❌

Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Before yesterdayMain stream

The 10 most unsafe states to live in, ranked

29 January 2025 at 05:32
Shreveport, Louisiana, skyline over the Red River at dusk.
Louisiana ranks as one of the least safe places in the US, according to WalletHub.

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

  • WalletHub released a report of the safest states in the US.
  • It ranked states based on 52 safety indicators, including work safety and emergency preparedness.
  • Louisiana came in last, followed by Mississippi and Texas.

Not all states are equal when it comes to safety.

And while FBI data from 2023 and 2024 indicates declining crime rates nationwide, what it means to be safe these days is not limited to reduced homicides, assaults, and robberies.

Some states feel safer than others due to stronger financial security or how well-prepared they are for natural disasters.

WalletHub released a report in October 2024 ranking the safest states in the US based on 52 factors in five key areas: personal and residential safety, financial safety, road safety, workplace safety, and emergency preparedness.

Each state was given an overall score out of 100 based on its average rating across the five categories, and all the states were then ranked based on these scores. From this list, Business Insider identified the 10 states with the lowest scores to determine the most unsafe states in the US.

The data used in the report was sourced from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, TransUnion, and US Fire Administration, among other sources.

Here are the 10 most unsafe states in the US, according to WalletHub.

10. South Carolina
Falls Park in Greenville, South Carolina.
Falls Park in Greenville, South Carolina.

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

The Southern state ranked 42nd in personal and residential safety and 46th for road safety in WalletHub's report.

For financial safety and emergency preparedness, it ranked 32nd and 33rd, respectively. The state also has the most fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel.

Despite its poor rankings in most categories, the state did well in workplace safety, ranking 18th out of all states.

According to a September 2024 report by the South Carolina Fraternal Order of Police, the state also saw a 5.8% decrease in violent crime between 2022 and 2023.

9. Georgia
Piedmont Park in Atlanta.
Piedmont Park in Atlanta.

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

The Peach State is the ninth most unsafe state in the US, according to WalletHub's report.

Georgia ranked 36th on the emergency preparedness scale, third lowest in financial safety, and 19th worst in road safety. It also has the third-highest share of the uninsured population.

However, the state fares better in personal residential and workplace safety, ranking 33rd and 25th, respectively.

8. Colorado
Denver skyline.
Colorado is the eighth least safe state in the US.

Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock

Colorado has maintained its ranking from 2023, retaining the eighth position.

The Centennial State scored poorly in two categories: personal residential safety, where it ranked 44th, and workplace safety, where it was 43rd overall.

According to the Council of Criminal Justice, Colorado Springs had a 56% increase in homicides β€” the largest jump among other cities in the US β€” between 2023 and 2024.

However, Colorado excelled in financial safety, ranking 16th, and is near the middle of the pack for emergency preparedness, in the 28th spot.

7. Alabama
Port harbor in Mobile, Alabama.
Port Harbor in Mobile, Alabama.

nektofadeev/Shutterstock

Alabama, which ranked sixth in 2023, moved up a spot in 2024.

The state ranks ninth lowest in financial safety among all 50 states and eighth lowest on the emergency preparedness scale. It also ranked 37th overall for workplace safety and 32nd for personal residential safety.

While homicides declined across Alabama in 2024, Birmingham, the second-most populated city, saw a surge in shootings, surpassing 2023's total and nearing an all-time record of 148, last seen in 1933, per AL.com.

In terms of road safety, the state performed slightly better, ranking 26th overall.

6. Oklahoma
Oklahoma City capitol.
Oklahoma City capitol.

Niklas Schorrer/Shutterstock

Oklahoma moved from seventh in 2023 to the sixth-most unsafe state in the US in 2024.

This is partly due to its weak performance in emergency preparedness, where it ranked 44th, and in road safety, where it ranked 38th.

The state also has the second-highest share of the uninsured population and the fourth-lowest percentage of adults with rainy-day funds alongside Arkansas.

In a separate WalletHub report, the Sooner State was also ranked one of the worst states for women in 2024.

5. Florida
Sunny Isles Beach in Miami.
Sunny Isles Beach in Miami.

Artiom Photo/Shutterstock

Florida maintained its ranking from 2023.

The Sunshine State ranked the fourth worst state for emergency preparedness and was also in the bottom 10 in the financial (44th), road (41st), and workplace safety (43rd) categories. It performed better in personal residential safety, ranking 35th overall.

NBC 6 reported in September that Miami β€”Β among the most popular tourist destinations in Florida β€”Β had the highest rate of property crime: 8,557 incidents per 100,000 residents, based on FBI data from 2022.

4. Arkansas
Clinton Presidential Park in Arkansas.
Clinton Presidential Park in Arkansas.

Nina Alizada/Shutterstock

Arkansas ranked the sixth lowest in personal residential and road safety. It was also the fifth-worst state in the US for workplace safety and ranked 36th in financial safety.

The state also has the fourth-most assaults per capita β€” alongside Tennessee, Alaska, and New Mexico β€” and the fourth-lowest percentage of adults with rainy-day funds.

3. Texas
Dallas Hall at Southern Methodist University in University Park.
Dallas Hall at Southern Methodist University in University Park.

Leonid Andronov/Shutterstock

WalletHub ranked Texas as the third least safe state to live in the US because of its low road safety and emergency preparedness.

The state has grappled with roadway fatalities in both rural and urban areas. Dallas, for example, experienced 207 traffic fatalities in 2024, an increase from the 205 deaths that were recorded in 2023, according to an analysis of Texas Department of Transportation data by NBC 5 Investigates.

The Lone Star State also has the highest share of the uninsured population.

However, it fared better in workplace safety, ranking 32nd.

2. Mississippi
The Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi.
The Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, Mississippi.

Chad Robertson Media/Shutterstock

Mississippi retained its spot as the second most unsafe state in the US.

It's the worst state for road safety and emergency preparedness, ranking 50th in each category. It's also the second worst for workplace safety.

Compared to other states, Mississippi, which has experienced extreme droughts, rising sea levels, and dangerous heat levels in recent years, has the fourth-highest total loss amount from climate disasters per capita. Yet it has a high share of uninsured people and the second-lowest percentage of adults with rainy day funds.

It also has the second most fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel and the third most fatal occupational injuries per total workers.

1. Louisiana
Louisiana State Capitol.
Louisiana State Capitol.

RebeccaDLev/Shutterstock

For two years in a row, Louisiana has been the least safe state in the US, according to WalletHub.

The Pelican State continues to be at the bottom of the safety index, partly because it is the second-least safe regarding road safety and on the emergency preparedness scale. It is also the 11th worst in personal residential and workplace safety.

Positioned 33rd, it fared relatively better in road safety rankings.

Although it has the highest number of law enforcement employees per capita β€”Β a position it shares with Wyoming and New Jersey β€”Β Louisiana has the fifth-most assaults per capita.

Along with Mississippi and the Dakotas, the state ranked 47th for having one of the highest total per capita losses from climate disasters.

Read the original article on Business Insider

The 10 safest states to live in the US, ranked

16 January 2025 at 12:14
Lake Champlain in Vermont.
Lake Champlain in Vermont, which was recently ranked as the safest state to live in the US by WalletHub.

Sneaky Buddy/Shutterstock

  • WalletHub released a report of the safest states in the US.
  • It ranked states based on 52 safety indicators, including work safety and emergency preparedness.
  • Vermont was ranked the safest state in the US, followed by New Hampshire and Maine.

With a rise in climate-related disasters β€”Β from hurricanes and storms to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles β€” one thing is clear: Safety is no longer limited to living in a crime-free neighborhood.

These days, safety has taken on a new meaning, encompassing a range of factors from emergency preparedness to financial stability.

Taking into account these evolving priorities, WalletHub released a report in October listing the safest states in the US based on 52 factors in five key areas: personal and residential safety, financial safety, road safety, workplace safety, and emergency preparedness.

Each state was given an overall score out of 100 based on its average rating across the five categories, and all the states were then ranked based on these scores.

The data used in the report was sourced from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, TransUnion, and US Fire Administration, among other sources.

From Vermont and Maine to Utah and Wyoming, here are the 10 safest states in the US, according to WalletHub.

10. Wyoming
The Moulton Barn in Grand Teton National Park Wyoming at Morman Row near Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
The Moulton Barn in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Bob Pool/Shutterstock

Wyoming, which also came 10th in 2023, ranked relatively high (15th) on both personal and residential and financial safety for 2024.

In all other categories β€” road and workplace safety and emergency preparedness β€” it ranked 21st. Casper, the second largest city in the state was also named the second safest city in the US in a separate study by WalletHub.

However, the state has the seventh-highest bullying incidence rate and the second-worst fatal occupational injuries per total workers, WalletHub reported.

9. Rhode Island
Castle Hill Lighthouse at twilight during the golden hour in Newport, Rhode Island.
Castle Hill Lighthouse in Newport, Rhode Island.

Marianne Campolongo/Shutterstock

Rhode Island has also retained its ninth spot on the list.

The state ranked eighth on emergency preparedness scale and 11th on road safety. Its ranking for personal residential safety, though, dropped to 19, compared to eight in 2023.

Still, the state has the fewest fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel, the fourth-fewest assaults per capita, the third-lowest bullying incidence rate, and the fourth-lowest share of uninsured residents, per WalletHub.

The state did not fare as well on the workplace safety ranking, standing 38th, despite having the fewest fatal occupational injuries per total workers.

8. Minnesota
Downtown Minneapolis with the Third Avenue Bridge over the Mississippi River.
The Third Avenue Bridge in downtown Minneapolis.

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

Minnesota, too, has maintained its ranking from 2023, retaining the eighth position.

The Midwestern state scored highly under three categories: financial safety, where it ranked ninth among all states; road safety, where it ranked second; and workplace safety, where it stood sixth.

It also has the third lowest fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel and the fifth-lowest share of uninsured residents and fatal occupational injuries per total workers.

7. Connecticut
Aerial drone shot of Hartford, Connecticut, showing the main road into the city.
Hartford, Connecticut.

JTMC/Shutterstock

Connecticut, which ranked sixth in 2023, has swapped spots with Hawaii, previously ranked seventh.

The Constitution State, has the second best personal and residential safety among all 50 states. It is also the 16th safest in terms of emergency preparedness and 20th in road safety.

In addition to its high rankings, when compared to other states, it has the third-fewest assaults per capita, third-highest percentage of adults with rainy day funds, and, like Rhode Island, the second fewest fatal occupational injuries per total workers.

6. Hawaii
Makena Beach in Maui, Hawaii.
Makena Beach in Maui, Hawaii.

Pierre Leclerc/Shutterstock

Hawaii moved from seventh in 2023 to the sixth-safest state in the US in 2024.

This improvement is partly due to its strong performance in financial safety, where it ranked sixth, as well as in personal and residential safety and emergency preparedness, both ranking 11th.

The state also stands out for having the fifth-lowest rate of assaults per capita and the highest percentage of adults with rainy-day funds.

5. Utah
Salt Lake City skyline during sunset.
Salt Lake City skyline during sunset.

Nick Fox/Shutterstock

Utah, the fourth-safest state in 2023, moved down one spot, ranking fifth in 2024.

The Beehive State ranked No.1 among all states in workplace safety and fourth in emergency preparedness. It also fared well in road safety, ranking seventh overall.

Additionally, the state has the second-lowest per capita losses from climate disasters, which means it suffers relatively low monetary losses from events like hurricanes, floods, or wildfires when calculated per person.

4. Massachusetts
Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

Steve Rosenbach/Shutterstock

Massachusetts ranked among the top 10 in at least four categories, including third-highest in personal and residential and road safety.

It was also the fourth-best state in the US for financial safety and ranked 10th in emergency preparedness.

It's also the state with the second-fewest fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles of travel, the fifth-lowest bullying incidence rate, the lowest share of uninsured residents, and the fourth-highest percentage of adults with rainy-day funds, per WalletHub's report.

3. Maine
Fort Williams in Portland, Maine.
Fort Williams in Portland, Maine.

Fotogro/Shutterstock

WalletHub ranked Maine as the third-safest state to live in the US because of its high financial, personal and residential safety rankings. The state has one of the lowest unemployment rates and one of the strongest job growth rates in the country.

According to the report, the state also has one of the lowest crime rates in the country, with the second-fewest aggravated assaults and third-fewest thefts per capita. Between June 2022 and June 2024, it also had the second-fewest mass shootings.

In addition to its strong safety ranking, the Pine Tree State also has a very low risk of natural disasters.

2. New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

The Granite State, known for its natural beauty, ranked second on WalletHub's safety index.

It topped the rankings in personal and residential safety thanks to its low rates of violence, a high number of neighborhood watch groups per capita, and strong financial safety.

New Hampshire also secured second place in financial safety and ranked third overall in emergency preparedness. It has the fewest assaults per capita and the lowest unemployment rate, alongside South Dakota, North Dakota, Vermont, and Hawaii.

However, the state also has the sixth-highest bullying incidence rate in the country.

1. Vermont
The state house in Vermont.
The Vermont State House.

meunierd/Shutterstock

Vermont has been the safest state in the US on WalletHub's index for two years in a row.

The Green Mountain State has maintained its top position, in part because it is the No. 1 state in the country for financial safety β€”Β WalletHub reported it has one of the country's lowest employment rates and one of the strongest job growth rates.

Vermont also came second in workplace safety and fourth in road safety, with the report chalking this up, in part, to "good driving behavior": The state has the lowest percentage of drivers who've used a phone behind the wheel, per WalletHub.

It was also in the top 10 among the two other categories, ranking sixth in personal and residential safety and ninth in emergency preparedness.

Read the original article on Business Insider

❌
❌