Top 10 Safest Mid-Size Cities in America in 2027
Top 10 Safest Mid-Size Cities in America in 2027
Direct Answer
For 2027, Naperville, Illinois ranks as the Best Overall safest mid-size city, with a violent-crime rate near 0.7 per 1,000 residents (roughly a quarter of the national average) across a population of about 150,000. The Best Value pick is Round Rock, Texas, which pairs low crime with a median home price near $430,000 and no state income tax, stretching a household budget further than most safe suburbs.
This list is for families and professionals who want low crime in a city large enough to have real jobs, hospitals, and amenities, defined here as populations roughly 75,000 to 250,000. Cost of living ranges from below-average in Texas to above-average in the Northeast. Every city is real, ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data, local police statistics, and per-capita violent- and property-crime rates.
1. Naperville, Illinois 🏆 BEST OVERALL
Naperville, a city of about 150,000 west of Chicago, repeatedly lands on national "safest cities" lists. Its violent-crime rate sits near 0.7 per 1,000 residents, and property crime runs around 9 per 1,000, both far below national figures.
The city's safety pairs with strong schools (Naperville Community Unit District 203 and Indian Prairie District 204 are highly rated) and a vibrant downtown along the Riverwalk. The median home price is around $500,000, reflecting demand for that combination.
Naperville is for families who want big-city access (Chicago is a 40-minute train ride) without big-city crime, and who can absorb a higher housing cost in exchange. The city pairs its safety record with one of the lowest reported rates of violent incidents for any U.S. City above 100,000 residents, and its police department is nationally accredited.
Strong libraries, a well-funded park district, and a low unemployment rate round out the quality-of-life picture that keeps Naperville at the top of national rankings year after year.
2. Round Rock, Texas 💎 BEST VALUE
Round Rock, population roughly 130,000 just north of Austin, posts a violent-crime rate near 1.3 per 1,000 and benefits from a strong local economy anchored by Dell's headquarters. The median home price sits around $430,000, and Texas levies no state income tax.
Property crime is moderate at about 15 per 1,000, and the city's school district (Round Rock ISD) is well regarded. Job growth from the Austin tech corridor keeps the area economically healthy.
Round Rock is the value choice because you get genuine safety, strong job access, and a no-income-tax state at a lower all-in cost than the Northeast or California options below. The city's cost of living sits near the national average, and it has invested heavily in trails, sports complexes, and a revitalized historic downtown.
With Austin's tech corridor a short drive south, residents get major-metro opportunity without major-metro crime or housing costs.
3. Cary, North Carolina
Cary, with about 180,000 residents in the Raleigh-Durham Research Triangle, is one of the safest cities of its size in the country, with a violent-crime rate around 0.8 per 1,000. Property crime is low at roughly 11 per 1,000.
The median home price is near $550,000, supported by Research Triangle Park jobs in tech and biotech. Wake County schools serving Cary are strong, and the city invests heavily in parks and greenways.
Cary suits professionals and families drawn to the Triangle's job market who want a polished, low-crime suburb with four-season weather. The town's median household income is high, and its unemployment rate stays low thanks to the biotech and tech employers nearby. Cary consistently appears on national "best places to live" lists alongside its safety rankings, reflecting strong planning, abundant greenways, and well-maintained public spaces.
4. Irvine, California
Irvine, a master-planned city of about 310,000 in Orange County (just over the mid-size line but consistently cited), has been ranked the safest city of its size in the U.S. For nearly two decades by the FBI data, with a violent-crime rate near 0.6 per 1,000.
The trade-off is cost: the median home price exceeds $1.3 million. The University of California, Irvine, anchors a stable, educated population, and the Irvine Unified School District is among California's best.
Irvine is for higher-income families who place safety and schools above affordability and want Southern California's climate. The city's master-planned villages, each built around its own schools and parks, contribute to the low crime by design, with strong community policing and well-lit, walkable neighborhoods.
Year-round mild weather and proximity to beaches add to the draw, though buyers must accept some of the highest housing costs in the country.
5. Frisco, Texas
Frisco, population around 220,000 north of Dallas, combines rapid growth with a violent-crime rate near 0.9 per 1,000. The median home price sits around $650,000, and the city has become a corporate-relocation magnet.
Property crime runs about 13 per 1,000, and Frisco ISD is highly rated. The city hosts the Dallas Cowboys' headquarters and a growing sports-and-entertainment district.
Frisco fits families wanting newer housing stock, strong schools, and a booming North Texas economy, with no state income tax. The city has been one of the fastest-growing in the nation for a decade, yet it has kept crime low through heavy investment in its police force and well-planned development.
Its parks, sports venues, and corporate campuses give families both jobs and amenities within the city limits.
6. Gilbert, Arizona
Gilbert, a city of about 270,000 in metro Phoenix, has long ranked among the safest cities of its size, with a violent-crime rate near 1.0 per 1,000. Property crime is low for the region at roughly 12 per 1,000.
The median home price is around $500,000. Gilbert transformed from farmland into a family-oriented suburb with strong schools, parks, and a revitalized Heritage District downtown.
Gilbert works for families who want warm weather, newer neighborhoods, and metro-Phoenix job access at a cost below California or the Northeast. It is regularly ranked among the safest cities in the country relative to its size, and its rapid growth has been matched by investment in parks, libraries, and public safety.
The dry, sunny climate appeals to retirees and families alike, with the trade-off being intense summer heat.
7. League City, Texas
League City, population about 120,000 between Houston and Galveston, posts a violent-crime rate near 1.0 per 1,000 and property crime around 13 per 1,000. The median home price is roughly $370,000, one of the lowest among genuinely safe mid-size cities.
Proximity to NASA's Johnson Space Center and Houston's medical and energy economy gives residents strong job access. Clear Creek ISD serves the area well.
League City is for buyers who want Gulf-region affordability, no state income tax, and low crime within reach of a major metro. The city sits along Galveston Bay, giving residents marinas, waterfront parks, and boating access, and its cost of living runs below the national average.
Hurricane exposure is the main regional risk, so buyers should factor flood insurance into the budget.
8. Carmel, Indiana
Carmel, a city of about 100,000 north of Indianapolis, frequently appears on "best places to live" and "safest" lists, with a violent-crime rate near 0.6 per 1,000. The median home price is around $470,000.
Carmel is known for its roundabout-heavy street design (which improves traffic safety), a strong arts district, and top-ranked Carmel Clay Schools. Property crime is low at roughly 14 per 1,000.
Carmel suits Midwest families who want a polished, walkable suburb with low crime and a lower cost of living than the coasts. The city's investment in roundabouts has measurably cut serious traffic injuries, and its arts-and-design district anchors a genuine downtown. With strong schools, low crime, and a lower price point than the coasts, Carmel frequently tops national "best places to live" rankings outright.
9. Sammamish, Washington
Sammamish, population about 67,000 east of Seattle, sits at the low end of the mid-size range but earns inclusion with a violent-crime rate near 0.4 per 1,000, among the lowest in the nation. Property crime is also very low at roughly 8 per 1,000.
The median home price is high, around $1.4 million, reflecting proximity to Microsoft and Seattle tech jobs. Lake Washington School District schools are strong.
Sammamish is for affluent Pacific Northwest families who prioritize safety and schools and can absorb steep housing costs. The city's forested plateau setting, lake access, and proximity to major tech employers make it a magnet for high-income households. Washington's lack of a state income tax partly offsets the housing cost, though buyers should expect long winters of gray, wet weather.
10. Fishers, Indiana
Fishers, a city of about 100,000 in the Indianapolis suburbs, rounds out the list with a violent-crime rate near 0.7 per 1,000 and property crime around 12 per 1,000. The median home price is near $420,000.
Fishers has invested in a walkable downtown (the Nickel Plate District), strong Hamilton Southeastern Schools, and a growing tech-and-business base. It is a frequent companion to neighboring Carmel on national rankings.
Fishers fits families who want Carmel-level safety and schools at a slightly lower price point, with easy Indianapolis access. The city has branded itself a "smart, vibrant, entrepreneurial" community and backed it with a tech incubator, events programming, and parks. Its low crime, strong schools, and moderate cost of living make it one of the most-recommended Midwest suburbs for young families.
How to Choose
- Look at the violent-crime rate per 1,000, not raw totals. Larger cities will have more incidents in absolute numbers; the per-capita rate is what tells you how safe daily life actually is.
- Decide what "mid-size" job access you need. Naperville (Chicago), Cary (Research Triangle), and Round Rock (Austin) put you near major job markets; that matters if you or a spouse still works.
- Weigh cost of living against safety. Irvine and Sammamish are extremely safe but expensive; Texas and Indiana cities deliver similar safety at far lower housing costs.
- Check the school districts by name. Naperville 203/204, Carmel Clay, Frisco ISD, and Cary's Wake County schools are the real draw for families; verify boundaries before buying.
- Confirm current data with local police. National rankings lag a year or two; pull the city's most recent annual crime report to confirm the trend holds in 2027.
FAQ
What counts as a "mid-size" city in this ranking? This list uses populations roughly between 75,000 and 250,000, with a couple of slightly larger master-planned cities like Irvine and Frisco included because they consistently top national safety data. The goal is cities big enough for real jobs and hospitals but not major metros.
Why do so many of the safest cities have high home prices? Safety, strong schools, and job access drive demand, which pushes up housing costs in places like Naperville, Irvine, and Sammamish. The Texas and Indiana cities show you can still find low crime at more moderate prices.
Are Texas cities really that safe given the state's size? Yes, the specific suburbs here, Round Rock, Frisco, and League City, post violent-crime rates near or below 1.3 per 1,000, well under the national average. Statewide figures differ from these well-resourced suburban cities.
How current is the crime data used here? Figures draw from the most recent FBI Uniform Crime Reporting releases and local police annual reports available going into 2027. Because national data lags, confirm the latest year directly with each city's police department before deciding.
Bottom Line
For 2027, Naperville, Illinois is the Best Overall safest mid-size city, combining a violent-crime rate near 0.7 per 1,000 with top schools and Chicago access. Round Rock, Texas is the Best Value, delivering genuine safety, strong job access, and no state income tax at a median home price near $430,000.
Match the city's job market and cost to your own situation before committing.
Sources
- FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program — Crime in the United States data
- Local police department annual crime reports (Naperville, Irvine, Cary, and others)
- U.S. Census Bureau — population estimates for cities
- Zillow / Redfin — median home-price data by city
- Niche.com — city and school-district safety and quality rankings
- WalletHub — annual "Safest Cities in America" analysis
- GreatSchools.org — school-district ratings