These Are the Safest States in the U.S.—and This Scenic New England Destination Took the No. 1 Spot
These Are the Safest States in the U.S.—and This Scenic New England Destination Took the No. 1 Spot
Dobrina ZhekovaMon, November 9, 2026 at 1:05 PM UTC
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Autumn view over the historic city of Montpelier, Vermont.Credit: jenifoto/Getty Images
Crime rates have fallen nationwide, but public safety remains a priority for those looking to relocate or retire. And when it comes to safe communities, the Northeast dominates the list.
That is according to a new study from personal finance website WalletHub, which named Vermont the safest state in America. The company analyzed states for 52 safety indicators, divided into five categories: personal and residential safety, financial safety, road safety, workplace safety, and emergency preparedness.
In the Green Mountain State, nearly 76 percent of parents “believe they live in safe neighborhoods, the third-highest percentage in the country,” according to the report. The state also has the seventh-most neighborhood watch groups per capita, a low unemployment rate (just 2.6 percent, per the Vermont Department of Labor), and some of the lowest rates of identity theft in the country.
Additionally, WalletHub noted Vermont has the “lowest share of seriously underwater mortgages and the third-fewest non-business bankruptcies per capita.” And road safety and excellent infrastructure have led to fewer traffic fatalities: the fifth-lowest in the country per 100 million miles traveled and the 13th-fewest pedestrian fatalities per capita.
“The safest states in America protect their residents from harm in a multitude of different ways, from keeping crime rates low and maintaining safe roadways to having strong economies and job markets that prevent people from falling into dangerous financial situations,” Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said in a statement.
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The state of Massachusetts came in a very close second on the list, excelling in financial safety. WalletHub reported the state had the third-highest percentage of households that save for unexpected expenses or emergencies, and the sixth in the country for people setting aside money for their children’s college funds. Low vulnerability to natural disasters and low crime rates contributed to the state’s high overall ranking.
In third place was the state of Maine where more than 72 percent of residents believed they lived in safe neighborhoods, and about the same number believed their children go to safe schools. Mainers also enjoy sound financial stability and have the 11th best average credit score in the country of 735.
At the bottom of the list was Mississippi at No. 50, which had the lowest ranking for the emergency preparedness, financial, workplace, and road safety categories.
Overall, violent crime in the United States fell about 9.3 percent last year, according to data from the FBI, representing the agency’s largest year-to-year decline.
These are the top 10 safest states in the U.S., according to the study.
Vermont
Massachusetts
Maine
New Hampshire
Connecticut
Utah
Minnesota
Indiana
Rhode Island
Hawaii
on Travel & Leisure
Source: “AOL Breaking”
