America’s 10 Safest Suburbs for Families
The feeling of unity within a community and the relative affordability of a home away from the hustle and bustle of city life make suburbs attractive to many Americans. In a recent study, SmartAsset identified the 10 safest suburbs in the United States.
If you’re thinking about moving, why not check out these areas for your new dream home?
Safety First

SmartAsset analyzed data for 370 suburbs of the 100 largest US cities to determine which are the safest. Violent and nonviolent crime rates, roadway safety, and drug and alcohol abuse were among the factors analyzed since they can significantly affect residents’ quality of life.
1: Great Falls, VA

The safest suburb in the US is Great Falls, Virginia. Nestled on the banks of the Potomac River, Great Falls is a short drive from downtown Washington, DC. It’s an exceptionally safe suburb with the second-lowest violent crime rate and eighth-lowest vehicle mortality rate of the suburbs studied. Additionally, less than 15% of Great Falls residents 18 years and older engage in excessive drinking.
2: Carmel, IN

As a major suburb of Indianapolis, Carmel is widely adored for its liveliness and neighborly feel. It was named the 2023 Best Small City in America by WalletHub and also shines in its safety. Carmel demonstrates a solid commitment to road safety, with 4.86 vehicle-related fatalities per 100,000 residents, the 23rd lowest overall.
3: Bethesda, MD

Bethesda, another suburb near Washington, DC, is a safe area with one of the lowest vehicle mortality rates across SmartAsset’s study. It also has the 10th-lowest percentage of people who drink excessively out of 370 suburbs.
4: Fishers, IN

Known as one of America’s friendliest towns, it’s no surprise that Fishers landed a spot in the top five. It has a low vehicle mortality rate, similar to Carmel, and the property crime rate is among the lowest in the study. Regarding violent crime, Fishers has 84% fewer incidents on average than other suburbs.
5: Noblesville, IN

Indiana has an impressive streak on this list, with a third suburb appearing: Noblesville. Ranking among the safest in America, Noblesville joins the other Indiana suburbs with a remarkably low vehicle mortality rate. The Hamilton County city property crime rate is 90% lower than any other suburbs in the study.
6: Lehi, UT

Lehi, a popular suburb of Salt Lake City, Utah, is another exceptionally safe area to call home. This fast-growing city has notably low property crime rates, with 1,012 per 100,000 residents, and vehicular mortality, 5.4 per 100,000 residents.
7: Fort Bliss, TX

Looking to move to the Lone Star State? Several Texas suburbs, including Fort Bliss, landed on the list of safest cities. With a particularly low cost of living, safety is only part of its appeal. It boasts low rates of each category in the study, particularly vehicular mortality, with only 11.3 mortalities per 100,000 residents.
8: Frisco, TX

Home to the Dallas Cowboys, Frisco is a rapidly growing Texas suburb, increasing its population by 72% in the last decade. It’s one of the safest cities in the country, with an impressively low crime rate. Plus, Frisco’s drug mortality rate is among the lowest in the study.
9: Dacula, GA

While it has been known as a quiet town for years, Dacula is on the rise, growing 8.7%, according to US Census data. Its affordability makes it appealing to families with a tight housing budget. The small suburb of Atlanta boasts a low crime rate and a notably lower vehicular mortality rate than many other suburbs.
10: Castle Rock, CO

Known as a midway point between Denver and Colorado Springs, Castle Rock is a beautiful suburb. Its relatively low crime rates and proximity to nature landed it on Livability’s list of best places to live in America. SmartAsset noted its low vehicular mortality rate, at 4.6 per 100,000 residents.
Affordable Living

In addition to identifying the safest suburbs, SmartAsset also listed the most affordable ones. If you’re pinching pennies, Indiana is the place to be. Both Carmel and Fisher were named the cheapest of the safest suburbs in America, where housing costs comprise about 15% of each city’s median household income.
Honorable Mentions

While the suburbs on this list have notably low violent crime rates, many cities with the lowest rates didn’t make the top ten. Residents of Edgerton, Wisconsin; Mason and Canal Winchester, Ohio; Key Biscayne, Florida; Northbrook and Orland Park, Illinois; and more experience 35 violent crimes or less per 100,000 people.
Sobering Stats

Heavy drinkers can create unsafe environments for those who live around them. Overall, Utah and Oklahoma suburbs have the lowest percentage of heavy drinkers. Lehi, Utah, has the lowest population engaging in excessive drinking by a wide margin, at just 6.74%. Layton and Draper, Utah, also had low rates, along with Okmulgee, Jenks, Owasso, and Shawnee, Oklahoma.
Buckle Up

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of fatalities in America. Despite heavy traffic in Boston, its suburbs have the lowest rates of fatal car accidents. Lexington, Somerville, and Chelsea, Massachusetts, place first, second, and fourth for the metric, respectively.
Not So Fast

Despite suburban populations continuing to increase, Pew Research Center ran a study that discovered that suburban counties are falling behind the gains that many urban centers are making. They cite less engagement in the labor market, reduced household incomes, and housing stock value lagging behind those in central cities as reasons for this change.
Demographic Trends

Pew Research Center found another contributing factor to the disproportionate gains between suburbs and urban centers is that suburbs are losing working-age Americans. Many people in the 25 to 44-year age group are choosing to live in urban counties, lowering suburb contributions from a key part of the American age demographic.
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10 Countries Americans Want To Relocate To
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Stephanie Tanner’s iconic “How rude!” line from the 1987 sitcom Full House is a phrase some Americans use more than they’d like. Do you live in one of the rudest states in America?