The 10 safest states in the US — and the 10 least safe - Business Insider

October 7, 2026 Malcolm Knoll Business

The Safest and Least Safe States in the US - Business Insider

By Talia Lakritz

Oct 6, 2026, 8:28 PM GMT+2

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Safe States vs. Less Safe States

Safety is multifaceted, encompassing various aspects beyond crime rates. Emergency preparedness, financial stability, and road safety all play a role in how secure individuals feel.

WalletHub's report, released on Monday, analyzed all 50 US states, ranking them from safest to least safe. The study considered 52 indicators across five categories:

  • Personal and residential safety
  • Financial safety
  • Road safety
  • Workplace safety
  • Emergency preparedness

Top 10 Safest States:

  1. Vermont - Known for its low unemployment rate (2.7%) and few identity theft complaints.
  2. New Hampshire - Boasts a strong financial position and excellent road safety.
  3. Maine - Features a well-organized emergency response system.
  4. Montana - With a low crime rate and robust workplace safety measures.
  5. New Jersey - Strong financial safety and good emergency preparedness.
  6. Minnesota - Impressive personal and residential safety, and robust road safety.
  7. Massachusetts - Solid financial safety and good workplace safety.
  8. Connecticut - High standard in personal and residential safety, and emergency preparedness.
  9. Rhode Island - Well-prepared for emergencies and good financial safety.
  10. Iowa - Low crime rates and a strong economy contribute to its safety ranking.

Top 10 Least Safe States:

  1. Alabama - High unemployment rate and a significant number of reported identity thefts.
  2. Louisiana - Struggles with high crime rates and poor emergency preparedness.
  3. Mississippi - Suffers from a high poverty rate and unemployment, impacting financial safety.
  4. Arkansas - Poor road safety and high rates of job loss.
  5. West Virginia - Low median credit scores and high unemployment.
  6. Kentucky - Struggles with high crime rates and financial instability.
  7. Oklahoma - High traffic fatalities and low road quality.
  8. Nevada - Struggles with high unemployment and poor workplace safety.
  9. Florida - Despite a sunny climate, it faces challenges with high crime rates.
  10. New Mexico - Low emergency preparedness and a high poverty rate.

WalletHub used data from various sources, including the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, to compile its rankings.

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