Violent crime has been on the rise in the U.S. in recent years, driven by more criminal activity in some of the nation's urban centers.
But there are cities and towns that are notable for their low crime statistics, according to a new ranking.
Many small towns and suburban areas of the U.S. continue to have low crime rates, particularly when compared to the nation's cities, according to a new report on the nation's 100 safest cities by alarms.org, the official site of the National Council for Home Safety and Security. Such locations comprise the report's top 10 list of safest cities.
But that's not the whole story. The report also found that many cities also have relatively low crime rates compared to the nation's high-crime areas, and in some cases have lower crime rates than many small towns and suburban areas.
"It is not a universal truth that small towns and rural areas are safer than larger cities," the report states. "In fact, many cities are safer and less crime-stricken than numerous isolated small communities in rural areas struggling with poor policing, underachieving school systems, and high unemployment."
These 10 cities, in ascending order, topped the list for safest towns in America:
10. Western Springs, Ill.
The town of 13,391 did not report a single violent crime in 2016. Many business professionals, doctors and lawyers live in the area due to its proximity to Chicago. The median household income is $141,607 and 77.8 percent of resident hold a bachelor’s degree.
9. River Vale Township, N.J.
This suburban community is 4.3 square miles and has about 10,000 residents. Situated in the Pascack Valley in Bergen County, it is conveniently located 20 miles west of New York City. River Vale is one of the towns that did not report a violent crime based on FBI data from 2016.
8. Sleepy Hollow Village, N.Y.
Made famous by the Washington Irving tale, Sleepy Hollow is now a modern village of 10,000 residents located just 25 miles north of New York City. It has a median household income under $75,000.
7. Norton, Mass.
The population of Norton topped 19,031 in 2010. In 2016, the median household income was $98,394. There were 1.49 police officers per 1,000 residents in 2016. Norton is located about 45 minutes from Boston and Rhode Island.
6. Norfolk, Mass.
Norfolk’s population was 11,227 in 2010. There were 1.5 police officers for every 1,000 residents in 2016. Norfolk is located about 30 minutes outside of Boston and is a rural suburban alternative to the big city.
5. Grosse Ile Township, Mich.
Located in Wayne County, Gross Ile Township consists of several islands on the Detroit River. The population was 10,371 in 2010. The islands are conveniently located close to the Detroit metropolitan area and also borders with Ontario, Canada.
4. Chester Township, Ohio
This rural community located in Geauga County did not report a violent crime, according to 2016 FBI data. The county consists of 16 townships, with Chester being the second largest with a population of 10,968. It is located within 15 miles of Lake Erie. There were no violent crimes, robberies or assaults reported in the latest crime data from niche.com
3. Weston, Conn.
Located 45 miles northeast of New York City, the town has about 10,150 residents. Weston has an active arts scene and some well-know residents, including Tom Cruise, the late Eartha Kitt and, according to rumor, Johnny Depp. The town is devoted to open space with hiking trails, parks and 645 acres in the Aspetuck Land Trust.
2. Wayland, Mass.
The median household income in Wayland in 2016 was $158,228. The town is located about 15 miles west of Boston and has a population of 12,994. There were 1.67 police officers for every 1,000 residents in 2016. Wayland is considered to be 98 percent safer than other cities in the U.S. according to www.neighborhoodscout.com.
1. Lewisboro Town, N.Y.
Top-ranked Lewisboro, N.Y., with a population of 12,862, is located within the affluent Westchester County just 58 miles north of New York City. The town had a median household income of $112,462 in 2010, nearly twice that of the nationwide median household income. With a population of 12,411, the town had three police officers for every 1,000 residents in 2016.There have been no violent crimes or robberies reported since 2004.
The full report can be viewed here.
