Crime levels have declined sharply in the US over the past two decades. According to FBI statistics, the rate of violent crime fell 50% between 1993 and 2015, the most recent full year available.

However, public perceptions about crime don’t always align with the data. In 21 Gallup surveys since 1989, the majority of Americans said there was more crime compared to the year before, despite the downward trend in both violent and property crime rates in the US during that period.

Niche, a company that researches and collects reviews on cities, recently pinpointed the safest cities in the country in a 2017 ranking.

The researchers analyzed public crime data – including larceny, vehicular theft, and homicide rates – from sources like the US Census and the FBI. They also considered over 100 million reviews from users, who rated how safe they feel in their cities.The ranking suggests that California, with seven of the top 28 cities, is one of the safest states in the nation.

One caveat: the cities below have relatively low population numbers. As The Atlantic notes, cities with higher densities tend to have more crime. But within a city, high traffic areas are generally safer than low-traffic areas. (The more foot traffic, the riskier an assault becomes for the assaulter.)

Check out the 28 safest cities in America, according to Niche:


28. Corona, California

Foto: source Wikipedia Commons

Population: 159,595

Annual violent crimes (e.g. assault, homicide) per 100,000: 129

Annual property crimes (e.g. burglary, motor vehicle theft) per 100,000: 2,281


27. Virginia Beach, Virginia

Foto: source Patrickneil / Wikimedia Commons

Population: 448,290

Annual violent crimes (e.g. assault, homicide) per 100,000: 139

Annual property crimes (e.g. burglary, motor vehicle theft) per 100,000: 2,205


26. Roseville, California

Foto: source City of Roseville/Facebook

Population:126,327

Annual violent crimes (e.g. assault, homicide) per 100,000: 183

Annual property crimes (e.g. burglary, motor vehicle theft) per 100,000: 2,515


25. McAllen, Texas

Foto: source Instagram/rworldtoo

Population: 136,993

Annual violent crimes (e.g. assault, homicide) per 100,000: 107

Annual property crimes (e.g. burglary, motor vehicle theft) per 100,000: 3,298


24. Boulder, Colorado

Foto: Boulder fosters community through farmers and artisan flea markets throughout the year. source City of Boulder Colorado/Facebook

Population: 103,919

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 208

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,645


23. Bellevue, Washington

Foto: Bellevue, across Lake Washington, is Seattle's largest suburb. source Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

Population: 134,630

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 110

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 3,127


22. Torrance, California

Foto: Torrance is on the Pacific Ocean, making the beach its favorite destination for residents and visitors. source Corky Buczyk/Shutterstock

Population: 147,589

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 143

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,930


21. College Station, Texas

Foto: A panorama of the interior of Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Taken at the Ball State game during the 2015 season. source Wikipedia Commons

Population: 101,141

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 222

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,319


20. Santa Clara, California

Foto: Home of the San Francisco 49ers and Super Bowl 50, Santa Clara is popular for its sports scene and thriving tech community. source Visit Santa Clara/Facebook

Population: 121,374

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 126

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,897


19. Rochester, Minnesota

Foto: Home of the revered Mayo Clinic, Rochester has a bustling city life to accompany its many parks and paved trails. source Visit Rochester, Minnesota/Facebook

Population: 110,275

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 176

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,263


18. Boise, Idaho

Population: 214,196

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 308

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,275


17. Fort Collins, Colorado

Foto: Home to Colorado State University, Fort Collins is known for its many parks and trails, craft breweries, and laid-back atmosphere. source City of Fort Collins/Facebook

Population: 153,292

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 196

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,516


16. Richardson, Texas

Population: 106,123

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 151

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,004


15. Burbank, California

Foto: Just a few miles from Hollywood, Burbank is home to numerous media and entertainment companies, as well as a thriving downtown scene. source Downtown Burbank/Facebook

Population: 104,725

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 150

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,510


14. Overland Park, Kansas

Foto: Overland Park holds weekly farmers markets in its historic downtown. source Overland Park Farmer's Market/Facebook

Population: 181,464

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 214

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,842


13. Temecula, California

Population: 107,153

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 102

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,612


12. Glendale, California

Foto: A suburb in the greater Los Angeles area, Glendale has hosted its annual Cruise Night, featuring vintage cars, for the past 23 years. source Philip Pilosian/Shutterstock

Population: 196,984

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 95

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,736


11. Plano, Texas

Foto: Plano, despite being home to many major corporations like Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Frito-Lay, keeps its Texas charm through its historic downtown. source Visit Plano/Twitter

Population: 275,645

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 152

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,799


10. Cape Coral, Florida

Foto: Cape Coral is on the Gulf of Mexico and known for its fishing and boating, with over 400 miles of canals. source Nadezda Murmakova/Shutterstock

Population: 165,843

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 116

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,804


9. Sunnyvale, California

Foto: Sunnyvale is a part of the larger Silicon Valley area, with large tech companies and smaller startups headquartered in the city. source Mariusz S. Jurgielewicz/Shutterstock

Population: 148,178

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 104

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,545


8. Port St. Lucie, Florida

Foto: Port St. Lucie is along the coast of Southeast Florida and hosts the New York Mets' spring training each year. source Wikimedia

Population: 172,054

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 147

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,364


7. Carlsbad, California

Foto: Carlsbad, a seaside resort city near San Diego, attracts visitors for its many outdoor activities and tourist destinations, such as Legoland. source City of Carlsbad/Facebook

Population: 110,830

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 151

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,873


6. Ann Arbor, Michigan

Foto: Ann Arbor is home of the University of Michigan and its passionate football legacy, making it a major scene of college sports. source Ken Lund/Flickr

Population: 116,194

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 192

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,992


5. Round Rock, Texas

Foto: Round Rock is recognized as a "super suburb" of Austin, Texas, and is home of the international headquarters of Dell. source Round Rock, Texas City Government/Facebook

Population: 109,690

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 132

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,924


4. Provo, Utah

Foto: The downtown historic district in Provo, Utah. source Wikipedia Commons

Population: 115,345

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 133

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,040


2. Thousand Oaks, California

Foto: Thousand Oaks, between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, has over 15,000 acres of natural, publicly owned open space within its boundaries. source trekandshoot/Shutterstock

Population: 128,565

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 105

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,213


2. Irvine, California

Foto: University of California, Irvine. source Wikimedia Commons

Population: 238,474

Annual violent crimes (assault, homicide, etc.) per 100,000: 55

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,499


1. Naperville, Illinois

Foto: Naperville is a suburb of Chicago and has over 130 parks, two public golf courses, and its historic Riverwalk for residents to enjoy. source Naperville Park District/Facebook

Population: 144,058

Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 87

Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,122


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