It’s probably no shock that New York City didn’t top the list of safest US cities — but at least it’s not the worst.
In a WalletHub report ranking the safety of more than 180 US cities, NYC landed an unimpressive 117th place, highlighting that the Big Apple has more than just high rents and packed subways to worry about.
The study analyzed 41 indicators of safety — everything from violent crime and traffic fatalities to financial stability, natural disaster risk and health coverage.
The results show that feeling safe in a city today goes far beyond avoiding dark alleyways — it means financial resilience, protection from fraud, access to healthcare, and infrastructure to withstand natural catastrophes.
Despite a robust police presence and some recent gains in certain crime metrics, New York City still ranks in the bottom half of the nation in overall safety.
The WalletHub report factored in a mix of physical and financial threats — including uninsured rates, poverty, unemployment, and risks from natural disasters — and NYC’s middling performance paints a worrying picture.
In particular, the city continues to struggle with affordability. The high cost of living puts financial safety at risk for many residents, especially when it comes to housing and healthcare.
The threat of inflation, rising mortgage costs, and economic instability weighs heavily on the safety score, not just traditional crime metrics.
If there’s any consolation for New Yorkers, it’s that some major U.S. cities are faring significantly worse when it comes to keeping their residents safe:
Bottom 10 Least Safe Cities in the U.S.
- New Orleans, LA
- Memphis, TN
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Detroit, MI
- Baltimore, MD
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Houston, TX
- San Bernardino, CA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Cleveland, OH
These cities tend to suffer from a combination of high violent crime, elevated poverty rates, and systemic financial challenges like low credit scores, poor access to insurance, and higher risks of homelessness or joblessness.
“When people think about safety in a city, their minds probably immediately go to things like the crime rate, auto fatality rate, or risk of natural disasters,” Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst, said in a statement.
“The safest cities in America protect residents from these threats of bodily harm and property damage, but on top of that, they also help secure people’s financial safety. Financial safety includes things like minimizing the risk of fraud and identity theft, keeping the population employed and insured, and combating homelessness.”
Mid-sized cities with strong financial metrics and low crime lead the way.
Top 5 Safest Cities in the U.S.
- Warwick, RI
- Overland Park, KS
- Burlington, VT
- Juneau, AK
- Yonkers, NY
While New York City doesn’t rank among the most dangerous places in the US, its 117th position shows it’s far from the safest — but that’s no surprise.
