These Are The Safest States You Could Live In For 2025

There are many factors to consider when deciding where to live — from home prices and cost of living to job opportunities and school districts. But one of the most important factors of all when choosing where to settle down is safety. If you're looking to move to one of the safest states in the country, you may want to consider the northeast — specifically Vermont, Massachusetts, or New Hampshire — as these three states are considered the safest places to live in 2025.

A recent study conducted by WalletHub ranked each U.S. state according to 52 different indicators, spanning a variety of categories. As you might imagine, personal crime rates, such as murders, assaults, and break-ins, were a big part of the study. However, it also looked at factors such as financial safety, traffic-related accidents, and preparedness for a natural disaster to get a complete picture of how protected residents are in each state. "The safest states in America protect their residents from harm in a multitude of different ways, from keeping crime rates low and maintaining safe roadways to having strong economies and job markets that prevent people from falling into dangerous financial situations," WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo says. "They have high levels of occupational safety and disaster preparedness, too," he says, adding, "In addition, states are made safer by efforts that individual residents take, such as forming a neighborhood watch or working in firefighting and EMT jobs at high rates."

Vermont earned the number one slot on the list largely due to its low number of violent crimes and thefts — helped by the high number of neighborhood watch groups in the state. The low level of unemployment and high job growth rate it enjoys also make it a financially stable place to live, while the high quality of roads and low traffic-related deaths give drivers an added sense of security. Most Vermont residents seem to agree the top spot was well deserved, with roughly 75% of parents saying they believe they live in safe neighborhoods. 

Massachusetts came in second place thanks to its particularly high level of job security. It also benefited from low crime, including thefts and murders, as well as a low chance of being significantly harmed by a natural disaster. New Hampshire claimed the third spot, buoyed by its very low rates of violence. Over the last two years, the state has had the fewest mass shootings in the country. It also had very low rates of other violent and non-violent crimes, in addition to low levels of unemployment and poverty. Maine and Utah rounded out the top five spots on the list.

It may seem surprising that the four safest states are concentrated in New England. However, WalletHub's Chip Lupo boils it down to two main factors that are prevalent in this region: gun control and financial security. "Several Northeast states have some of the strictest gun control laws in the country. As a result, wealth and economic stability reduce risks, from crime to financial stress, making these states safer overall and more attractive places to live," Lupo tells Realtor.com.