When it comes to safety in the U.S., not all states are created equal. A new report from Bader Scott Injury Lawyers analyzed a wide range of public health and safety metrics to find out which states offer the most protection when it comes to crime, healthcare access, environment, and overall well-being.
According to the data, Rhode Island is officially the safest state in the country, thanks to high scores across multiple safety-related categories. The Ocean State may be small, but it leads the nation with a strong overall safety score of 69.86 out of 100.
Researchers looked at 60 different factors, grouped into nine major categories such as safety from crime, mortality rates, healthcare access, environmental quality, and vehicle and pedestrian safety. Each factor was standardized and weighted to reflect its importance, resulting in a composite score for every state.
Rhode Island earned its first-place position by performing well across the board. The state ranked third in crime safety, eighth in vehicle and pedestrian safety, and fourth in healthcare access and affordability. It also received a standout score of 77.68 in the immunization and infectious disease category, showing its strong public health infrastructure.
In second place is Minnesota, scoring 69.15 out of 100. The state is known for its quality healthcare systems and strong social support services. It ranked seventh for general health and mortality rates, sixth for reducing poverty and substance abuse, and earned one of the highest scores for infectious disease prevention (80.32).
Massachusetts comes in third with a score of 69.01. The Bay State led all states in healthcare affordability and access, and also ranked fourth in mortality due to accidents. Massachusetts continues to set the standard for healthcare excellence in the U.S.
Other top-performing states include:
- Vermont (4th, 68.27): Best in the country for vehicle and pedestrian safety, and third for immunization and disease prevention.
- Hawaii (5th, 66.90): Topped the charts in air and environmental quality, and ranked second for general health and mortality rates.
- Connecticut (6th, 66.83): Placed in the top five for both healthcare access and accidental mortality rates.
- New Hampshire (7th, 66.02): Notably ranked second in reducing poverty, substance abuse, and suicide.
- Utah (8th, 66.01): The healthiest state overall, also performing strongly in mental health and addiction prevention.
- New Jersey (9th, 65.69): Ranked #1 in crime safety and second in accident-related deaths.
- Maine (10th, 63.43): Strong showings in crime prevention and transportation safety.
The Top 10 Safest States in the U.S.
| Rank | State | Safety Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | 69.86 |
| 2 | Minnesota | 69.15 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | 69.01 |
| 4 | Vermont | 68.27 |
| 5 | Hawaii | 66.90 |
| 6 | Connecticut | 66.83 |
| 7 | New Hampshire | 66.02 |
| 8 | Utah | 66.01 |
| 9 | New Jersey | 65.69 |
| 10 | Maine | 63.43 |
Why This Matters
“Safety is about much more than crime rates,” said Seth Bader, spokesperson for Bader Scott. “It includes health, environment, infrastructure, and the systems people rely on daily. This ranking takes a 360-degree view of safety and well-being, which is especially useful for anyone considering a move or reassessing their long-term plans.”
According to Bader, having a clearer understanding of local risk factors can also help individuals take proactive steps to protect themselves and their families, whether that means buying extra insurance, advocating for healthcare policy changes, or investing in safety measures at home.
How the Study Was Conducted
The safety index evaluated 60 data points per state, grouped into nine categories:
- Air & Environmental Quality (10%)
- Financial Security & Cost of Living (10%)
- Healthcare Affordability & Access (16%)
- Immunization & Infectious Disease (6%)
- Mortality Due to Accidents (11%)
- Mortality Rates & General Health (11%)
- Safety From Crime (20%)
- Poverty, Substance Abuse & Suicide (6%)
- Vehicle & Pedestrian Safety (10%)
Each factor was scored on a 0–10 scale, weighted, and then totaled to produce an overall safety score out of 100.
