What’s the safest city in California? This mountain town made the list, new study says
A Southern California city known for scenic hiking trails and reality show hijinks is the safest place to live in the state, according to MoneyGeek.
The personal finance website recently ranked the 25 Safest Small Cities and Towns in the U.S. based on crime rates and crime-related costs.
“Crime takes a toll on communities — not just emotionally but also economically,” MoneyGeek writer Deb Gordon wrote in a Dec. 16, article. “In addition to direct costs from loss of property, services for victims and policing and corrections, residents of higher-crime locales often pay higher rates on insurance.”
Columbus, Indiana, was the No. 1 city on MoneyGeek’s list in terms of safety.
Wallingford, Connecticut, ranked second and Lone Peak, Utah, came in third place.
Why is Orange County city the safest in the state?
The highest ranking California city on MoneyGeek’s list of the safest small cities and towns in America was Rancho Santa Margarita.
The Orange County city landed at No. 15.
Rancho Santa Margarita, which has a population of about 46,182 residents, is known to reality show fans as a primary filming location for Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”
“The city was master-planned to offer the best amenities of a small city, while maintaining the natural landscape of the area,” the city of Rancho Santa Margarita said on its website.
Attractions in the city, which is about 51 miles south of Los Angeles, include Lago Santa Margarita, several parks, an urban trail system and the nearby Santa Ana Mountains.
According to MoneyGeek, Rancho Santa Margarita had the lowest societal cost of crime per capita in California: $91.
In comparison, Columbus, Indiana, had an average per-capita crime cost of $22.
Rancho Santa Margarita had a violent crime rate of 48 crimes per 100,000 residents, according to MoneyGeek.
The city had a property crime rate of 433 crimes per 100,000 residents, the site said.
The total cost of crime in Rancho Santa Margarita was about $4.2 million, MoneyGeek found, taking into account the “economic losses attributed to crime and its cost to society.”
Where did other California cities rank?
Other California cities landed lower on MoneyGeek’s list of safety-focused communities, including Foster City at No. 50.
Yorba Linda was No. 70 and Laguna Niguel was No. 101.
What are the 10 safest cities and towns in the US?
These are the 10 safest cities and towns in the nation, according to MoneyGeek:
- Columbus, Indiana
- Wallingford, Connecticut
- Lone Peak, Utah
- Zionsville, Indiana
- Monroe Township, New Jersey
- Yorktown Town, New York
- Carmel Town, New York
- Wallkill Town, New York
- Upper Arlington, Ohio
How did MoneyGeek come up with its rankings?
To create its list of the safest communities in the United States, MoneyGeek studied FBI data from 2023, the latest available time period.
The site focused on more than 1,000 small cities with between 30,000 and 100,000 residents, ultimately ranking a total of 1,061 cities.
This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 1:57 PM with the headline "What’s the safest city in California? This mountain town made the list, new study says."
