Safest Places to Move in 2026

Reading safety scores for a move

For many movers — especially families and retirees — safety is the factor weighted heaviest. This ranking sorts every city in the MoveWiser database by its safety score, a 1–10 comparative measure where 10 represents the safest places relative to the rest of the ranked cities.

It helps to treat the score as comparative rather than absolute. A score of 9 means a city ranks among the safer options in MoveWiser's database; it is not a claim that crime is nonexistent. For real relocation decisions, pair the score with a look at the specific city profile and primary local sources.

Perception vs. the score

People form safety impressions from headlines and anecdotes, which can make a place feel riskier or safer than its score suggests. MoveWiser's safety score is produced by its data pipeline as a comparative assessment of each city. It is not a direct calculation from a specific named crime dataset, and it should not be read as one.

The score is a starting point for comparison across cities on a consistent scale — useful for narrowing a longlist, not a substitute for checking current, local crime data once a city reaches your shortlist.

Comparative safety, not a crime report

The safety–convenience tradeoff

Some of the safest cities in any ranking are quieter, lower-density places — which often also means more car dependence, fewer transit options, and less walkable daily life. A very safe suburb can still be a poor fit if you don't drive or want a walkable urban lifestyle.

Each city profile below shows transportation and walkability scores next to safety, so you can see whether a city's security comes with a lifestyle you'd actually enjoy.

How to use this ranking

If safety is non-negotiable, start at the top. Then open the cities that suit your other needs and check their cost, schools, and healthcare scores. Cities that stay strong across several categories while leading on safety tend to be the most desirable — and often the most competitive on price.