America’s Safest Counties

By Candice Armstrong

One of the most influential factors in deciding where you want to vacation or call home is safety. You can’t have fun, relax or lower stress by worrying about crime and who your neighbors are. LandCentral has put together a list of some of the safest counties in several states across the U.S., based on Federal Bureau of Investigation data on violent crimes, theft and property crimes. The following metropolitan and more rural counties present some compelling options for picking a peaceful place to live or visit.

Let’s look at the top-three safest metropolitan counties and top-three safest non-metropolitan counties. I will list honorable mentions if some of the rankings are close.

Arizona

  1. Metropolitan Counties: Coconino, Cochise and Yuma
    • Honorable mentions: Yavapai and Pinal Counties
  2. Non-Metropolitan Counties: Santa Cruz, Graham and Apache
    • Honorable mention: La Paz County

California

  1. Metropolitan Counties: San Benito, Napa and Yolo
    • Honorable mentions: Marin and Imperial Counties
  2. Non-Metropolitan Counties: Alpine, Mono and Sierra
    • Honorable mentions: Modoc and Trinity Counties

Oregon

  1. Metropolitan Counties: Columbia, Benton and Polk
    • Honorable mentions: Multnomah and Yamhill Counties
  2. Non-Metropolitan Counties: Gilliam, Wheeler and Sherman
    • Honorable mentions: Harney and Grant Counties

Nevada

  1. Metropolitan Counties: Storey, Carson City and Washoe
  2. Non-Metropolitan Counties: Esmeralda, Eureka and Lincoln
    • Honorable mentions: Pershing and White Pine Counties

Colorado

  1. Metropolitan Counties: Gilpin, Park and Clear Creek
    • Honorable mention: Teller County
  2. Non-Metropolitan Counties: Ouray, Mineral and San Miguel
    • Honorable mentions: Hinsdale and Crowley Counties

Washington

  1. Metropolitan Counties: Skamania, Asotin and Columbia
    • Honorable mentions: Douglas and Pend Oreille Counties
  2. Non-Metropolitan Counties: Whakiakum, Ferry and Garfield
    • Honorable mentions: Whitman and Klickitat Counties

If you are interested in researching other states, the FBI website has a wealth of data about crimes in each county that you can download into an excel file.

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