
15. Spokane, Washington
16. Bremerton/Silverdale, Washington
17. Boulder, Colorado
18. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
19. Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, Arkansas
20. Las Cruces, New Mexico

Lewiston, Idaho/Clarkston, Washington, was named the most secure small town in America in the Farmers Insurance findings.

This pair of American towns, considered an inland seaport with a sophisticated transportation network and efficient infrastructure, was rated highly in the safe city study. Lewiston, Idaho, and Clarkston, Washington, are marked by relatively low crime rates, slower housing depreciation and better job growth than many comparable U.S. cities.

The safest small towns in America are as follows, as listed in the Farmers Insurance study:

1. Lewiston, Idaho/Clarkston, Washington
2. State College, Pennsylvania
3. Ithaca, New York
4. Bismarck, North Dakota
5. Logan, Utah
6. Wenatchee, Washington
7. Morgantown, West Virginia
8. Billings, Montana
9. Corvallis, Oregon
10. Midland, Texas
11. Sioux City, Iowa
12. La Crosse, Wisconsin/Winona, Minnesota
13. Elmira, New York
14. Rapid City, South Dakota
15. Oshkosh/Neenah, Wisconsin
16. Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Robert Woudstra, chairman of Farmers Insurance Group, commented on the recent ranking of the most secure U.S. places to live. "Farmers [Insurance Group] congratulates all of the communities recognized in the 2010 annual Farmers Most Secure Places to Live survey. In today's challenging economy, citizens look to their local governments to keep their communities secure and economically strong," he said.