seaseasyd // Shutterstock Safety is a key factor when choosing a neighborhood to buy a home. It can increase demand and drive up property values. Homebuyers can measure how safe a community is by comparing the reported rates of violent crime, property crime, motor vehicle deaths, drug overdose deaths and excessive drinking, among other common indicators, in different areas. With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 360 suburbs of major U.S. cities from most to least safe. To help measure the value for the local cost of living, housing affordability in the safest neighborhoods was also considered. Key Findings These Utah and Maryland suburbs are the safest in America. Lehi, UT ranks first with the lowest rate of excessive drinking studywide (9.0%), and particularly low rates of violent and property crimes. On the opposite end of the Salt Lake City area, Layton, UT ranks third-safest suburb overall. In Maryland, Bethesda and Rockville earned the second and fourth place. Spring, TX has the lowest rate of property crimes. Located in Harris County, Spring sees only five property crimes reported for every 10,000 residents. After Spring, the Chicago suburbs of Orland Park, Northbrook, and Elmhurst, IL have the lowest property crime rates per capita. These Boston suburbs have the lowest rate of car accident deaths. Lexington, Somerville and Chelsea, MA – located in Middlesex (3.75 deaths per 100,000 residents) and Suffolk (4.24) Counties – have the three lowest rates of death by car accident study wide. Of the top 35 safest, Indianapolis suburbs are most affordable. Based on annual housing payments relative to local incomes, Carmel and Fishers, IN allow the most breathing room. In Carmel, housing accounts for 15.0% of annual incomes, compared to 15.6% in Fishers. Top 20 Safest Suburbs
Where are America's safest suburbs?
