Chandler, Gilbert and Scottsdale are among the 40 safest cities in America, according to a new WalletHub study that evaluated 182 U.S. cities across 41 indicators of safety.
Chandler earned the highest ranking among Arizona cities, coming in at No. 26 nationally, followed by Gilbert at No. 31 and Scottsdale at No. 40.
The findings highlight the East Valley’s strong showing in a national comparison that looks beyond traditional crime statistics to consider financial security, natural disasters and overall community safety.
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WalletHub analyzed everything from traffic fatalities and assaults per capita to unemployment rates and the percentage of residents without health insurance.
The study recognizes that safety involves more than avoiding crime. Financial instability, natural disasters and other risks can significantly affect residents’ quality of life.
“When people think about safety in a city, their minds probably immediately go to things like the crime rate, auto fatality rate or risk of natural disasters,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “The safest cities in America protect residents from these threats of bodily harm and property damage, but on top of that, they also help secure people’s financial safety.”
Here are the safest cities in Arizona
Nine Arizona cities were included in WalletHub’s national rankings:
| Arizona city | National rank | Total score |
|---|---|---|
| Chandler | 26 | 64.83 |
| Gilbert | 31 | 64.13 |
| Scottsdale | 40 | 62.44 |
| Peoria | 70 | 60.55 |
| Mesa | 72 | 60.36 |
| Glendale | 86 | 58.34 |
| Tempe | 90 | 57.91 |
| Tucson | 108 | 55.53 |
| Phoenix | 132 | 53.02 |
Chandler’s strong performance was supported by its No. 18 national ranking for home and community safety. The city also ranked No. 33 for financial safety.
Gilbert followed closely, ranking No. 21 nationally for home and community safety and No. 47 for financial safety.
Scottsdale earned particularly strong marks for financial safety, ranking No. 32 nationwide, while placing No. 37 for home and community safety.
All three cities received a No. 122 ranking for natural-disaster risk.
How other Arizona cities compare
Peoria and Mesa also performed relatively well, finishing at No. 70 and No. 72, respectively.
Peoria ranked No. 48 for home and community safety and No. 66 for financial safety. Mesa followed with rankings of No. 50 and No. 59 in those categories.
Glendale placed No. 86 overall, while Tempe ranked No. 90.
Tucson finished at No. 108, with a total score of 55.53. The city ranked No. 47 for natural-disaster risk, its strongest performance among the three major categories.
Phoenix placed No. 132 nationally, with a total score of 53.02. Arizona’s largest city ranked No. 130 for home and community safety, No. 122 for natural-disaster risk and No. 78 for financial safety.
The rankings underscore differences among Arizona communities, particularly in measures of public safety and financial security.
What are America’s safest cities?
Nationally, Juneau, Alaska, claimed the No. 1 position with a total score of 75.89.
The five highest-ranked cities were:
- Juneau, Alaska
- Warwick, Rhode Island
- Overland Park, Kansas
- Burlington, Vermont
- South Burlington, Vermont
Virginia Beach, Virginia; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Casper, Wyoming; Boise, Idaho; and Yonkers, New York, rounded out the national top 10.
At the opposite end of the rankings, New Orleans placed last at No. 182, followed by Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Baltimore, Maryland; Memphis, Tennessee; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Why the rankings matter
WalletHub’s findings provide a broader perspective on the factors that make communities attractive places to live, work and raise families.
While crime prevention remains essential, the study also considers whether residents face financial vulnerabilities, natural-disaster risks and other challenges that can affect their long-term security.
For Arizona, the results put Chandler, Gilbert and Scottsdale among the nation’s top-performing communities while illustrating the range of safety conditions across the state’s largest cities.
The rankings also reinforce an important distinction: A city’s overall safety score reflects a combination of factors rather than crime rates alone.
