When it comes to feeling safe and secure, where you live makes a real difference, and each year, analysts rank the states using a wide range of safety measures. The most comprehensive rankings combine dozens of indicators across several categories, including personal and residential safety (crime), financial safety, road safety, workplace safety, and emergency preparedness, to produce an overall score. The 2026 results show a clear regional pattern, with New England states dominating the top of the list. Keep in mind that exact rankings vary by source and year, and the order is approximate. Here is a countdown of ten states that consistently rank among the safest in America in 2026, one by one.
10. Wyoming
Wyoming rounds out the top ten, helped by wide-open spaces and low population density. Its rural character contributes to its safety profile.
Wyoming rounds out the list of safest states, benefiting from its sparse population and wide-open landscapes. With the fewest residents of any state spread across vast territory, Wyoming tends to score well on certain safety measures, and its rural, close-knit communities contribute to a sense of security. The state offers a quieter pace of life. Wyoming’s spot in the top ten reflects how lower population density and a rural character can boost a state’s overall safety profile, making the Cowboy State a notably secure place amid its dramatic mountains and plains.
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9. Rhode Island
Tiny Rhode Island scores well on property crime and emergency preparedness. The small New England state punches above its size.
Rhode Island, the smallest state, consistently ranks among the safest, with notably low property crime and strong scores in emergency preparedness and neighborhood safety. Its compact size and tight communities help it maintain a secure environment, and its violent crime rate is among the lower ones in the country. Rhode Island punches above its weight on safety. Rhode Island’s high ranking shows that the small New England state offers residents a strong sense of security, combining low crime with solid preparedness, all packed into the nation’s most compact footprint.
8. Minnesota
Minnesota stands out for road safety and financial stability. Its low bankruptcy rates and safe roads boost its standing.
Minnesota ranks among the safest states thanks to strong showings in road safety and financial stability. The North Star State has one of the best road-safety records in the country and consistently ranks near the top for financial measures like low bankruptcy rates. It’s also frequently cited as one of the healthiest states. Minnesota’s placement reflects its well-rounded safety profile, the only top-tier state from the Upper Midwest in many rankings, it combines safe roads, financial security, and strong communities into a high overall safety score.
7. Hawaii
Hawaii enters the top ten with low violent crime and strong personal safety. Island life comes with a high sense of security.
Hawaii earns a spot among the safest states, performing well in personal safety and health-related security with a notably low violent crime rate. While the islands have a high cost of living, residents benefit from a strong sense of community and safety, and Hawaii frequently tops happiness rankings as well. The island setting contributes to its appeal. Hawaii’s ranking highlights that the Aloha State offers more than natural beauty, its low rates of violent crime and high quality of life make it one of the more secure places to live in the country.
6. Connecticut
Connecticut is a safety stronghold, with one of the lowest violent crime rates. Long-term crime declines bolster its standing.
Connecticut remains a safety stronghold, frequently cited for one of the lowest violent crime rates in the nation and significant long-term decreases in overall crime over the past two decades. The state scores especially well on personal safety metrics, and its mix of suburban and small-town communities contributes to a secure feel. Connecticut consistently lands near the top. Connecticut’s high ranking underscores the New England region’s dominance in safety, the Constitution State combines low crime with strong community stability to earn its place among America’s safest.
5. Utah
Utah is the top-ranked state outside New England, with strong scores across categories. Tight-knit communities boost its safety.
Utah stands out as the highest-ranked state outside of New England, posting strong, well-rounded scores across multiple safety categories. The Beehive State benefits from tight-knit communities, a strong economy, and good showings in financial and road safety. Its family-oriented culture and low certain-crime rates contribute to a secure environment. Utah’s top-five placement makes it a notable exception to the New England pattern, demonstrating that a strong economy and close communities can put a Western state firmly among the nation’s safest.
4. Maine
Maine has the lowest violent crime rate in the country. Its peaceful communities make it a perennial safety leader.
Maine consistently ranks among the very safest states, frequently cited for having the lowest violent crime rate in the nation and the fewest assaults per capita. The Pine Tree State also scores at or near the top for emergency preparedness, and its quiet, community-minded towns reinforce a strong sense of security. Maine is a perennial safety leader. Maine’s high ranking reflects its reputation as one of the most peaceful states in the country, where exceptionally low crime and strong preparedness combine to make residents feel genuinely safe in their communities.
3. New Hampshire
New Hampshire posts the fewest mass shootings and very low violence. Residents report feeling exceptionally safe at home.
New Hampshire ranks as one of the top three safest states, distinguished by very low levels of violence, including some of the fewest mass shootings and lowest murder rates in the country. The Granite State also leads in financial safety, with one of the nation’s lowest unemployment and poverty rates, and nearly four in five residents say they feel their neighborhoods are safe. New Hampshire’s elite ranking reflects its rare combination of low violence and strong financial security, making it one of the states where residents most consistently report feeling safe in their daily lives.
2. Massachusetts
Massachusetts pairs low crime with strong financial security. It’s consistently rated among the very safest and best to live.
Massachusetts ranks as one of the two safest states, shining in financial security and posting low crime rates, including some of the fewest murders per capita. The Bay State also has a low vulnerability to natural disasters and ranks highly for residents’ overall well-being, and it’s frequently named among the best states to raise a family. Its strong institutions reinforce safety. Massachusetts’s near-the-top ranking reflects a well-rounded safety profile, combining low crime, financial stability, and resilient communities to make it one of the most secure states in the nation.
1. Vermont
Vermont tops the list, leading in financial and road safety. Most residents feel safe in their neighborhoods.
Topping the rankings as the safest state is Vermont, which leads the nation in financial safety and road safety and posts low crime across the board. The Green Mountain State has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, excellent road quality, and a strong economy, and roughly three in four residents say they feel their neighborhoods are safe. Its rural, community-minded character seals its standing. Vermont’s number-one ranking caps New England’s dominance of the safety list, the Green Mountain State’s exceptional financial security, safe roads, and low crime combine to make it the safest state in America in these 2026 rankings.
Where America Feels Safest
Taken together, these ten states rank among the safest in America in 2026, led by Vermont and dominated by New England, with Utah, Hawaii, Minnesota, and Wyoming representing other regions. The rankings reflect a broad view of safety that goes well beyond crime to include financial security, road and workplace safety, and emergency preparedness.
It’s worth remembering that these are composite rankings built from dozens of indicators, and the exact order varies from one source and year to the next, so the list is best read as a general guide rather than a definitive scorecard. Safety also looks different for every individual and community, and even the highest-ranked states have variation within them. Still, the consistent strength of New England and a handful of standouts like Utah and Hawaii offers a useful snapshot of where residents tend to feel most secure. If safety is a priority in choosing where to live or visit, these states are a solid place to start your research, alongside the most current local data.
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