DENVER (KDVR) — While we’re constantly reading or hearing about violence happening around the country in the news, most of us don’t think it will happen close to home. There’s no way to avoid all danger, but some cities can help residents feel more secure than others.
A new study from WalletHub broke down exactly where the safest and least safe cities in America are located.
To find this, WalletHub compared almost 200 cities to determine where people feel the safest in the U.S. This study based safety on where Americans feel most “secure,” which includes factors like traffic deaths and assaults per capita to the unemployment rate and percentage of the uninsured population.
Here’s where they rank in safety across the country.
Most, least safe cities in the US
The list ranges from the safest city, South Burlington, Vermont, to the least safe city, Memphis, Tennessee, which sits at the bottom of the list at No. 182.
Sitting at the top just below South Burlington in the top five included Casper, Wyoming; Warwick, Rhode Island; Burlington, Vermont; and Boise, Idaho.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the list with Memphis were other larger cities like Detroit, Michigan; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and two Louisiana cities: Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Here’s how to the rest of the country filled out the rest of the list:
The full list of cities, their ranking and methodology can be found on WalletHub’s website.
Tips to feel safe in your own home
Regardless of where you live, you should feel safe in your home. If you live in a dangerous area or are just looking for some peace of mind, here are some helpful tips.
According to EMC Security, a good start is installing a security system in your home. They’re not as expensive as they used to be and thanks to technology you can even have a wireless system set up for your home that you can take with you anywhere. Also, think about setting up a doorbell camera so that you can see who’s coming by your house throughout the day.
Another more personable tip is to get to know your neighbors and those around you. You don’t need to be best friends with everyone in the neighborhood of course, but simply knowing who you’re living next to can make you feel more comfortable.
Finally, try to think like an intruder and take a walk around your home looking for ways that you can better secure your house. This can also include finding an exit strategy for yourself in the event that there is an intruder.