Several major California cities, including San Francisco, Oakland, Stockton, and Riverside, have been identified as among the least safe in the United States, according to a new study by personal finance site SmartAsset. The study ranked 83 U.S. cities with populations of at least 250,000, evaluating them on violent crime, property crime, traffic fatality rates, and disaster risk. While California is home to numerous well-known cities, none appeared in the top 10 safest cities in the rankings.
Oakland recorded the nation's second-highest crime rate, with 19.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, surpassed only by Memphis. San Francisco and Stockton shared the highest traffic fatality rate, with 18.5 deaths per 100,000 residents. Stockton also faced a relatively high disaster risk.
Despite having comparatively moderate violent and property crime rates, Irvine and Santa Ana did not rank among the safest cities due to receiving the highest possible disaster risk scores. These scores were significantly influenced by threats of wildfires and earthquakes. Los Angeles reported a property crime rate of 14.8 per 1,000 residents.
In contrast, Virginia Beach, Virginia, was named the nation's safest city. This designation was based on its below-average violent and property crime rates, a traffic fatality rate of approximately seven deaths per 100,000 residents, and a low FEMA disaster risk score. The score considered factors such as expected disaster losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.
The study also highlighted Texas cities, with Plano and Laredo appearing in the top 10 safest cities, while Dallas and Houston were ranked among the 10 least safe.