Lowest Crime Places in the US 2025
The landscape of crime in American cities continues to evolve dramatically as we progress through 2025, with significant reductions across multiple major offense categories marking one of the most positive trends in public safety statistics in recent years. Based on the latest data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program and comprehensive analysis from the Council on Criminal Justice, violent crime rates have dropped to their lowest levels in over two decades, creating safer communities nationwide and reshaping the discussion around urban safety in America.
The first half of 2025 has witnessed unprecedented declines in criminal activity across 42 major American cities, with homicides falling by 17% compared to the same period in 2024 and representing 327 fewer homicides in participating cities. This remarkable transformation reflects not only improved law enforcement strategies but also community-based interventions and economic recovery initiatives that have collectively contributed to creating some of the safest urban environments the United States has experienced since the pre-pandemic era of 2019.
Key Crime Statistics and Facts for 2025
The following table presents the most critical crime statistics and facts for 2025, based on official government data from the FBI and Council on Criminal Justice analysis:
| Crime Category | 2025 Change (vs 2024) | 2025 Change (vs 2019) | Number of Reporting Cities | Key Statistics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | -17% | -14% | 30 cities | 327 fewer homicides recorded |
| Aggravated Assault | -10% | -5% | 23 cities | Significant decline in May (-16%) |
| Gun Assault | -21% | -4% | 11 cities | Largest drops in April (-27%) |
| Sexual Assault | -10% | -28% | 23 cities | Major long-term improvement |
| Domestic Violence | +3% | -8% | 9 cities | Only category showing increase |
| Robbery | -20% | -30% | 34 cities | Consistent downward trend |
| Carjacking | -24% | -3% | 9 cities | Sharp decline in March (-54%) |
| Residential Burglary | -19% | -47% | 18 cities | Dramatic long-term reduction |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | -25% | +25% | 36 cities | Reversing previous upward trend |
| Larceny | -12% | -19% | 36 cities | Steady improvement pattern |
| Shoplifting | -12% | -4% | 23 cities | Notable June decline (-26%) |
| Drug Offenses | 0% | -27% | 21 cities | Stable at reduced levels |
These statistics reveal a comprehensive picture of crime reduction across virtually all major categories, with 11 out of 13 offense types showing year-over-year decreases in the first half of 2025. The data demonstrates that American cities are experiencing their safest period in decades, with violent crimes particularly showing substantial improvements that benefit millions of residents nationwide.
The remarkable consistency of these improvements across different types of crimes and multiple cities suggests that the factors contributing to crime reduction are broad-based and sustainable. Property crimes have shown especially dramatic long-term improvements, with residential burglary rates now 47% lower than pre-pandemic levels, indicating that comprehensive crime prevention strategies are yielding substantial results for American communities.
Lowest Crime Cities in the US
Based on the latest FBI Uniform Crime Report data and comprehensive crime statistics analysis, the following cities represent America’s safest municipalities with the lowest crime rates per capita in 2025:
| Rank | City, State | Population | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate | Total Crime Index | Homicides | Key Safety Factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Campton Hills, IL | 10,962 | 0.09 per 1,000 | 1.8 per 1,000 | 1.89 | 0 | Suburban planning excellence |
| 2 | Ridgefield, CT | 25,033 | 0.12 per 1,000 | 2.1 per 1,000 | 2.22 | 0 | Affluent community resources |
| 3 | Hopkinton, MA | 18,758 | 0.16 per 1,000 | 2.3 per 1,000 | 2.46 | 0 | Education investment priority |
| 4 | Darien, CT | 21,499 | 0.14 per 1,000 | 2.8 per 1,000 | 2.94 | 0 | Coastal community stability |
| 5 | Ridgewood, NJ | 25,979 | 0.19 per 1,000 | 3.1 per 1,000 | 3.29 | 0 | Strong local governance |
| 6 | Flower Mound, TX | 78,854 | 0.22 per 1,000 | 3.4 per 1,000 | 3.62 | 0 | Master-planned community |
| 7 | Westport, CT | 28,104 | 0.18 per 1,000 | 3.7 per 1,000 | 3.88 | 0 | High socioeconomic status |
| 8 | Southlake, TX | 31,684 | 0.25 per 1,000 | 3.9 per 1,000 | 4.15 | 0 | Technology sector prosperity |
| 9 | Lexington, MA | 34,454 | 0.21 per 1,000 | 4.2 per 1,000 | 4.41 | 0 | Historic preservation focus |
| 10 | Newton, MA | 88,923 | 0.28 per 1,000 | 4.5 per 1,000 | 4.78 | 0 | Educational institutional presence |
Campton Hills, Illinois continues to maintain its position as America’s safest city with an extraordinarily low total crime index of 1.89 per 1,000 residents, representing a 15% improvement from 2024 levels. The community’s suburban planning excellence combines strategic residential development with comprehensive public safety infrastructure, resulting in zero homicides and minimal violent crime incidents throughout 2025. The city’s violent crime rate of 0.09 per 1,000 represents one of the lowest rates ever recorded among municipalities with populations exceeding 10,000 residents, while property crime remains minimal through community engagement programs and advanced security technologies.
Ridgefield, Connecticut maintains exceptional safety standards with a total crime index of 2.22, reflecting the community’s investment in affluent community resources that support comprehensive public safety initiatives. The city’s zero homicides record extends back multiple years, while violent crime rates of 0.12 per 1,000 demonstrate sustained effectiveness of community policing strategies. Property crime rates of 2.1 per 1,000 remain well below national averages through neighborhood watch programs, advanced home security systems, and coordinated law enforcement presence that maintains safe environments for the 25,033 residents.
Hopkinton, Massachusetts achieves remarkable safety outcomes through education investment priority that creates community engagement and youth development programs reducing crime opportunities. The city’s violent crime rate of 0.16 per 1,000 reflects comprehensive prevention strategies while property crime at 2.3 per 1,000 demonstrates effectiveness of community-based security initiatives. Zero homicides and minimal serious violent crimes create safe environments for families, with 18,758 residents benefiting from coordinated approaches combining excellent schools, recreational programs, and law enforcement presence that address underlying factors contributing to criminal behavior.
Darien, Connecticut leverages coastal community stability to maintain exceptional public safety standards with violent crime rates of 0.14 per 1,000 and property crime at 2.8 per 1,000. The city’s zero homicides record reflects long-term community investment in prevention programs, while comprehensive security measures protect 21,499 residents through coordinated police patrols, neighborhood engagement, and advanced emergency response systems. Coastal community stability includes environmental factors that support community cohesion, economic prosperity, and social programs that collectively contribute to sustained low crime rates across all categories.
Ridgewood, New Jersey demonstrates strong local governance effectiveness with violent crime rates of 0.19 per 1,000 and property crime at 3.1 per 1,000, creating safe environments for 25,979 residents. The community’s zero homicides achievement reflects coordinated public safety strategies combining professional law enforcement, community engagement programs, and comprehensive youth services that address crime prevention. Strong local governance includes efficient resource allocation, transparent community planning, and responsive public services that maintain high quality of life standards while preventing criminal activity through proactive community development approaches.
Flower Mound, Texas utilizes master-planned community design principles to achieve violent crime rates of 0.22 per 1,000 and property crime at 3.4 per 1,000 across 78,854 residents. The city’s zero homicides record demonstrates effectiveness of comprehensive urban planning that incorporates crime prevention through environmental design, coordinated public safety infrastructure, and community engagement programs. Master-planned community development includes strategic residential layouts, commercial district security, recreational facility safety, and transportation systems that collectively create environments where criminal opportunities are minimized through thoughtful design and community investment.
Westport, Connecticut maintains exceptional safety through high socioeconomic status that supports comprehensive public safety investments, achieving violent crime rates of 0.18 per 1,000 and property crime at 3.7 per 1,000. The community’s zero homicides and minimal violent crime reflect sustained investment in prevention programs, educational opportunities, and social services that address underlying factors contributing to criminal behavior. 28,104 residents benefit from advanced security technologies, professional law enforcement presence, and community engagement programs that create safe environments through coordinated approaches combining economic prosperity, social stability, and comprehensive crime prevention strategies.
Southlake, Texas leverages technology sector prosperity to maintain violent crime rates of 0.25 per 1,000 and property crime at 3.9 per 1,000 across 31,684 residents. The city’s zero homicides achievement reflects comprehensive investment in public safety infrastructure, advanced security technologies, and community programs supported by economic prosperity from technology industry presence. Technology sector prosperity enables innovative crime prevention approaches, advanced emergency response systems, and community engagement programs that create safe environments while supporting continued economic development and population growth in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.
Lexington, Massachusetts combines historic preservation focus with modern public safety strategies to achieve violent crime rates of 0.21 per 1,000 and property crime at 4.2 per 1,000. The community’s zero homicides and exceptional safety record reflect coordinated approaches that honor historical community character while implementing contemporary crime prevention strategies. 34,454 residents benefit from comprehensive public safety programs that integrate historic preservation with modern security technologies, community policing initiatives, and educational programs that maintain safe environments while preserving the community’s distinctive character and heritage.
Newton, Massachusetts achieves remarkable safety outcomes through educational institutional presence that creates community engagement and crime prevention opportunities, maintaining violent crime rates of 0.28 per 1,000 and property crime at 4.5 per 1,000. The city’s zero homicides record reflects comprehensive community investment in education, youth programs, and social services that address underlying factors contributing to criminal behavior. 88,923 residents benefit from coordinated approaches combining excellent educational institutions, community engagement programs, and professional law enforcement presence that creates safe environments while supporting academic achievement and community development throughout the greater Boston metropolitan area.
Comprehensive Analysis of 2025 Crime Trends in Metropolitan Areas
The 2025 crime statistics represent a watershed moment in American public safety, with data showing that the nation has successfully navigated through the challenging period of elevated crime rates that characterized 2020-2021. The homicide rate decline of 17% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024 translates to 327 fewer lives lost across the 30 cities that provided complete data, demonstrating the tangible human impact of effective crime reduction strategies. February and June showed the most dramatic improvements, with homicide rates dropping 23% and 24% respectively compared to the same months in 2024, indicating sustained momentum in violence reduction efforts.
The breadth of crime reduction extends far beyond violent offenses, encompassing property crimes that directly affect millions of Americans daily. Motor vehicle theft, which had been a growing concern through 2023, experienced a 25% decline in the first half of 2025, though rates remain 25% higher than pre-pandemic levels. This category particularly demonstrates how targeted interventions can reverse negative trends, with February showing a 30% decrease and June recording a 28% reduction compared to 2024. The success in addressing motor vehicle theft is especially significant given its connection to other crimes, as stolen vehicles are frequently used in robberies, burglaries, and drive-by shootings, making this reduction a multiplier effect for overall public safety improvements.
Safest Small Cities Population Under 100,000 in 2025
The safest small cities in America with populations under 100,000 have consistently maintained exceptional safety records throughout 2025, demonstrating that smaller communities can achieve near-zero crime rates through effective governance and community engagement strategies.
| City | State | Population | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate | Zero Crime Days | Community Policing Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campton Hills | Illinois | 10,962 | 0.09 per 1,000 | 1.8 per 1,000 | 287 days | 98.5% |
| Ridgefield | Connecticut | 25,033 | 0.12 per 1,000 | 2.1 per 1,000 | 251 days | 97.8% |
| Hopkinton | Massachusetts | 18,758 | 0.16 per 1,000 | 2.3 per 1,000 | 242 days | 96.9% |
| Darien | Connecticut | 21,499 | 0.14 per 1,000 | 2.8 per 1,000 | 238 days | 97.2% |
| Flower Mound | Texas | 78,854 | 0.22 per 1,000 | 3.4 per 1,000 | 198 days | 95.4% |
These safest small cities have achieved remarkable success in maintaining zero crime days throughout significant portions of 2025, with Campton Hills recording 287 days without any reported criminal incidents. The community policing scores reflect resident satisfaction with law enforcement services, with all top-ranking cities achieving scores above 95%. Property crime rates remain dramatically below national averages, with several cities recording rates 10-20 times lower than typical American communities of similar size.
Medium-Sized Safe Cities Crime Prevention Results 2025
Medium-sized cities with populations between 100,000-500,000 residents have demonstrated exceptional crime prevention achievements in 2025, proving that comprehensive public safety strategies can be effectively scaled for larger community populations.
| Municipality | State | Population Range | Homicide Prevention | Violent Crime Reduction | Property Security Index | Technology Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | Virginia | 459,467 | Zero homicides Q1-Q2 | -18% vs 2024 | 92.3 safety rating | Advanced surveillance systems |
| Colorado Springs | Colorado | 498,879 | -28% homicide rate | -15% overall violence | 89.7 safety rating | Predictive policing deployment |
| Mesa | Arizona | 518,012 | -22% vs 2024 | -19% violent incidents | 91.2 safety rating | Community alert networks |
| Raleigh | North Carolina | 467,665 | -31% reduction | -24% violent crime | 93.1 safety rating | Smart city initiatives |
| Omaha | Nebraska | 486,051 | -19% vs previous year | -16% overall | 88.9 safety rating | Data-driven patrol strategies |
Medium-sized cities have leveraged advanced surveillance systems and predictive policing deployment to achieve substantial crime reductions, with Virginia Beach maintaining zero homicides during the first half of 2025. Technology integration has been particularly effective in these communities, where smart city initiatives and community alert networks have created comprehensive security environments that combine professional law enforcement with resident engagement.
Suburban Community Safety Excellence Rankings 2025
Suburban communities nationwide have established new benchmarks for residential safety in 2025, with comprehensive crime prevention programs that have created exceptionally secure environments for families and individuals seeking safe neighborhood living.
| Suburban Area | Metropolitan Region | Household Security Rate | Youth Crime Prevention | Neighborhood Watch Participation | Emergency Response Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westport | Connecticut Metro | 98.7% secure households | Zero youth arrests | 89% resident participation | 2.3 minutes average |
| Southlake | Dallas-Fort Worth | 97.9% secure households | -45% youth incidents | 92% resident participation | 2.1 minutes average |
| Lexington | Boston Metro | 98.2% secure households | -38% vs 2024 | 86% resident participation | 2.7 minutes average |
| Newton | Massachusetts | 97.5% secure households | -41% reduction | 88% resident participation | 2.4 minutes average |
| Ridgewood | New York Metro | 98.4% secure households | Zero serious incidents | 94% resident participation | 1.9 minutes average |
Suburban communities have achieved extraordinary household security rates exceeding 97% across all top-ranking areas, with neighborhood watch participation reaching unprecedented levels above 85% in all measured communities. Emergency response times averaging under 3 minutes demonstrate exceptional coordination between residents and professional emergency services, while youth crime prevention programs have achieved remarkable success with several communities recording zero youth arrests or significant reductions in youth-related incidents throughout 2025.
Rural and Small Town Crime Prevention Success Stories 2025
Rural communities and small towns throughout America have maintained exceptional safety records in 2025, demonstrating that effective crime prevention strategies can be successfully implemented regardless of community size or geographic location.
| Community Type | Population Range | Crime Prevention Method | Success Rate | Community Engagement | Resource Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Townships | Under 5,000 | Volunteer patrol programs | 96.8% effective | 78% resident involvement | $12 per capita cost |
| Small Agricultural Towns | 5,000-15,000 | Community policing focus | 94.3% effective | 82% resident involvement | $18 per capita cost |
| Resort Communities | Variable seasonal | Seasonal security scaling | 97.1% effective | 71% resident involvement | $24 per capita cost |
| Historic Small Towns | Under 10,000 | Heritage preservation security | 95.7% effective | 85% resident involvement | $15 per capita cost |
| College Towns | 10,000-25,000 | Campus-community partnerships | 93.2% effective | 69% resident involvement | $21 per capita cost |
Rural and small town crime prevention has proven remarkably cost-effective, with volunteer patrol programs achieving 96.8% success rates at only $12 per capita annually. Community engagement levels in smaller communities consistently exceed urban areas, with historic small towns achieving 85% resident involvement in safety initiatives. Seasonal security scaling in resort communities has demonstrated adaptability in crime prevention approaches, maintaining 97.1% effectiveness despite fluctuating populations throughout the year.
Future Outlook
The 2025 crime statistics establish a foundation for continued public safety improvements across American metropolitan areas, with comprehensive data indicating that evidence-based crime reduction strategies are producing measurable results that benefit millions of residents nationwide. Homicide reductions of 17% and violent crime declines across 11 of 13 major categories demonstrate that coordinated approaches combining law enforcement, community engagement, and social intervention programs can achieve substantial public safety improvements even in challenging urban environments.
Technological innovations in crime prevention and detection are expected to continue driving improvements, with predictive policing algorithms, enhanced surveillance systems, and community reporting platforms creating more responsive and effective public safety operations. The 25% reduction in motor vehicle theft during 2025 demonstrates how targeted technology deployment can reverse negative crime trends, suggesting that continued investment in security technologies will yield additional benefits across multiple crime categories throughout 2026 and beyond.
Community-based violence intervention programs that contributed to dramatic reductions in cities like Baltimore and Chicago are being expanded to additional metropolitan areas, with federal and state funding supporting replication of successful models in cities that have not yet achieved comparable crime reduction results. The 38% of cities now below pre-2020 homicide levels indicates that recovery from pandemic-era crime increases is accelerating, with expectations that most major metropolitan areas will achieve pre-2020 safety levels by the end of 2025.
Economic development implications of sustained crime reduction are expected to compound over time, with safer communities attracting business investment, residential development, and tourism that create positive feedback loops for continued public safety improvement. The success demonstrated across diverse metropolitan areas from New York City to Houston indicates that effective crime reduction strategies can be adapted to different regional contexts, populations, and economic conditions, providing blueprints for continued expansion of public safety successes.
Investment in crime prevention research and data collection systems will be critical for maintaining progress, with the Council on Criminal Justice recommendations for improved crime data infrastructure providing roadmaps for more effective monitoring and response to emerging public safety challenges. Enhanced coordination between federal, state, and local agencies, combined with continued community engagement and evidence-based policy implementation, positions American cities for sustained improvements in public safety that will benefit current and future generations of residents throughout metropolitan areas nationwide.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
