Violence may seem like an omnipresent concern for cities in America, but its prevalence varies dramatically depending on where you live. While some communities are besieged by worrying rates of violent crime, there are others — mostly smaller in size and population — that enjoy next to none. Perhaps surprisingly, even some of the bigger cities are still relatively safe. (And some are enjoying a construction boom.) Among America’s larger population centers, these are the 20 safest big cities in the U.S. in the past year according to data from a SmartAsset study.
20. Pasadena, California
Population: 141,029
Located within commuting distance of Los Angeles, sunny Pasadena is known for being the center of California’s scientific research and development, especially when it comes to aeronautics. We have the California Institute of Technology — one of America’s most selective engineering colleges — to thank for that.
Related: Where Your State Ranks for Bicycle Safety
19. Palmdale, California
Population: 155,079Much like Pasadena, Palmdale is a small Southern California city on the outskirts of Los Angeles that grew in part thanks to the aeronautics and technology industry. And though it is part of LA County, you’re more likely to find Joshua trees here than celebrities.
Related: The Coldest and Warmest Cities in Every State
18. Irvine, California
Population: 287,401This planned city in central Orange County is notable for its highly rated public school system as well as its low rates of violent crime and property crime. You’ll also find plenty of sunshine, outdoor activities, and a growing food scene. Founded by the Irvine Company, the sprawling town is also home to the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and numerous corporate headquarters.
16. Alexandria, Virginia (tie)
Population: 159,428
History buffs are sure to be familiar with Alexandria thanks to its colonial past. That said, the city has come a long way since its days as a major tobacco hub. It’s set to be the site of Amazon’s $2.5 billion HQ2, a futuristic East Coast campus, and the city’s old town is a cultural hot spot for tourists and Washington D.C. residents.
16. Brownsville, Texas (tie)
Population: 182,781Brownsville is located at the very tip of Texas, making it the southernmost border town with Mexico. That geography has shaped the city’s binational community, which is practically bilingual and more than 90% Hispanic. While the town has its problems — many of its residents are low-income, and health care problems abound — it remains one of the safest cities in the country.
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15. College Station, Texas
Population: 117,911College station is — you guessed it — a university town. Home to the public land-grant university Texas A&M, the city’s median age is just 23, which makes sense given that students make up more than half the city’s population. It’s also one of the fastest growing cities in the country.
14. Round Rock, Texas
Location: 133,372Round Rock traces its history back to 1848, when a blacksmith set up shop near Brushy Creek, the town’s first name. The community expanded in the next few decades, especially after the International-Great Northern Railroad set its tracks a short distance from Round Rock. But it wasn’t until the 1970s and ’80s that a manufacturing and tech boom transformed the town into the city it is today.
13. Laredo, Texas
Population: 251,671 The predominantly Latino city of Laredo ranks as both one of America’s least diverse cities and one of its safest. The city offers excellent dining options, a rich cultural history, and an eclectic arts scene. The only metrics in which it ranks significantly worse than its peer cities are in vehicular and drug poisoning mortality.
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12. San Jose, California
Population: 1,021,795On the southern end of the San Francisco Bay area, San Jose is California’s third-largest city and anchors the thriving tech hub that is Silicon Valley. No doubt thanks in part to its booming economy and prohibitive housing costs, the city boasts low crime rates across the board.
11. Fremont, California
Population: 241,110Just north of San Jose, Fremont is another hotbed for the technology sector. It was in the 1980s and ’90s that companies like Apple began to build manufacturing plants in the area, and by the early 2000s, more than 750 tech companies had opened facilities in this Bay Area city. That’s apparent in the median household income figures, which regularly top $100,000.
10. Torrance, California
Population: 143,592
As part of the greater Los Angeles area, Torrance is commuting distance from La La Land’s most popular locales — just be prepared for traffic. It’s also a city in its own right, known for being safer than neighboring cities and its Asian community. So if you’re looking for killer yakitori or ramen, Torrance is the place to be.
9. Plano, Texas
Population: 287,677Plano, which means “flat” in Spanish, started as a small farming community in the 1870s. It more or less remained that way until after World War II, when commuter rail stopped serving the town. The city’s very own website admits that that the post-war period was a dark time, as Plano became a run-down ghost town. But revitalization efforts since the ’80s have breathed life back into the Dallas suburb, and today Plano ranks in the top 10 best places to live in the U.S.
7. Santa Clara, California (tie)
Population: 130,365From the Intel Museum to the many tech companies that call this city home, Santa Clara is dominated by high-income programmers and engineers. The city is also well-known for being the location of one of Spain’s infamous missions, which were religious outposts that colonizers used to evangelize Native Americans. Today, you can still visit Mission Santa Clara de Asís, one of 21 Franciscan churches in California.
7. Cary, North Carolina (tie)
Population: 170,282
Cary is part of North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, which is home to three major research universities: the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Duke; and North Carolina State. Those institutions have completely transformed the area, causing the population to double just a few years after the triangle’s founding in 1959. Today, Cary hosts dozens of festivals every year and boasts 30 parks and over 80 miles of trails.
6. McAllen, Texas
Population: 143,268
Just 50 miles west of Brownsville, McAllen is a border town with a notable binational community and Spanish-speaking population. Its proximity to Mexico also shapes its economy, which is dominated by foreign trade, especially when it comes to processing fruits, vegetables, and cotton.
5. Glendale, California
Population: 199,303
While Glendale might be overshadowed by its larger, more glamorous neighbor, this Southern California suburb is an ethnically diverse cultural center just a few miles from Los Angeles’ hottest neighborhoods. And for nature lovers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Glendale’s megamall, the nearby Verdugo Mountains offer spectacular views of the city below.
4. Sunnyvale, California
Population: 152,703
If you know the Silicon Valley, then you’ve certainly noticed a trend. Many of the safest cities in the U.S. are located in this tech metropolis — and Sunnyvale is no exception. Yes, Sunnyvale may be a bit dull, but it’s a great place to raise a family, and you’re a reasonable drive from two of California’s largest cities, San Jose and San Francisco.
3. Santa Clarita, California
Population: 212,979
If you’ve ever been to Six Flags Magic Mountain, then you’ve been to Santa Clarita. This Boomburb — a rapidly growing city that’s a suburb at heart — is much sleepier than Los Angeles, which is just 30 miles southwest, but it’s safe and has some excellent schools. In other words, it’s the perfect place if you want to raise a family near LA without dealing with the city’s crime.
2. McKinney, Texas
Population: 199,177
McKinney is a large suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, just 30 miles north of the Big D. It consistently ranks among the most livable cities in the U.S. thanks to the city’s wealth of outdoor offerings, tasty wineries, and quaint downtown. For beer drinkers, the city also has a respectable number of local breweries, including one that’s located in a historic cotton mill.
1. Frisco, Texas
Population: 200,490After so many towns from the Lone Star State have made the list, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Texas is home to America’s safest city: Frisco. What’s remarkable about SmartAsset’s No. 1 pick is that it’s, well, unremarkable. Like McKinney, Frisco is part of the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area, and it has a high median household income of over $116,884. The upshot? If safety is a priority, look for the nearest affluent satellite city.
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