Our safest cities are highlighted below as well as every city’s violent crime rate, walkability score, and overall child safety score, which is a mixture of eight factors we considered. It is crucial to note that each city on the list is below the national average for violent crimes. Also, we included some runner-up cities to provide the safest cities to raise a free-range child.
Easton, Maryland
Maryland has been at the heart of the free-range parenting conversation, so it’s not any surprise that our safest city to raise children is in Maryland. Easton has small-town charm, and with over 230 acres of parks and open spaces, there is lots of room for adventurous children to safely explore.
Keene, New Hampshire
From the yearly Pumpkin Festival to the lighting of the community Christmas Tree in the town square, Keene has a quintessential New England nostalgia. And in a city where everyone knows everyone (as stated by a lifetime resident), children are safe to enjoy all that Keene has to offer.
Takoma Park, Maryland
This city has a town arborist and its own poet laureate, but Takoma Park’s assets aren’t limited to culture and cultivation. Folks take care of one another here. The city has a crew named the Snow Angels who dig out neighbors buried under the city’s thirteen inches of yearly snowfall. It’s that sort of community spirit that helped Takoma Park have a spot on our list.
Havre de Grace, Maryland
This bayside town has been distinguished many times as one of the best little towns in the nation. It caught our attention with its amazing parks, schools, and family-oriented values. Havre de Grace wants all children to feel included, as obvious by an all-access playground opened in August ‘17.