Vermont Named Safest State in America in WalletHub's 2026 Report
Vermont has been named the safest state in America, according to WalletHub’s Safest States in America in 2026 report, released October 5 and reported by USA Today on October 10. The personal-finance website compared all 50 states across five key categories — personal and residential safety, financial safety, road safety, workplace safety, and emergency preparedness — and the Green Mountain State came out on top. The study credits Vermont’s neighborhood-level safety in particular: nearly 76 percent of parents report that they believe they live in safe neighborhoods, the third-highest percentage nationwide. Vermont also has the seventh-highest number of neighborhood watch groups per capita, which WalletHub notes can help residents identify suspicious activity and alert law enforcement. Crime statistics helped the state stand out as well. According to the study, Vermont recorded the 15th-fewest aggravated assaults, the sixth-fewest murders and nonnegligent manslaughter cases, and the 21st-fewest thefts per capita. At the other end of the ranking, Texas was named among the least safe states, placing No. 48 out of 50 — only Louisiana and Mississippi performed worse. Texas struggled across several categories, ranking No. 40 in personal and residential safety, financial safety, and road safety. The ranking is a reputational boost for a small, rural state whose economy leans heavily on tourism — skiing, mountain holidays, picturesque towns, and fall foliage draw visitors from across the country and Canada. A top safety ranking reinforces the state’s pitch to visitors, second-home buyers, and families considering a move, though as with any index, the methodology is WalletHub’s own and reflects the measures it chose to weight.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: King of Hearts 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
