2020’s Safest Cities in America – WalletHub Study

A "Safe City" is one in which data and technology can be harnessed to keep residents safe. While some studies claim a city is safe because of its low crime rate, others include factors such as the number of auto accidents, the prevalence of severe weather events, and accessibility to healthcare services.

Cities are dense places designed to bring people together. The six-foot rule is impossible to maintain, in a city, all the time. Even while avoiding public transit, people must walk past each other on the sidewalk. Putting two and two together, cities are more dangerous places in a pandemic and the very purpose of cities runs counter to safety at a time like this.

With around half of Americans worried about getting COVID-19, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2020's Safest Cities in America.

To determine where Americans can feel most protected against life’s hazards, including nonphysical forms of danger, they compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 42 key metrics. The data set ranges from COVID-19 cases in the past seven days per 100,000 residents and assaults per capita to the unemployment rate and road quality.

Safest vs. Least Safe

• Irvine, California, has the fewest aggravated assault incidents (per 100,000 residents), 23.58, which is 60.5 times fewer than in Detroit, the city with the most at 1,426.82.
• Port St. Lucie, Florida, has the fewest thefts (per 1,000 residents), 8.74, which is 9.1 times fewer than in Springfield, Missouri, the city with the most at 79.81.
• Washington has the most law-enforcement employees (per 100,000 residents), 641, which is 5.8 times more than in Irvine, California, the city with the fewest at 111.
• St. Paul, Minnesota, has among the fewest pedestrian fatalities (per 100,000 residents), 0.32, which is 24 times fewer than in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the city with the most at 7.67.

WalletHub Q & A

What steps should local authorities take to help reduce the public costs associated with cleanups after major natural disasters? Should flood or other types of insurance be mandatory?

“There are many things that local authorities can do to help reduce the public costs associated with cleanups after a disaster,” said Alessandra Jerolleman, PhD, MPA, CFM, Jacksonville State University. “These include pre-event planning to be certain that the local authorities are prepared to work with the state and the federal government regarding all applicable post-disaster programs. Federal programs, such as Public Assistance, can be complex and require a learning curve in order to meet all requirements for documentation and other practices. A local authority that has invested time in training and building systems in order to be able to track all applicable, reimbursable expenses, and has built relationships with state and federal partners, is going to be better positioned to recoup some measure of their public costs.”

“Within any designated flood plain, flood insurance is mandatory if a property owner has insurance or a mortgage, “said Duane Hagelgans, Millersville University. “The federal government updates its flood maps (I believe) every ten years. Insurance is just one of the answers, and it is reactive. Authorities should do mitigation to reduce the risk of damage before a disaster strikes. Depending on the research, for every dollar spent on pre-disaster mitigation, between four and seven dollars are saved when a disaster strikes. Mitigation of hazards and known risks, which reduce or eliminate the risks are the keys to disaster costs and savings of both life and property.”

What measures can police departments take to increase public trust? How important is it to have a police force that is representative of the local community?

“The best action that municipalities can take is to have strong building and zoning codes that are specific to the disaster risk in their areas,” said Roberta P. Lavin, PhD, FNP-BC, FAAN, University of New Mexico, College of Nursing. “Granted, this is looking forward and is only helpful with new and renovated buildings. Making insurance mandatory is a harder question to answer. You must distinguish between insurance for a large business, a small business, a not-for-profit, and government-owned or operated facility, and a privately owned home/townhouse/condo/property.”

“Although this is a really important question and area, I would be reluctant to comment on something that I feel is outside the core areas of our center and of my own expertise,” said Jeremy Brooks, Columbia University.

What can consumers do to increase their financial literacy, considering sound financial decisions increase a person's financial safety?

“I think most consumers can increase their financial literacy in a few different ways,” said Stanley J. Kania, PhD, Marywood University. “First, they can start by reading financial newsletters and listening to financial podcasts to develop a basic understanding of the financial markets and trends in this industry. Secondly, it is important to seek individual advice. It is a good idea for individuals to talk with a licensed financial adviser about personal finances and financial goals to ensure they are planning properly for long-term security and financial health.”

“The internet is replete with free, digestible, comprehensive financial advice and tools,” said Rebecca A, Rouse, DM, Tulane University, “A simple exploration of these using plain languages and a common search engine will offer the reader all they could want in answering their questions. Individuals are increasingly expected to contribute more to their own survival, security, and safety.”

To read the full report and your city’s rank, please visit:

https://wallethub.com/edu/safest-cities-in-america/41926/