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
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
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
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
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
Population: 103,919
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 208
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,645
23. Bellevue, Washington
Population: 134,630
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 110
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 3,127
22. Torrance, California
Population: 147,589
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 143
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,930
21. College Station, Texas
Population: 101,141
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 222
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,319
20. Santa Clara, California
Population: 121,374
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 126
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,897
19. Rochester, Minnesota
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
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
Population: 104,725
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 150
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,510
14. Overland Park, Kansas
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
Population: 196,984
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 95
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,736
11. Plano, Texas
Population: 275,645
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 152
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,799
10. Cape Coral, Florida
Population: 165,843
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 116
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,804
9. Sunnyvale, California
Population: 148,178
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 104
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,545
8. Port St. Lucie, Florida
Population: 172,054
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 147
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,364
7. Carlsbad, California
Population: 110,830
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 151
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,873
6. Ann Arbor, Michigan
Population: 116,194
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 192
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,992
5. Round Rock, Texas
Population: 109,690
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 132
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,924
4. Provo, Utah
Population: 115,345
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 133
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 2,040
2. Thousand Oaks, California
Population: 128,565
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 105
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,213
2. Irvine, California
Population: 238,474
Annual violent crimes (assault, homicide, etc.) per 100,000: 55
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,499
1. Naperville, Illinois
Population: 144,058
Annual violent crimes per 100,000: 87
Annual property crimes per 100,000: 1,122