The 10 Safest Suburbs in America for Families in 2027

Direct Answer

If you want the single safest large-suburb pick nationwide, Naperville, Illinois is the Best Overall — a city of about 150,000 with a violent-crime rate near 0.6 per 1,000 residents, two nationally ranked high schools, and median home prices around $485,000. For families who want that safety without Chicago-suburb price tags, the Best Value pick is Fishers, Indiana, where violent crime sits near 1.0 per 1,000 and the median home price is roughly $340,000.

This list is for parents choosing a primary residence and weighing crime, school ratings, and cost together, across a price range from about $300,000 to over $700,000. Every place below is a real, currently incorporated U.S. Suburb, ranked using FBI/local police crime data, GreatSchools and Niche district ratings, and median home values from Zillow and Redfin.

1. Naperville, Illinois 🏆 BEST OVERALL

Naperville sits about 28 miles west of downtown Chicago and is one of the most studied safe suburbs in the country. Its violent-crime rate of roughly 0.6 per 1,000 residents is far below the national average of about 4 per 1,000, and the city's police department consistently reports property-crime numbers among the lowest for any city its size.

The schools are the second pull. Naperville Central and Naperville North both carry Niche A+ grades, and the feeder districts (203 and 204) score in the top tier statewide for math and reading proficiency. Median home prices around $485,000 buy a four-bedroom in a walkable neighborhood near a Metra line straight into the Loop.

This pick is for families who want big-city access, elite schools, and a downtown with the Riverwalk and dozens of restaurants — and who can absorb Illinois property taxes, which run higher than most states on this list. Naperville is also home to North Central College and was an early national model for community policing, which helps explain the durable low-crime numbers.

The two Metra stations (on the BNSF line) put downtown Chicago about 35 to 45 minutes away by express train, so one parent can work in the Loop while the family lives in a low-density neighborhood.

2. Carmel, Indiana

Carmel, just north of Indianapolis, has built a national reputation on roundabouts (more than 140 of them), low crime, and strong schools. The violent-crime rate is around 0.7 per 1,000, and the city is regularly named among the best places to live in the U.S. By Money and Niche.

Carmel High School is one of the largest in Indiana with roughly 5,200 students and an A+ Niche grade, known for a state-dominant swim program and strong AP participation. Median home prices sit near $430,000, lower than comparable Chicago or Northeast suburbs.

Carmel suits families who want a manicured, master-planned feel — the Arts & Design District and Monon Trail are central to daily life — at Midwest prices. The city's heavy use of roundabouts instead of signaled intersections has been credited with reducing injury crashes, and the Palladium concert hall anchors a walkable Midtown.

Indianapolis jobs are about a 25-minute drive south via US-31 and Meridian Street.

3. Plano, Texas

Plano, north of Dallas, is a larger suburb (about 290,000 people) that still posts low crime for its size: a violent-crime rate near 1.4 per 1,000. Several corporate headquarters (Toyota North America, JCPenney) anchor a stable job base.

Plano ISD is highly rated, and schools like Plano West Senior High earn A grades on Niche with strong college-placement numbers. Median home prices around $470,000 are reasonable given the income levels, and Texas has no state income tax.

This is for families relocating for jobs in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex who want short commutes, abundant housing stock, and no income tax.

4. Fishers, Indiana 💎 BEST VALUE

Fishers, a fast-growing suburb northeast of Indianapolis, repeatedly tops national "best places to live" rankings while staying affordable. Violent crime runs near 1.0 per 1,000, and the median home price of about $340,000 makes it the strongest cost-to-safety trade on this list.

Hamilton Southeastern High School and Fishers High School both score well on Niche (A range), and the Hamilton Southeastern district posts proficiency rates well above the Indiana average. The Nickel Plate District downtown adds walkable dining and an amphitheater.

Fishers is for families who want top-decile safety and schools but cannot stomach $500,000-plus entry prices — you get most of Carmel's profile for less.

5. Cary, North Carolina

Cary, part of the Raleigh–Durham Research Triangle, blends tech jobs with very low crime — a violent-crime rate near 0.9 per 1,000. The town of roughly 180,000 is consistently among the safest mid-sized cities in the Southeast.

Wake County schools serving Cary, including Green Hope High School, earn strong Niche grades, and the area benefits from the Triangle's research-university talent pool. Median home prices sit near $560,000, reflecting steady in-migration.

Cary fits families moving for jobs at SAS, Epic Games, or the Research Triangle Park who want mild weather and short commutes.

6. Irvine, California

Irvine, in Orange County, is routinely named the safest large city in the United States by the FBI's per-capita measures, with a violent-crime rate around 0.5 per 1,000 despite a population over 300,000. The master-planned city was designed around villages, parks, and schools.

Irvine Unified is one of California's top districts; University High School and Northwood High both rank among the state's best with very high test scores. The cost is the catch: median home prices exceed $1.4 million.

Irvine is for families with the budget for Southern California coastal-adjacent living who prioritize safety and academics above all. The city's planned-village design, run in part by the Irvine Company, dedicates land to parks, greenbelts, and schools in nearly every neighborhood, which keeps walkability high and contributes to the consistently low crime figures.

Major employers nearby include Broadcom, Blizzard Entertainment, and the University of California, Irvine, so many families avoid long freeway commutes.

7. Johns Creek, Georgia

Johns Creek, in Atlanta's northern suburbs, has a violent-crime rate near 0.8 per 1,000 and was incorporated in 2006 around an already-affluent, well-educated population. It frequently appears on national safest-city lists.

Northview High School in the Fulton County district is among Georgia's highest-rated, with strong AP and STEM offerings. Median home prices sit near $590,000.

This is for families relocating to metro Atlanta who want a quiet, leafy, high-performing-schools enclave away from the city core.

8. Sammamish, Washington

Sammamish, east of Seattle near Lake Sammamish, posts a violent-crime rate around 0.6 per 1,000 and serves as a bedroom community for Microsoft and Amazon employees. It is small (about 67,000) and heavily residential.

The Lake Washington and Issaquah school districts that serve Sammamish are highly rated; Skyline High School earns top Niche marks. Median home prices are steep at around $1.3 million, reflecting tech-sector incomes.

Sammamish suits dual-income tech families who want forests, trails, and elite schools within commuting range of the Eastside campuses.

9. Leawood, Kansas

Leawood, in the Kansas City metro on the Kansas side, has a violent-crime rate near 0.7 per 1,000 and a reputation as one of the wealthiest, safest communities in the region. Population is around 35,000.

The Blue Valley School District serving Leawood is one of the Midwest's best; Blue Valley North High School posts high graduation and college-readiness rates. Median home prices around $650,000 buy large lots and newer construction.

Leawood is for families in the Kansas City area who want suburban polish, top schools, and a short drive to the Country Club Plaza.

10. Brentwood, Tennessee

Brentwood, south of Nashville in Williamson County, has a violent-crime rate near 0.7 per 1,000 and benefits from Tennessee's lack of a state income tax on wages. Population is about 45,000.

Williamson County schools are the highest-rated in the state; Brentwood High School and Ravenwood both earn A+ Niche grades. Median home prices sit near $1.1 million, pushed up by Nashville's growth.

Brentwood fits families relocating to the Nashville area who want the state's best public schools and rolling, low-density neighborhoods. Williamson County has been the wealthiest county in Tennessee by median household income, and corporate campuses for companies like Mars Petcare and Tractor Supply anchor the local job base.

The trade-off is the price climb: as Nashville has grown, Brentwood and neighboring Franklin have become some of the most expensive zip codes in the state.

How to Choose

• Weight crime by type, not just headline rate. A low violent-crime number matters most for families; check property-crime separately, since affluent suburbs sometimes see more vehicle break-ins.
• Verify the exact school feeder pattern for the address. District ratings are averages — confirm which elementary, middle, and high school a specific home feeds into before buying.
• Compare total cost, not just home price. Illinois and parts of Texas have high property taxes; Tennessee and Texas have no income tax — model the full annual cost for your income.
• Match commute to the real job center. Sammamish and Irvine make sense only if you work the Eastside or Orange County; a long commute erodes the family-time benefit of a safe suburb.
• Visit on a weekday and a weekend. Parks, traffic, and neighborhood feel change; talk to families at the local playground about safety perception versus the statistics.

FAQ

What is the single safest suburb for families on this list? By per-capita violent crime, Irvine, California is the lowest at roughly 0.5 per 1,000, and it has elite schools — but home prices over $1.4 million put it out of reach for many. Naperville is the best balance of safety, schools, and (relative) affordability, which is why it's ranked Best Overall.

Which pick gives the most safety and school quality per dollar? Fishers, Indiana, the Best Value pick. With a roughly $340,000 median home price, low violent crime near 1.0 per 1,000, and A-range schools in the Hamilton Southeastern district, it delivers a profile close to far pricier suburbs.

Are these crime rates comparable across cities? They're drawn from FBI Uniform Crime Reporting and local police data and expressed per 1,000 residents, so they're broadly comparable, but reporting practices vary slightly by department. Use them to rank tiers rather than to split hairs between two cities within 0.1.

Do high-rated school districts guarantee a good fit for my child? No. District ratings reflect averages in test scores and college placement; individual school culture, special-education support, and class sizes vary. Tour the specific assigned schools and ask about programs your child needs.

Bottom Line

For the best overall combination of low crime, top-ranked schools, and Chicago access, Naperville, Illinois is the pick, with violent crime near 0.6 per 1,000 and median homes around $485,000. If budget is the deciding factor, Fishers, Indiana is the Best Value at roughly $340,000 with comparable safety and strong Hamilton Southeastern schools.

Sources

• FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program — agency-level crime data
• Niche — Best Places to Live and school district rankings (2026–2027)
• GreatSchools.org — individual school ratings
• Zillow Home Value Index — median home prices by city
• Redfin Data Center — median sale prices and market trends
• Money / Money.com — Best Places to Live rankings
• U.S. Census Bureau — population estimates
• Local police department annual crime reports (Naperville PD, Irvine PD, Carmel PD)