Category Archives for "Research"

This small town in the Southwestern part of Connecticut is part of Fairfield County and borders New York. It’s a beautiful place to live, with wide open spaces and historic architecture everywhere you turn. Wilton offers the perfect environment for raising a family. For starters, there was only one reported violent crime. It was only in 2003 that it allowed restaurants to serve alcohol, taking it from a “dry” county to a “damp” one. With an average household income of over $300,000, Wilton has some of the best schools in the country, most of which are rated at least 9/10. It’s no wonder why so many families flock to this area, including famous people like actor Christopher Walken.

18,851 Population

1 Violent Crimes

75 Property Crimes

Just a 15-minute drive north from Wilton lies the very similar Ridgefield, nestled at the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. Its mile-long stream still holds the 20th century charm and stunning colonial estates dotted throughout the city. Every year they hold an Nutmeg Festival along with antique flea markets and farmers markets in the summer months. Ridgefield High School is ranked as the 5th best school in the entire state. It’s a community-oriented town with an exemplary safety rating - only two reported instances of violent crime.

25,339 Population

2 Violent Crimes

105 Property Crimes

The city of Canton may be small in population but there is nothing little about this city. Located Northwest of Hartford, it has a population of 10,358 and lots of wide-open forest. Perfect for those who love the outdoors, the Southwest corner lies along a river and lake. It’s also home to the Collinsville Canoe & Kayak store, the largest specialty canoe and kayak store in New England. The Parks & Recreation department is especially active here, offering a wide variety of classes, vacation camps, and sports programs for kids and adults. With a median household income, it’s a comfortable place to live, and with only one violent crime, Canton is one of the safest cities in the state.

10,358 Population

1 Violent Crimes

49 Property Crimes

Located in the upper region of Hartford County, Simsbury is one of the larger and more populous cities on our list. Its 24,093 residents are spread throughout little neighborhoods in forest groves and winding rivers. The Old Drake Flower Bridge is a must-see, with its hanging baskets and flowers. The Heublein Tower, one of the tallest points in the city, allows you to look over majestic, rolling hills and the Hartford skyline. Simsbury also has an incredible educational system, with the 4th best high school in the state along with many highly regarded private schools. Home to the International Skating Center of Connecticut, many professional skaters have lived and trained here, including Michelle Kwan, Alexei Yagudin, Sasha Cohen, and Oksana Baiul.

24,093 Population

3 Violent Crimes

131 Property Crimes

Named after the 5th President of the United States, Monroe is located in Eastern Fairfield County. It’s become an increasingly popular place to live in the last 20 years and for good reason. Their school system is, again, among the best in the state. There’s lots of opportunity for outdoor activities, including bike trails, lakes, and mountains. There were only three reported violent crimes, so you can rest assured that a visit to The Warren’s Occult Museum (vast collection of occult artifacts and telling the story of the Ed and Lorrain Warren investigations) will be a safe one.

19,958 Population

3 Violent Crimes

113 Property Crimes

Sitting in the Southernmost county of California, Imperial is 5.9 square miles of desert, but what it's lacking in water it more than makes up for in community-building events. Imperial's residents rally together for cook offs, their annual Craft Beer Invitational, movies in the park, and an End of Summer Splash Bash. Imperial boasts below average crime rates all around. Its property crime rate is substantially lower at 3.1 per 1,000 persons compared to the state average of 25.66 and state average of 28.

17,338 Population

5 Violent Crimes

54 Property Crimes

Los Altos Hills literally translates to “The Tall Hills” and is, appropriately, filled with... rolling hills. Nestled near the Southern part of the San Francisco Bay area, it's only 8.8 square miles, however, that milage is 100% residential - by design. Los Altos Hills has instituted a successful ban on commercial zones in an effort to be a strictly residential city, with the exception of a book store on the college campus. It does not have a post office, library, or anything else of the sort. They've successfully made the community extremely people-oriented by offering a wide variety of programs for all ages. This has paid off as there was only one reported violent crime for the year. It is home to people like Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and Barry Bonds, the famous baseball player. Not surprisingly, this incredible city has a median income of $157,500.

8,485 Population

1 Violent Crimes

60 Property Crimes

Located in Orange County, Rancho Santa Margarita is one of the youngest communities in California. It sits on 13 square miles of land and its weather emulates a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters that rarely go below freezing. Most of the neighborhoods are run by homeowners associations which help maintain certain levels of quality and safety - probably why they're in the top three safest cities this year.

49,719 Population

44 Violent Crimes

303 Property Crimes

Aliso Viejo translates to "Old Alder" and was named after the expansive forests of white alder trees that inhabit the area. This Orange County city was a planned one, booming from 7,612 people in 1990 to 50,751 people in 2016 - an increase of 667%. It's small, at 7.5 square miles, and, like many others in Southern California, contains 0% water. Aliso Viejo's low crime rates are probably why annual events like their Spring Kick-Off Party and Snow Fest are so successful. Of course, the beautiful mountain range views only help make this community an even better place to live in. 

50,751 Population

32 Violent Crimes

363 Property Crimes

Less than a 2-minute bus ride from Aliso Viejo and a 20-minute ride to Laguna Beach (one of California's most famous) is another city that has a lot in common with its predecessor, especially when it comes to safety ratings. In addition to its low crime rates, this 6.6 square mile city has a significantly lower unemployment rate than the rest of the state - 3.8% compared with Orange County's 5.8%, and California’s at 8.5%. Although smaller than its counterpart, it offers 58 restaurants with a wide range of cuisines, Fossil Reef Park (a 17 million year old preservation that hosts 48 species of marine fossil vertebrates), and an incredible children’s museum called Pretend City where children are encouraged to use their imagination and work together. 

16,501 Population

5 Violent Crimes

141 Property Crimes

Florence is about sixty miles southeast of Phoenix. It has lots of parks and historical attractions along with a fun aquatic center for kids, located downtown. Built around the Gila river, it's one of the oldest towns in the county and that old-world charm is preserved in their downtown, which houses many of the buildings that are part of the National Registry of Historic Places. There were only 34 violent crimes, at 1.26 per 1000 people, compared to the state’s average of 3.36 per 1,000 people. 

26,926 Population

34 Violent Crimes

174 Property Crimes

Also nestled alongside a river between a handful of small mountains and hills, Sahuarita is one of the southernmost cities in Arizona, located just south of Tucson. Much of its land is used for agriculture, which is sustained by runoff from mountain peaks and Sahuarita Lake. Unlike Florence, Sahuarita is a young town, turning 23 in 2017. They're a town that's actively working to grow and better meet the needs of its future population. Not surprisingly, there were only 13 violent crimes and 339 property crimes. 

28,067 Population

13 Violent Crimes

339 Property Crimes

Located southeast of Phoenix, Gilbert is a much bigger city than most on this list. It draws residents from the Phoenix metropolitan area and is mostly focused on being an agriculture-based community, growing at a very fast rate every year. The population has grown from 5,717 people in 1980 to 247,324 people today - 43 times larger in  30 years. Surprisingly, the trend of bigger cities having more crime rates does not follow suit here. There were only 177 violent crimes and 3267 property crimes. The city was built as a means of extending the Arizona Eastern Railway from Phoenix to Florence and holds a record high of 122 degrees Fahrenheit. It is an affluent area, with a $109k average household income. What was once the “Hay Capital of the World” is now the place to be.

247,324 Population

177 Violent Crimes

3,267 Property Crimes

With stunning views of the Pusch Ridge in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Oro Valley is a beautiful place to live. It has been recognized by many popular publications, including Family Circle magazine as one of the Top Ten Best Towns for Families, Nick Jr. Family Magazine as one of the Ten Most Playful Towns in America, and Fortune Small Business magazine as #44 of 100 Best Places to Live and Launch a business. Oro Valley is a very safe place to live, with only 27 violent crimes and 583 property crimes. Their schools rank in the top third of the state with impressive student to teacher ratios - it seems that everything this city does is done well.

42,258 Population

27 Violent Crimes

583 Property Crimes

Maricopa, due south of Phoenix, boasts a 1.72/1000 violent crime rate and a 12.45/1000 property crime rate. This small, 47 square mile town has been renamed three times. First, it was Maricopa Wells, then Maricopaville, and then Maricopa Junction, which was eventually shortened to Maricopa. Like Gilbert, it's a young city, officially incorporating itself in 2003. 

48,193 Population

83 Violent Crimes

600 Property Crimes

In the Alexander Archipelago of the Pacific Ocean, Sitka is often regarded as Alaska's most beautiful seaside town; and also one of the safest. With a population of 8,850 people, Sitka has the lowest crime rate of any town in the state. When Alaska was colonized by Russia, Sitka was their only outpost and used as a trading post. It's also home to St. Michael's, the first Russian Orthodox cathedral in North America. 

8,850 Population

14 Violent Crimes

147 Property Crimes

Palmer started in 1935 as a tent city for families fleeing droughts in the midwest. Each family was given 40 acres, and a farming colony was established. To this day, the unique microclimate in Palmer is ideal for producing giant vegetables which are often on display at the Alaska State Fair. Palmer is now home to 6,652 residents. You'll find mountains, rivers, a visitor center with museum and gardens, and a world-class 18-hole golf course. 

6,652 Population

22 Violent Crimes

121 Property Crimes

North Slope Borough is 95,000 square miles across northern Alaska and is, by area, the largest county-level political subdivision in the United States. Their population is 9,707. The borough seat is Barrow. Barrow is 320 miles north of the Arctic Circle, making it the northernmost city in the United States. Barrow spends an average of 160 days per year below freezing temperatures. Archaeological evidence suggests that the Inupiat people lived here as far back as 500 CE. 

9,707 Population

80 Violent Crimes

102 Property Crimes

Homer is located in south-central Alaska on the Kenai peninsula. It has a population of 5,511 people. Homer was named after con man Homer Pennock; he promoted gold mining in the area. But it was coal that turned out to be the more successful resource until a dip in the market caused the town to be nearly abandoned in 1902. The town recovered - in 1985 they got their first McDonald’s. 

5,511 Population

7 Violent Crimes

193 Property Crimes

Ketchikan began as a Tlingit fish camp at the mouth of Ketchikan creek. The Tongass Packing Company was established in 1887 by businessmen from Portland, Oregon. From that time onward, Ketchikan became a cannery town, a mining center, and a fishing hub. It has a population of 8,286 people and has collected several nicknames including “The Wickedest City in Alaska” and “The Salmon Capital of the World”.

8,286 Population

31 Violent Crimes

285 Property Crimes

Helena is made up of 17 square miles, 18,109 residents, and the lowest crime rates in the state.  The average violent crime rate is five times lower than the state average and the average property crime rate is 4.7 times lower than the state average. Located in the middle of Alabama just south of Birmingham, Helena residents enjoy movies in the park, citywide softball competitions, an annual Christmas parade, and everything else that pairs nicely with a white picket fence. It is, after all, “Where you want to be.”

18,109 Population

21 Violent Crimes

126 Property Crimes

Decorated with sprawling hills and winding creeks, beautiful Vestavia Hills is home to 34,143 residents and some of the best schools in the state. It's neighborhoods are growing quickly and its culture truly embraces their motto of, “A life above.” Vestavia Hills’ crime rates are well below the state average with violent crime lower than approximately 90% of Alabama communities and property crime lower than about 70%.

31,143 Population

22 Violent Crimes

422 Property Crimes

English Tudor architecture, manicured gardens, and wooded areas keep Mountain Brook true to its fairy tale-sounding name. Incorporated in 1942, Mountain Brook takes great care in maintaining its historical roots while at the same time offering their 20,801 residents things like free Wifi. Mountain Brook is one of Alabama’s more affluent towns and enjoys lower than average crime rates all around.

20,081 Population

14 Violent Crimes

266 Property Crimes

Fultondale is an old mining town located along the southern end of an Appalachian Mountain ridgeline. Its low crime rates keep it, “A friendly city” that’s also perfect for families. Fultondale’s population is on the smaller side (9,044 residents) along with its number of violent crimes - only eight were reported - just four percent of the state average (180).

9,044 Population

8 Violent Crimes

140 Property Crimes

Picturesque Southside is nestled in the foothills of the southern Appalachian Mountains. First settled in 1850 as a farming town, it’s now known for it’s hospitality and Southern character. It’s one of the fastest growing cities in northeast Alabama and its 8,583 residents enjoy a low cost of living along with low crime rates.

8,583 Population

11 Violent Crimes

126 Property Crimes