50 Safest and Richest Small Towns To Live in 2026

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America’s safest and richest small towns are tucked away not on the coasts, but in the Midwest. According to a new study from GOBankingRates, 24 Midwest communities — the most out of any U.S. region — ranked among the nation’s 50 safest and richest small towns in 2026.

GOBankingRates determined these rankings by sourcing 1,000 small towns (defined as places with a total population between 1,000 and 10,000 residents) with the highest mean household income from the U.S. Census 2024 5-Year ACS. Additional sourced data included average monthly cost of living and livability index of 75 or greater. For safety, we calculated the crime rate for property crimes and violent crimes per 1,000 residents using each town’s reported crimes and total population. The safest and richest small towns were scored by their average cost of living, property and violent crime rates per 1,000 residents and mean household income, which were weighted at 1.00 apiece and summed and sorted.

Key Findings

• University Park, Maryland, is the nation’s safest and richest small town. It is the only Maryland locale to rank in the top 50, with an average household income of $247,607.
• Three of the nation’s five richest small towns are in the Midwest. They include Kenilworth, Illinois (#2); Huntington Woods, Michigan (#3); and Pleasant Ridge, Michigan (#5). The top five is rounded out with Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.
• Only one Florida town cracked the top 50. Belleair placed at #36 with an average household income of $184,529.

See which small towns rank among the 50 safest and richest in the nation. Also, check out our analysis on 2025’s safest and richest cities in America.

1. University Park, Maryland

• Average household income: $247,607
• Monthly cost of living: $5,730
• Livability: 93
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.424
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 10.598

2. Kenilworth, Illinois

• Average household income: $486,298
• Monthly cost of living: $12,815
• Livability: 82
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.801

3. Huntington Woods, Michigan

• Average household income: $233,441
• Monthly cost of living: $4,832
• Livability: 89
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.321
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.052

4. Jenkintown, Pennsylvania

• Average household income: $170,446
• Monthly cost of living: $4,960
• Livability: 94
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.278
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 10.015

5. Pleasant Ridge, Michigan

• Average household income: $203,485
• Monthly cost of living: $4,541
• Livability: 90
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.781
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.074

6. Ottawa Hills, Ohio

• Average household income: $235,671
• Monthly cost of living: $4,095
• Livability: 88
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.209
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.530

7. Glen Ridge, New Jersey

• Average household income: $298,087
• Monthly cost of living: $8,497
• Livability: 88
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.244
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 11.959

8. Ross, California

• Average household income: $536,025
• Monthly cost of living: $22,165
• Livability: 85
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.880
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 17.158

9. Grandview Heights, Ohio

• Average household income: $174,006
• Monthly cost of living: $5,012
• Livability: 94
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.110
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 21.326

10. Madeira, Ohio

• Average household income: $245,581
• Monthly cost of living: $4,725
• Livability: 85
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.723

11. Purcellville, Virginia

• Average household income: $195,842
• Monthly cost of living: $7,095
• Livability: 89
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.224
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.952

12. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

• Average household income: $221,158
• Monthly cost of living: $4,826
• Livability: 87
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.918
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.580

13. Glencoe, Illinois

• Average household income: $424,521
• Monthly cost of living: $10,631
• Livability: 79
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.236
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.009

14. Shorewood Hills, Wisconsin

• Average household income: $243,191
• Monthly cost of living: $8,253
• Livability: 88
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.393
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 12.541

15. Elm Grove, Wisconsin

• Average household income: $204,464
• Monthly cost of living: $5,836
• Livability: 85
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.959

16. Wyoming, Ohio

• Average household income: $192,392
• Monthly cost of living: $4,499
• Livability: 86
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.926
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.016

17. Lake Bluff, Illinois

• Average household income: $290,230
• Monthly cost of living: $5,592
• Livability: 82
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.363
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.350

18. Narberth, Pennsylvania

• Average household income: $203,416
• Monthly cost of living: $7,371
• Livability: 87
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 10.029

19. Northville, Michigan

• Average household income: $179,018
• Monthly cost of living: $5,550
• Livability: 86
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.169
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.069

20. Sherman, Illinois

• Average household income: $171,596
• Monthly cost of living: $3,711
• Livability: 84
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.967

21. Clyde Hill, Washington

• Average household income: $473,130
• Monthly cost of living: $23,777
• Livability: 82
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.327
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.477

22. Hopkinton, Massachusetts

• Average household income: $304,605
• Monthly cost of living: $7,465
• Livability: 80
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.843
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.429

23. Chatham, New Jersey

• Average household income: $301,281
• Monthly cost of living: $9,477
• Livability: 81
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.210
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.050

24. Dover, Massachusetts

• Average household income: $476,649
• Monthly cost of living: $11,726
• Livability: 75
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.511
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.036

25. Fox Point, Wisconsin

• Average household income: $250,589
• Monthly cost of living: $4,905
• Livability: 81
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.948

26. Edgeworth, Pennsylvania

• Average household income: $326,675
• Monthly cost of living: $7,278
• Livability: 77
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.861

27. Hingham, Massachusetts

• Average household income: $318,365
• Monthly cost of living: $9,322
• Livability: 81
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.259
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 8.042

28. Riverside, Illinois

• Average household income: $175,239
• Monthly cost of living: $5,165
• Livability: 85
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.804
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.807

29. Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan

• Average household income: $220,333
• Monthly cost of living: $4,879
• Livability: 83
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.415
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 10.685

30. Kensington, California

• Average household income: $274,259
• Monthly cost of living: $9,997
• Livability: 84
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.112
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 12.412

31. Sharon, Massachusetts

• Average household income: $205,776
• Monthly cost of living: $6,971
• Livability: 82
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.373
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.399

32. Hanover, New Hampshire

• Average household income: $232,893
• Monthly cost of living: $7,571
• Livability: 81
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.508

33. Olmos Park, Texas

• Average household income: $295,711
• Monthly cost of living: $7,582
• Livability: 79
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.464
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.425

34. Leonia, New Jersey

• Average household income: $180,515
• Monthly cost of living: $6,814
• Livability: 83
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.316
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.839

35. Medina, Washington

• Average household income: $488,829
• Monthly cost of living: $25,802
• Livability: 79
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 9.943

36. Belleair, Florida

• Average household income: $184,529
• Monthly cost of living: $6,951
• Livability: 83
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.219
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 6.567

37. Pennington, New Jersey

• Average household income: $234,993
• Monthly cost of living: $5,891
• Livability: 80
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.686
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.142

38. Fair Haven, New Jersey

• Average household income: $346,619
• Monthly cost of living: $9,966
• Livability: 75
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.165
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 1.814

39. Monte Sereno, California

• Average household income: $483,116
• Monthly cost of living: $24,949
• Livability: 78
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.868
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.236

40. Kohler, Wisconsin

• Average household income: $191,812
• Monthly cost of living: $4,167
• Livability: 87
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 28.025

41. Northfield, Illinois

• Average household income: $264,530
• Monthly cost of living: $7,389
• Livability: 79
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.183
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 7.668

42. Palos Park, Illinois

• Average household income: $221,877
• Monthly cost of living: $5,126 
• Livability: 79
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 5.297

43. Tyrone, Georgia

• Average household income: $180,161
• Monthly cost of living: $4,984
• Livability: 81
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.498
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.611

44. Grosse Pointe, Michigan

• Average household income: $223,226
• Monthly cost of living: $4,876
• Livability: 84
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.115
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 19.692

45. Indian Head Park, Illinois

• Average household income: $178,102
• Monthly cost of living: $4,721
• Livability: 80
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.118

46. Clarendon Hills, Illinois

• Average household income: $219,096
• Monthly cost of living: $6,173
• Livability: 79
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.000
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 4.343

47. Cottleville, Missouri

• Average household income: $175,123
• Monthly cost of living: $4,691
• Livability: 79
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.162
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 0.487

48. Ridgefield, Connecticut

• Average household income: $247,890
• Monthly cost of living: $8,018
• Livability: 78
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 0.241
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.809

49. Medfield, Massachusetts

• Average household income: $264,357
• Monthly cost of living: $8,071
• Livability: 78
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.489
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 2.308

50. Fairway, Kansas

• Average household income: $239,474
• Monthly cost of living: $5,244
• Livability: 78
• Violent crime rate (per 1,000): 1.444
• Property crime rate (per 1,000): 3.852

Explore more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.

Methodology: The top 1,000 small towns (populations between 1,000 and 10,000) with the highest mean household incomes were sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 5-Year ACS. Cost of living was determined using indexes from Sperling’s BestPlaces combined with mortgage data sourced from Zillow Home Value Index for January 2026 and Federal Reserve Economic Data, plus national average expenditure costs for all households via the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. Crime data was sourced from the FBI’s 2024 Crimes Known to Law Enforcement. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes — all small towns with a livability below 75 were removed. Cost of living, income, crime rates and livability were scored, and the towns were sorted to show the richest and safest small towns to live in America. All data is up to date as of March 4, 2026.

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