Safest Cities in America - Murder Rates

This article ranks the safest cities in America by annual murder rates per 1,000 inhabitants. For purposes of these rankings, "cities" are incorporated municipalities with more than 20,000 inhabitants, and "murder rates" are the sum of each city's murders and nonnegligent manslaughters divided by the population then multiplied by 1,000.

The murder rate rankings set out in this article include demographic information that the FBI deems significantly correlated with crime: population density, population age, median household income, educational attainment, and racial composition.

Compared to inhabitants of the most dangerous cities in America, residents of the safest cities are wealthier, better educated, and more White and Asian; however, the safest cities are not necessarily older or less densely populated.

1. Safest Cities in America: Naperville, Illinois

Murder Rate - 0.00

Demographics:

Population - 144,731
Population Density - 4088 per sq mi
Median Age - 37.7
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $93,177
Percent high school graduate or higher - 95.9%
Racial Composition - White (71.7%); Asian (15.5%); Hispanic (6.0%); Black (5.0%); Two or more (1.3%); Other (0.3%); American Indian (0.2%)

2. Safest Cities in America: Cary, North Carolina

Murder Rate - 0.00

Demographics:

Population - 133,757
Population Density - 3177 per sq mi
Median Age - 37.5
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $98,222
Percent high school graduate or higher - 94.6%
Racial Composition - White (72.1%); Asian (11.9%); Hispanic (9.7%); Black (4.8%); Two or more (1.2%); American Indian (0.2%); Other (0.1%)

3. Safest Cities in America: McKinney, Texas

Murder Rate - 0.00

Demographics:

Population - 132,146
Population Density - 2118 per sq mi
Median Age - 32.6
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $83,464
Percent high school graduate or higher - 93.2%
Racial Composition - White (64.4%); Hispanic (18.2%); Black (11.9%); Asian (3.9%); Two or more (1.2%); American Indian (0.3%); Other (0.1%)

4. Safest Cities in America: Olathe, Kansas

Murder Rate - 0.00

Demographics:

Population - 123,321
Population Density - 2275 per sq mi
Median Age - 34
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $96,661
Percent high school graduate or higher - 95.2%
Racial Composition - White (78.2%); Hispanic (9.9%); Black (6.1%); Asian (3.0%); Two or more (2.2%); Other (0.6%)

5. Safest Cities in America: Norman, Oklahoma

Murder Rate - 0.00

Demographics:

Population - 108,152
Population Density - 611 per sq mi
Median Age - 24.5
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $53,870
Percent high school graduate or higher - 91.3%
Racial Composition - White (78.4%); Hispanic (5.6%); Black (5.4%); American Indian (3.9%); Two or more (3.5%); Asian (3.1%); Other (0.1%)

6. Safest Cities in America: Murrieta, California

Murder Rate - 0.00

Demographics:

Population - 105,238
Population Density - 3706 per sq mi
Median Age - 31.7
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $66,375
Percent high school graduate or higher - 90.5%
Racial Composition - White (53.5%); Hispanic (28.6%); Asian (9.8%); Two or more (4.1%); Black (2.7%); American Indian (0.3%); Other (0.2%)

7. Safest Cities in America: Richardson, Texas

Murder Rate - 0.00

Demographics:

Population - 102,675
Population Density - 3590 per sq mi
Median Age - 33.2
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $65,854
Percent high school graduate or higher - 86.2%
Racial Composition - White (57.3%); Hispanic (22.5%); Asian (12.7%); Black (5.5%); Two or more (1.1%); American Indian (0.6%); Pacific Islander (0.3%)

8. Safest Cities in America: Gresham, Oregon

Murder Rate - 0.00

Demographics:

Population - 102,463
Population Density - 4615 per sq mi
Median Age - 33.9
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $48,197
Percent high school graduate or higher - 82.4%
Racial Composition - White (71.1%); Hispanic (20.3%); Asian (3.0%); Black (2.3%); Two or more (1.8%); American Indian (1.0%); Pacific Islander (0.5%)

9. Safest Cities in America: Mission Viejo, California

Murder Rate - 0.00

Demographics:

Population - 94,552
Population Density - 5056 per sq mi
Median Age - 40.6
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $73,501
Percent high school graduate or higher - 94.1%
Racial Composition - White (71.4%); Hispanic (15.9%); Asian (8.1%); Two or more (2.7%); Black (1.4%); American Indian (0.2%); Other (0.2%); Pacific Islander (0.1%)

10. Safest Cities in America: Lawrence, Kansas

Murder Rate - 0.00

Demographics:

Population - 91,703
Population Density - 3263 per sq mi
Median Age - 24.5
Median Household Income (adjusted for cost-of-living) - $46,302
Percent high school graduate or higher - 97.1%
Racial Composition - White (80.0%); Asian (4.8%); Hispanic (4.5%); Black (4.2%); Two or more (3.3%); American Indian (2.8%); Other (0.4%)

Source(s):

"Cities," City-Data.com
"Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000," U.S. Census Bureau
"2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates," U.S. Census Bureau
"2009 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates," U.S. Census Bureau
"Uniform Crime Reports," Federal Bureau of Investigation