Is the United States really a safe place?
The United States prides itself on being the biggest and the best country in the world, and many Americans would certainly agree that their country is great in most ways. However, there are some who believe that the U.S. isn’t as safe as it used to be, and that other countries may be safer to live in now than the U.S. If you’re thinking about moving to another country, consider these five things before you do so.
Violent crime in the US
The good news is that crime has declined significantly over time. The bad news is that there are still plenty of crimes to go around, with most violent crime occurring in densely populated areas. If you’re looking for safety, head out into rural America—but if you plan on visiting New York City or Los Angeles, prepare yourself for some serious safety concerns. There are more than 200 million guns in circulation in the US and violence rates tend to be highest where guns are most prevalent. So while violent crime rates might not be extremely high right now, they could increase again without tighter gun control laws.
Can crime rates be considered high when compared to other countries?
We have all heard about how bad crime rates are in America. But, is that actually true when we compare crime rates in other countries around the world? Many people will point to countries like Italy and France as having lower crimes, but does that mean that it’s safer to live there then it is here in America? The reality is that we have not been hearing about much violence from those countries. This means that many people who are looking at them would believe it is safer for them to live there. That idea of safety is important for us to be thinking about as well. We do not want everyone moving away from our country just because they feel it isn’t as safe anymore.
Comparing state crime levels from FBI data
To start, it’s easiest to examine crime rates in particular states. The FBI tracks two different sets of data for every state, both for 2014 and 2015: violent crimes per 100,000 residents (including murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault) and property crimes per 100,000 residents (including burglary, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft). Both lists include arson. Crime is not distributed evenly across geographic areas: Some cities have far higher rates than their surrounding suburbs or counties. For example, just four municipalities – Chicago; Detroit; Flint and Rockford – account for 25 percent of all violent crime in Michigan. But looking at cities can distort your view when they’re outliers because there may be safer communities nearby.
No correlation between population density and violent crime rate
If you ever watch crime dramas on TV, it might make you think that more densely populated areas have higher levels of crime. However, U.S. Census Bureau data shows that there is no correlation between population density and violent crime rate, meaning places with high population densities do not necessarily have high rates of violent crime, and vice versa. In fact, some studies suggest that living in lower-density neighborhoods can actually contribute to criminal behavior due to isolation from social structures (such as schools and businesses) or opportunities for jobs or hobbies. So maybe moving somewhere less densely populated isn’t such a bad idea after all…
Information about gun control in America
If you’re looking for safety in America, it’s clear that there are some places that are much safer than others. Which is not to say there aren’t crimes and dangerous things in these places; just look at Chicago if you need proof of that. But if you’re looking for somewhere where strangers don’t go around randomly murdering each other, and your odds of being robbed or assaulted are actually pretty low, these cities offer it: #5 Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC #4 Honolulu, HI #3 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL #2 Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill NC #1 San Jose-Sunnyvale CA
Understanding murder rates by U.S. city, county, and state
Well, that’s a loaded question, isn’t it? After all, we live in an increasingly complex world where security and risk are unavoidable. No matter where you go – or stay – there will always be something to worry about. Whether you live in Florida or New York City; Chicago or Denver; Seattle or San Diego…there will always be dangers and threats. There is no way around it…so accept it and learn how to navigate your environment with expertise. This guide is meant to make you feel more secure when traveling to different parts of America by providing a deeper understanding of each region’s unique risks, issues, crimes rates and statistics.
Putting it all together – The Safe Places To Live In America
While there’s no easy answer, and it depends on your individual risk tolerance, there are some states that are safer than others. It also depends on your definition of safety – is it personal safety (low crime rates), financial safety (low taxes) or economic opportunity (cheap housing). There are plenty of sources for America’s safest cities, but we’ve put together our own for you to consider. In general we’ve focused on mid-sized cities with strong economies and higher populations. While you don’t have to choose a city in each category (that would be too much work), they should provide good information as to what factors matter most to you when considering where to live.