ConsumerAffairs analyzed crime and law enforcement data from the FBI to determine which states are safest. Our team used this data to give each state a score based on violent crimes, property crimes and law enforcement presence.
Here are some of our key takeaways from the data:
Here are some of our key takeaways from the data:
- New Jersey is the safest state, according to our scoring system. It has the lowest number of rapes per capita of any state (20% of the score) and the largest law enforcement presence (10% of the score).
- The top seven safest states are in the Northeast, and 8 of 10 are in the region. One Western state and one Southern state made the top 10. Idaho (eighth), Virginia (10th) and Wisconsin (12th) are the safest states in the West, South and Midwest, respectively.
- Maine had the lowest violent crime rate per capita, and Massachusetts had the lowest property crime rate.
