Whether you are on the verge of making a move or have been living in the same state for decades, some level of personal safety is something we all hope to feel in our daily lives. However, there is no getting around the fact that some parts of the United States are safer than others. And with the persistent threat from the coronavirus pandemic, there are even more pitfalls you need to avoid while trying to navigate a safe, healthy, and secure life for you and your family. With that in mind, Best Life set out to determine the most dangerous state in America.
To get to the bottom of what makes one state more dangerous than another, we examined four key metrics. First, we looked to the most recent data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for the number of violent crimes per capita* and the number of property crimes per capita in each state. These two metrics cover the crime spectrum—everything from petty larceny to homicides.
Next, we turned our attention to the COVID crisis. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the number of COVID deaths as of Jan. 26, 2021 and the most recent population data from the U.S. Census Bureau, we calculated the number of deaths due to COVID per capita in each state.
Finally, we factored in the level of safety concern of citizens by gathering the portion of each state's population that took a self-defense class in the last year, which we found in SafeWise's 2020 State of Safety in the Nation research report.
We then gave each of the metrics a weighted value before running them through our exclusive algorithm to see how each state scored on our 100-point scale Danger Index, with a score of 100 indicating the highest level of danger.
Curious to know how your state stacks up? Read on to find out, and to discover if you live in the most dangerous state in America. And for the state that's least likely to walk the straight and narrow, This Is the Most Corrupt State in America.
*Per capita equates to per 100,000 people in all instances.
Violent crimes per capita: 112.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,357.80
COVID deaths per capita: 37.35
Residents who took a self-defense class: 7 percent
Danger Index Score: 0.00
Violent crimes per capita: 172.00
Property crimes per capita: 1,283.10
COVID deaths per capita: 19.07
Residents who took a self-defense class: 8 percent
Danger Index Score: 1.20
Violent crimes per capita: 173.20
Property crimes per capita: 1,248.50
COVID deaths per capita: 64.79
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 13.70
Violent crimes per capita: 289.90
Property crimes per capita: 1,485.60
COVID deaths per capita: 65.45
Residents who took a self-defense class: 5 percent
Danger Index Score: 15.78
Violent crimes per capita: 212.20
Property crimes per capita: 1,785.10
COVID deaths per capita: 76.02
Residents who took a self-defense class: 6 percent
Danger Index Score: 18.12
Violent crimes per capita: 200.00
Property crimes per capita: 1,665.80
COVID deaths per capita: 70.17
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 22.57
Violent crimes per capita: 211.90
Property crimes per capita: 1,962.60
COVID deaths per capita: 84.88
Residents who took a self-defense class: 8 percent
Danger Index Score: 24.87
Violent crimes per capita: 227.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,461.40
COVID deaths per capita: 80.19
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 25.68
Violent crimes per capita: 295.40
Property crimes per capita: 1,559.90
COVID deaths per capita: 105.47
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 29.24
Violent crimes per capita: 220.40
Property crimes per capita: 1,993.80
COVID deaths per capita: 103.46
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 30.32
Violent crimes per capita: 350.50
Property crimes per capita: 1,440.50
COVID deaths per capita: 86.14
Residents who took a self-defense class: 11 percent
Danger Index Score: 30.61
And for the place where people are all about themselves, This Is the Most Selfish State in America.
Violent crimes per capita: 285.50
Property crimes per capita: 2,894.00
COVID deaths per capita: 34.45
Residents who took a self-defense class: 5 percent
Danger Index Score: 31.22
Violent crimes per capita: 248.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,870.30
COVID deaths per capita: 24.93
Residents who took a self-defense class: 10 percent
Danger Index Score: 33.50
Violent crimes per capita: 284.80
Property crimes per capita: 2,079.90
COVID deaths per capita: 111.97
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 37.32
Violent crimes per capita: 279.90
Property crimes per capita: 2,177.10
COVID deaths per capita: 109.56
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 38.03
Violent crimes per capita: 306.00
Property crimes per capita: 1,489.90
COVID deaths per capita: 137.95
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 38.31
Violent crimes per capita: 207.40
Property crimes per capita: 1,681.00
COVID deaths per capita: 153.34
Residents who took a self-defense class: 13 percent
Danger Index Score: 38.44
Violent crimes per capita: 250.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,691.50
COVID deaths per capita: 145.45
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 38.80
Violent crimes per capita: 219.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,660.90
COVID deaths per capita: 158.02
Residents who took a self-defense class: 13 percent
Danger Index Score: 39.70
And for more exclusive state rankings delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Violent crimes per capita: 233.10
Property crimes per capita: 2,377.50
COVID deaths per capita: 47.85
Residents who took a self-defense class: 19 percent
Danger Index Score: 40.97
Violent crimes per capita: 377.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,494.10
COVID deaths per capita: 35.14
Residents who took a self-defense class: 13 percent
Danger Index Score: 42.24
Violent crimes per capita: 384.90
Property crimes per capita: 2,281.80
COVID deaths per capita: 99.51
Residents who took a self-defense class: 8 percent
Danger Index Score: 43.60
And while we're on the subject of safety, make sure to check out This State Has the Worst Drivers in America.
Violent crimes per capita: 311.50
Property crimes per capita: 2,946.20
COVID deaths per capita: 46.29
Residents who took a self-defense class: 11 percent
Danger Index Score: 43.71
Violent crimes per capita: 208.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,404.90
COVID deaths per capita: 203.53
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 44.06
Violent crimes per capita: 338.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,63.30
COVID deaths per capita: 147.48
Residents who took a self-defense class: 17 percent
Danger Index Score: 45.35
Violent crimes per capita: 449.40
Property crimes per capita: 1,653.50
COVID deaths per capita: 117.68
Residents who took a self-defense class: 11 percent
Danger Index Score: 45.62
Violent crimes per capita: 374.10
Property crimes per capita: 2,496.30
COVID deaths per capita: 110.87
Residents who took a self-defense class: 7 percent
Danger Index Score: 46.61
Violent crimes per capita: 280.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,040.20
COVID deaths per capita: 186.60
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 48.85
Violent crimes per capita: 397.20
Property crimes per capita: 2,671.60
COVID deaths per capita: 84.76
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 49.09
Violent crimes per capita: 423.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,324.40
COVID deaths per capita: 82.57
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 49.34
Violent crimes per capita: 447.40
Property crimes per capita: 2,380.40
COVID deaths per capita: 74.71
Residents who took a self-defense class: 13 percent
Danger Index Score: 51.79
And for the place with the shortest fuse, This Is the Angriest State in America.
Violent crimes per capita: 468.70
Property crimes per capita: 2,033.30
COVID deaths per capita: 110.00
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 52.60
Violent crimes per capita: 234.40
Property crimes per capita: 2,403.00
COVID deaths per capita: 165.89
Residents who took a self-defense class: 13 percent
Danger Index Score: 53.03
Violent crimes per capita: 326.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,573.70
COVID deaths per capita: 90.13
Residents who took a self-defense class: 16 percent
Danger Index Score: 53.15
Violent crimes per capita: 404.70
Property crimes per capita: 1,728.70
COVID deaths per capita: 180.07
Residents who took a self-defense class: 11 percent
Danger Index Score: 54.11
Violent crimes per capita: 404.10
Property crimes per capita: 1,932.80
COVID deaths per capita: 124.65
Residents who took a self-defense class: 16 percent
Danger Index Score: 54.56
Violent crimes per capita: 382.30
Property crimes per capita: 2,179.30
COVID deaths per capita: 131.98
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 55.31
Violent crimes per capita: 410.90
Property crimes per capita: 2,367.20
COVID deaths per capita: 103.76
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 55.32
Violent crimes per capita: 541.10
Property crimes per capita: 2,438.20
COVID deaths per capita: 108.50
Residents who took a self-defense class: 11 percent
Danger Index Score: 61.86
Violent crimes per capita: 502.10
Property crimes per capita: 2,647.10
COVID deaths per capita: 124.48
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 62.33
Violent crimes per capita: 488.30
Property crimes per capita: 3,017.60
COVID deaths per capita: 103.04
Residents who took a self-defense class: 9 percent
Danger Index Score: 63.34
Violent crimes per capita: 439.00
Property crimes per capita: 2,633.90
COVID deaths per capita: 118.18
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 63.55
Violent crimes per capita: 466.10
Property crimes per capita: 2,875.00
COVID deaths per capita: 107.43
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 64.48
Violent crimes per capita: 474.90
Property crimes per capita: 2,676.80
COVID deaths per capita: 126.52
Residents who took a self-defense class: 14 percent
Danger Index Score: 67.97
Violent crimes per capita: 623.70
Property crimes per capita: 2,825.40
COVID deaths per capita: 111.95
Residents who took a self-defense class: 8 percent
Danger Index Score: 69.69
Violent crimes per capita: 519.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,817.20
COVID deaths per capita: 130.59
Residents who took a self-defense class: 18 percent
Danger Index Score: 79.05
Violent crimes per capita: 543.60
Property crimes per capita: 2,913.00
COVID deaths per capita: 130.00
Residents who took a self-defense class: 16 percent
Danger Index Score: 79.31
Violent crimes per capita: 537.5
Property crimes per capita: 3,276.00
COVID deaths per capita: 143.99
Residents who took a self-defense class: 15 percent
Danger Index Score: 85.27
Violent crimes per capita: 885.00
Property crimes per capita: 3,300.50
COVID deaths per capita: 27.75
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 85.56
Violent crimes per capita: 856.60
Property crimes per capita: 3,419.70
COVID deaths per capita: 115.51
Residents who took a self-defense class: 12 percent
Danger Index Score: 100.00
And for the place more green with envy than any other, This Is the Most Jealous State in America.
