Where You Can Actually Afford a Safe Neighborhood: 15 Underrated American Towns

2026-01-04 15:00:31

Finding a truly safe place to live in the US that won’t drain your savings might seem impossible—until you look at what some overlooked communities are actually offering. New research into crime statistics and housing costs reveals that dozens of American towns deliver that rare combination of low crime and affordable housing. Among the safest place to live in the us right now, 15 stand out specifically for keeping your cost of living manageable while maintaining excellent safety records.

What’s surprising? Ohio dominates this list with seven entries—more than any other state. These communities range from tiny towns under 11,000 residents to mid-sized cities, but they all share one thing: serious value for people looking to relocate.

The Budget Champions: What Makes These Towns Special

The analysis examined violent crime rates alongside property crime statistics using FBI quarterly crime data, then cross-referenced housing values, mortgage costs, and total annual living expenses. The safest place to live in the us isn’t necessarily expensive—it just requires knowing where to look.

The most affordable option tops out at just $35,549 in annual living costs. The most expensive among the top 15 reaches $45,323 annually. For context, that’s a difference you could find in a single neighborhood within many major cities.

Ranking the 15 Best Options

Why Ohio Leads the Pack

Seven of the safest place to live in the us appear in Ohio alone. These communities combine Midwestern affordability with surprisingly low crime statistics. From New Philadelphia in the north to Hamilton in the southwest, Ohio residents can secure single-family homes averaging $186,000-$313,000 while maintaining some of the best safety profiles in the nation.

What the Data Really Shows

Research compiled from FBI crime statistics, U.S. Census data, housing market databases, and cost-of-living surveys reveals clear patterns. The most economical options cluster under $37,000 annually, while even the pricier entries in this top-15 list remain well below the national average. Violent crime rates across all 15 communities fall between 0.10 and 0.69 per 1,000 residents—substantially lower than major metropolitan areas.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re seeking the deepest discounts like New Philadelphia’s $35,549 annual cost of living, or you prefer slightly larger communities like Columbus, Indiana or Edwardsville, Illinois, these 15 towns prove that affordability and safety don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Your search for a safest place to live in the us with reasonable costs starts here.

Data sources: FBI Quarterly Crime Statistics, U.S. Census American Community Survey, Sperling’s BestPlaces, Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, Zillow Home Value Index (January 2025), Federal Reserve Economic Data, AreaVibes. All data collected as of February 24, 2025.

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