Safest States in America: Violent Crime Rankings 2026

Maine recorded just 100.1 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data (as of late 2025), the lowest rate of any state in the country. That number is roughly one-seventh the rate in New Mexico, the most dangerous state by the same measure.

The 10 Safest States for Violent Crime

The safest states cluster in New England and the Mountain West. These regions share low population density, strong social cohesion, and, in several cases, favorable economic conditions that correlate with lower crime.

| Rank | State | Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000) | |------|-------|----------------------------------| | 1 | Maine | 100.1 | | 2 | New Hampshire | 110.1 | | 3 | Connecticut | 136.0 | | 4 | Rhode Island | 153.6 | | 5 | Wyoming | 162.4 | | 6 | Vermont | 168.2 | | 7 | Idaho | 171.9 | | 8 | Virginia | 179.3 | | 9 | New Jersey | 182.1 | | 10 | Utah | 185.7 |

Maine holds the top spot for a reason that goes beyond geography. It ranks first nationally for personal safety and posts the lowest assault rate per capita of any state. New Hampshire follows closely and also earns high marks for emergency preparedness. Both states consistently appear at the top across multiple public safety indexes.

The presence of Connecticut and Rhode Island may surprise readers who associate the Northeast with urban crime. Both states have invested heavily in policing infrastructure and community intervention programs over the past decade, and their statewide rates reflect that.

The 10 Most Dangerous States for Violent Crime

The bottom of the list is dominated by Southern and Southwestern states, with a few outliers.

| Rank | State | Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000) | |------|-------|----------------------------------| | 41 | Arkansas | 641.5 | | 42 | Tennessee | 648.2 | | 43 | Louisiana | 658.9 | | 44 | Alaska | 837.8 | | 45 | Missouri | 591.3 | | 46 | South Carolina | 512.0 | | 47 | Arizona | 472.1 | | 48 | Nevada | 494.3 | | 49 | California | 499.0 | | 50 | New Mexico | 778.5 |

New Mexico has posted the highest or second-highest violent crime rate in the country for six consecutive years. Albuquerque alone accounts for a disproportionate share of that figure. Alaska ranks second-worst, driven by high rates of assault and sexual violence, both of which correlate with its geographic isolation and limited law enforcement coverage across rural areas.

California's position near the bottom surprises some readers given its size and economic output. The statewide figure masks enormous variation: San Jose and Irvine rank among the safest large cities in the country, while parts of Los Angeles, Stockton, and Bakersfield drag the aggregate rate sharply upward.

What Drives These Numbers

Violent crime rates are not random. Several factors consistently predict where a state lands in these rankings.

Poverty is the strongest predictor. States with higher median household incomes tend to post lower violent crime rates, with meaningful correlation across the dataset. Urbanization matters too, but less than most people assume. Wyoming and Idaho are both rural and safe. Alaska is rural and dangerous. Density alone does not explain the pattern.

Law enforcement staffing levels, local prosecution policies, and substance abuse rates all contribute. States with higher rates of methamphetamine use, which is concentrated in the rural South and Mountain West, tend to see elevated violent crime even in low-density areas.

For retirees weighing safety alongside tax exposure, the overlap is worth noting. Several of the safest states also carry low or no income tax burdens. New Hampshire has no income tax on wages and no sales tax. Wyoming has no state income tax. If you are comparing places to retire, our guide to the best states for retirees to avoid taxes pairs directly with this data.

Safety and Taxes Together

Safety rankings rarely exist in a vacuum. A retiree moving to a low-crime state still needs to weigh property taxes, estate exposure, and cost of living. Maine is the safest state in the country, but its cost of living and income tax structure (top rate of 7.15%) matter for long-term financial planning. New Hampshire offers the better combination: low crime and no broad-based income tax.

For households tracking both variables, our state tax and cost of living calculator lets you model net income and purchasing power side by side with safety data.

If estate planning is part of your decision, check our breakdown of estate tax by state, since several of the safest states carry estate tax exposure that affects wealth transfer.

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Key Takeaways

• Maine has the lowest violent crime rate in the country at 100.1 per 100,000 residents, roughly one-seventh the rate of New Mexico at 778.5.
• New England dominates the safest tier: four of the top six states are Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
• Alaska and New Mexico are the two most dangerous states by violent crime rate, both exceeding 775 incidents per 100,000 residents.

Compare your current state against every other state on safety, taxes, and cost of living at liveordiehere.com.