5 Safest Cities To Buy a Home That Are Worth the Cost
Written by
Angela Mae
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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When it comes to finding the right place to buy a home, safety is paramount.
If money’s no object, you can shop around freely for a city with low crime rates (violent and property) and nice, safe neighborhoods for you and anyone else in your household without worrying about the cost of living.
While there are many safe U.S. cities to choose from, these are some of the safest places that are worth the cost of purchasing property, according to real estate experts.
Palo Alto, California
The average home value in Palo Alto is $3,428,347, as per recent Zillow data. Even with the median household income is $214,118, the cost of buying a home in the city is steep.
Despite this, J.D. Songstad, a real estate expert and owner of MrWestside Real Estate, recommended the city for anyone with safety on the top of their mind.
“The safest cities to buy a home would take into consideration low crime rates, community involvement and quality of life,” he said.
In his experience, Palo Alto meets the criteria. According to Songstad, the city also has good schools, a strong local economy and clean neighborhoods.
On Numbeo, Palo Alto has a low crime index of 38.04. Anything lower than 20 is considered “very low” in crime, while 20 to 40 is considered “low.” CrimeGrade gave Palo Alto an “A” overall crime grade.
Irvine, California
Another city in California that Songstad recommended is Irvine.
“A large portion of my experience makes me believe that cities like Palo Alto, California, and Irvine, California tend to be among some of the safest in the United States,” he said. “These cities boast excellent schools, strong local economies and manicured neighborhoods, all of which contribute to safety and stability.”
In 2023, the City of Irvine website indicated that Irvine was considered one of the safest cities of its size in terms of violent crime. This is based on FBI crime data and is consistent with Numbeo, which reports a crime index of 29.87. Numbeo also gave Irvine a safety index of 70.13, which is considered good.
According to Zillow, the average home value in Irvine is $1,550,608.
Cary, North Carolina
Tim Choate, founder and CEO of RedAwning, Inc., suggested Cary for anyone looking for a place that’s safe to live.
While homes are much less expensive in Cary than they are in, say, Irvine, values are on the rise. The average home value in Cary is $621,910 compared to the state average of $328,715.
Still, the overall safety of the city may be worth the cost. Cary has a crime index of just 19.55 and a safety index of 80.45 on Numbeo. CrimeGrade also gave Cary an overall “A-” crime grade.
Naperville, Illinois
According to Songstad, another safe city to consider buying a home is Naperville, Illinois.
“The Midwest, such as Naperville, Illinois, and Brookfield, Wisconsin, has proved to stand out because of being a low-crime area with active community engagement,” he said.
“I’ve worked with buyers in these areas, and what stands out is that people feel a sense of security when moving to these areas; both have active neighborhood watch programs, great public services and are recognized for being family-friendly.”
On Numbeo, Naperville has an 18.45 crime index score and a high safety index score of 81.55. CrimeGrade listed Naperville’s overall crime grade as “A-.”
As far as prices go, the average home value is $564,098. Considering the high overall safety rating and the fact that prices aren’t much higher in Naperville compared to other parts of the country, this is a city worth considering.
Brookfield, Wisconsin
Home prices in Brookfield, Wisconsin are $472,533 on average, making it the most affordable U.S. city on this list.
While Numbeo doesn’t have crime statistics about Brookfield, CrimeGrade gave it a “B-” rating. If you’re trying to keep to a budget and still want to live someplace safe, check out this Midwestern town.
The Bottom Line
Be aware that certain neighborhoods in any city, even the ones on this list, can have problematic areas.
Always do your research and, if possible, enlist the help of a local real estate agent to work with you in your home search. If you can, plan a visit there before committing to a big move.
“Beyond mere crime statistics, safety is often tied to the social fabric of the city,” said Songstad. “The safest places tend to be those with involved communities and a high standard of public services. Always consider local crime data but also take a walk through neighborhoods and talk to residents for a real feel of the area.”
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