2023 Safe Places to Live in America

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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  Rating 4.12 out of 5  142 reviews

Current Resident: Brookline's public transportation is excellent, and restaurants and businesses are everywhere in the historic districts, making shopping and dining an overall experience. LIVING in Brookline is a little bit more difficult though, as all parking is reserved for shoppers and visitors, so if you plan on being a resident here, plan on renting a separate home for your vehicle (Craigslist). You're a stones-throw from most activities though, and it may be more advantageous for those who can to avoid having a car all together. The only other downside to living in Brookline is the cost of rent. A one bedroom apartment can cost anywhere from $1,800 to $3,000 on the high end, so be prepared! Living here has been a great experience so far, just a little strapping on the wallet.... Read 142 reviews

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• Population 62,620

• Suburb of New York City, NY

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• Population 1,299

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: Swarthmore is a delightful, safe town in which to raise a family. The schools are excellent, many of the homes historic, and it is just a quick ride to Media or to Philadelphia. Being near Swarthmore College and its beautiful campus is obviously a huge plus. Contrary to the report on this site, the folks who live in Swarthmore tend to lean very liberal. Town co-op, farmer's market, and nice sidewalks are all bonuses.... Read 16 reviews

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• Population 6,560

Current Resident: I live in senior housing in Princeton, which is affordable and extremely well-run. There is a free municipal bus that is available six days a week which takes me to any of the places I need to go here in Princeton. Crosstown Taxi is also available at an extremely low cost. I have greatly enjoyed the large library, the Princeton Art Museum, and the Princeton Arts Council where I have attended classes. My medical and eye doctors and Princeton Shopping Center are all located on the municipal bus route. All of my needs and most of my wants are available without leaving the town. It's been my experience to find anyone employed by the town to be courteous, kind, and respectful. The atmosphere in Princeton causes me to feel safe, secure and cared for. A most remarkable community!... Read 88 reviews

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• Population 30,717

• Town in Indiana

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  Rating 4.31 out of 5  298 reviews

Current Resident: Carmel, Indiana, USA, has been an incredible place to start my journey as a new international resident. The warm and welcoming community here has made me feel right at home. The city's commitment to cleanliness, safety, and green spaces is truly commendable. Exploring the Arts & Design District, enjoying the vibrant cultural scene, and savoring the diverse culinary experiences have been highlights of my stay. The educational opportunities and quality of life in Carmel are outstanding. I appreciate the city's efforts in fostering a sense of belonging and its commitment to diversity and inclusion. Carmel has exceeded my expectations, and I'm grateful for this enriching experience.... Read 298 reviews

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• Population 98,137

• Town in New Mexico

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  Rating 3.61 out of 5  23 reviews

Current Resident: Los Alamos is a great town for outdoor enthusiasts. Miles and miles of trails, great camping sites all over, rock climbing, skiing, rafting...The longest commute to work is 15 minutes. The town is very safe, and the schools are good. Schools used to be 10/10, but in the past few years, they went down to 7/10. My oldest child is much older than my youngest, and helping at schools with both of them, I can see the difference :( The downside of Los Alamos, is that many local residents have a mentality of living here temporary, and do not invest much in local businesses, they shop "off the hill". For the town with a median household income twice the national average, Los Alamos invests very little in itself. Poor entertainment and shopping as a result. The housing also looks a little depressing. The majority of the houses were built in the early era of Los Alamos, and only a few are remodeled. These old houses create a certain look, which may take some time to get used to.... Read 23 reviews

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• Population 13,270

• Suburb of Pittsburgh, PA

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  Rating 4.57 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: I love that Aspinwall is such an inclusive community. There is so much to do, so many sights to see, and infinitely many amazing people to meet- all without leaving the perimeter of the town. Everyone knows each other, and changes are being made every day to grow Aspinwall into the best community it can possibly be. Some of my favorite things about Aspinwall is the local yoga studio I attend, being able to walk to my job, and both of the parks in the town. Everything is within walking distance, and there are various places for people to interact and become happier. Additionally, Aspinwall is very clean, and each citizen who lives here does their part to keep the town beautiful. All in all, I love it here, and I wouldn't trade my small town for the world.... Read 7 reviews

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• Population 2,901

• Neighborhood in Seattle, WA

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  Rating 4 out of 5  2 reviews

Visitor: This location is great for those who work downtown and don't want a long commute. It is close to everything; restaurants, stores, downtown on Seattle waterfront. Not exactly a family neighborhood, more for career oriented singles or couples. Some street noises but nothing too bad.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 2,356

• Suburb in New Jersey

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  Rating 4.55 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: Lived a year so far and love this town. Residents joke that it’s Pleasantville or Mayberry North. Tons of young families. Very good for the 30s/40s with young kids. Very friendly neighbors. You feel like you can leave your doors unlocked. West of 17 is all walkable with sidewalks - convenient to a small but nice downtown with several good restaurants (best sushi in the area). Convenient to Ridgewood, wyckoff, allendale, WCL shopping, Wegman’s etc. And as safe a town as you can get.... Read 11 reviews

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• Population 4,248

• Suburb of Boston, MA

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  Rating 4.26 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: I believe the school system is great! I have had very few teachers I did not like which is amazing for a public school. Although, the ratings have gone down and Wayland Public Schools is now not ranked top 10 in the state, when it was previously top 5 I believe. It is a predominantly white town although there is around 30% asians and 5% black students in my high school. Very easy access to 95 and 90 which makes the commute to activities easy. It is expensive but at the cost of good schools. Additionally, as a student there are always places looking for staff and also interns.... Read 19 reviews

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• Population 13,859

• Suburb of New York City, NY

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  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Current Resident: I am biased admittedly, but I can not believe this hidden gem has not been discovered. The city is walkably two blocks away (and easily accessible by any mode of transportation), the schools are top 5 in the state, there's a private country club, private police force and, aesthetically, the village is very tasteful -- along the lines of an upscale town in Fairfield County. Lastly, it is also truly a diverse place to raise a family with folks of all sorts of backgrounds.... Read 2 reviews

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• Population 2,856

• Suburb of St. Louis, MO

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  Rating 4.64 out of 5  28 reviews

Current Resident: I really liked how there were various spaces for many different things, such as: restaurants, parks, exercising areas, and much more. I have attended school here for a couple of years, and although moving here was a hassle, I didn't know anyone, and my family and I had a hard time finding spaces because it was very expensive. However, we still found it enjoyable to live here. I would like to see more community events, there are some held in parks, but not a lot of the neighbors know each other, and it would be a good way to help guide the community to something greater.... Read 28 reviews

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• Population 16,905

• Suburb of St. Louis, MO

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  138 reviews

Current Resident: Chesterfield is a very nice neighborhood! The people around here are friendly and it's a great place to raise a family. The neighboring schools are an amazing place to get a quality education. You're close enough to the city of St. Louis but in a quiet enough area. There's beautiful wildlife around here as well, such as deer, cardinals, and even hawks. It's a perfect place to settle and start roots.... Read 138 reviews

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• Population 49,675

• Suburb in New Jersey

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  67 reviews

Current Resident: I moved to Ridgewood NJ when I was an infant and I went through the entire public school program there. I enjoy how the town is completely focused on the education system and other programs closely associated with the school, it definitely helped me with overall intelligence and higher education options. However something that I would like to see change is a focus on keeping residents within the town borders, other than restaurants there are few to no businesses and I do not enjoy that, the town needs something to pride itself on besides being a college applicant factory town.... Read 67 reviews

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• Population 25,991

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA

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  Rating 4.11 out of 5  18 reviews

Current Resident: The best community for walkability, outstanding schools, culture, cute downtown, proximity to large center city, safety, community amenities, local history, Publix transportation and neighborliness. And for all that, it is relatively affordable. I can get to New York in less than 2 hours, DC in less than 3 hours and downtown Philly in less than 20 minutes by public transportation I walk to from my home or anywhere in Narberth.4th of July fireworks, Halloween parade and other Americana events. Best place to raise kid.... Read 18 reviews

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• Population 4,467

• Suburb in New Jersey

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  Rating 4.22 out of 5  32 reviews

Current Resident: Really nice and friendly people as well as nice parks, library, and school district! The people that are a part of the town's government are always trying their best and trying to help. I even reached out to the beautification commitee so I could complete my Girl Scouts Silver Award, and they were so helpful and dedicated a lot of time so that I could accomplish my mission. The elementary school especially has the best administrators and teachers, some of my favorite memories to this day were made in the classroom.... Read 32 reviews

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• Population 12,024

• Suburb of Raleigh, NC

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  Rating 4.2 out of 5  510 reviews

Current Resident: Cary is a very nice area to live. There are many great schools around for children. There are also numerous unique community programs for children, adults, and seniors. Cary has a great variety of restaurants in addition to the shopping opportunities. The American Tobacco Trail and greenways throughout the town provide a great way to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. There are also several outdoor events throughout the year that are great for the whole family including food truck rodeos, music concerts, and festivals. Overall, Cary is a great place for individuals, couples, families, and even pets as it provides exceptional opportunities and a welcoming community feel!... Read 510 reviews

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• Population 171,603

• Neighborhood in Atlanta, GA

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  Rating 4.11 out of 5  9 reviews

Nearby Resident: If you like the outdoors then this is the place for you! Atlantic Station has different shops, eatery, and much more activities. During the winter, they set up icing and a village that is great to attend. The only down fall is that there is always construction going on but we can look pass that with the amazing things Atlantic Station has to offer.... Read 9 reviews

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• Population 2,378

• Suburb of New York City, NY

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  Rating 4.03 out of 5  31 reviews

Current Resident: Overall, the environment is very clean and quiet; a lot of parks and trails that are perfect for outdoor exercises. The people are very friendly and willing to help. It is a nice place for someone who would like to have their children learn under high-quality and competitive education or to just live in a peaceful suburb.... Read 31 reviews

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• Population 4,984

• Suburb of Cleveland, OH

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  Rating 3.58 out of 5  26 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in the Cleveland area for 35 years and moved to Pepper Pike 7 years ago. Pepper Pike is extremely beautiful, quiet, and the schools are highly rated. It is located near the best shopping on the east side of Cleveland--including the best grocery store that I have ever seen (Heinen's of Pepper Pike). Its phenomenal location is its greatest strength. It is minutes from the Cleveland MetroParks, scenic Chagrin Falls, major highways, great restaurants, and all of the big box stores. If you are moving to Cleveland, I highly recommend taking a close look at this suburb before making a decision to live anywhere else.... Read 26 reviews

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• Population 6,743

• Neighborhood in St. Paul, MN

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  Rating 4.14 out of 5  36 reviews

Current Resident: I'm a single person living in Mac-Groveland and love it here. Within three days of moving in, most of my neighbors had introduced themselves, and a few invited me to join their weekly book club. My block has many families with young kids, but also quite a few retired folks and younger singles. I work from home and walk, ride my bike, and/or use the bus for most day-to-day errands like groceries. Violent crime is very rare in the neighborhood, and I've personally never even had packages stolen off my porch or anything like that. I am a small woman and feel comfortable walking alone with my dog at night. My only nitpick is the airplane noise, which can occasionally get a bit annoying depending on the current flight paths from MSP. But at least it's not as noisy as South Minneapolis! I have no plans to ever move again.... Read 36 reviews

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• Population 16,310

• Suburb of Chicago, IL

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• Population 1,315

• Suburb of Atlanta, GA

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  Rating 4.16 out of 5  323 reviews

Current Resident: John's Creek is known for its beautiful parks, vibrant community, and plenty of recreational activities. It is a very peaceful community. Alpharetta, on the other hand, is a bustling city with a thriving business district, fantastic shopping destinations, and a lively downtown area. Both cities offer a great quality of life, with excellent schools, diverse dining options, and a strong sense of community. Whether you're looking for outdoor adventures or urban experiences, John's Creek and Alpharetta have something for everyone. This is an area to explore and enjoy all they have to offer! 😊👍... Read 323 reviews

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• Population 82,068

• Suburb of Pittsburgh, PA

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  Rating 3.92 out of 5  24 reviews

Current Resident: Many young, progressive families are moving to Fox Chapel from the East End and are finding great schools and a beautiful protected forest environment. Both the school board and local municipal governments are turning over. Out are the retired country club members and in are the younger representatives with a fresh perspective on what makes a community vibrant and desirable. There are still many "old money"families here who haven't yet figured out that they are outnumbered.... Read 24 reviews

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• Population 5,314

• Suburb of Philadelphia, PA

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  Rating 4.63 out of 5  43 reviews

Current Resident: My wife and I have lived in Conshy for almost 4 years now! We absolutely love living here. Conshy has a bustling city feel with a outdoorsy suburban vibe. You get the best of both world while paying low taxes and having a top tier school district. The resturant scene and small town feel was another reason why we gravitated towards the area!There are endless restuarants to choose from and there are new "ghost kitchens" poping up all over. Most if not all of the resurants and stores are pet friendly which is a plus. The accessibiliy to the local trails and parks is another selling point for the area. I enjoy riding my bike along the scenic schuylkill river trail to Valley Forge Park (10 miles up and 10 miles back). Lastly, I am excited for the redevelopment of the waterfront and the new train station. Mixing the historic buildings with the new will definetely reshape city scape of Conshy. My wife and I are excited to be apart of the next chaper of Conshy!... Read 43 reviews

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• Population 9,104