15 Safest States for 2008
Previous-
Tom Uhlenbrock, Getty Images
No Need to Lock Your Doors?
The results of CQ Press's annual Crime State Rankings are in. Join us as we reveal which 15 states were ranked as the safest for 2008.
And get ready for a surprise! After being in the top spot 9 of the past 10 years, North Dakota has been knocked from its throne. Click through our gallery to see who took its "safety" crown.
Next: The No. 1 Safest State -
Hector Mata, Getty Images
No 1: New Hampshire
New Hampshire is ranked No. 1 for the first time thanks to impressively low crime across the board. It boasts the nation's lowest murder rate and second-lowest aggravated assault and burglary rates.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50 states)
(1 = Worst, 50 = Best)
Assault: 49
Burglary: 49
Murder: 50
Motor Vehicle Theft: 47
Rape: 39
Robbery: 43
Next: No. 2 Safest State -
No. 2: Maine
The Pine Tree state has been ranked in the top three each of the past 15 years. It has the lowest assault rate in the U.S.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 50
Burglary: 38
Murder: 45
Motor Vehicle Theft: 48
Rape: 40
Robbery: 44
Next: No. 3 Safest State -
Scott Olson, Getty Images
No. 3: North Dakota
After dominating the Safest State list for the past decade, the Peace Garden state suffers its lowest ranking since 1996. Its rape rate is mainly to blame.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 48
Burglary: 46
Murder: 48
Motor Vehicle Theft: 45
Rape: 28
Robbery: 50
Next: No. 4 Safest State -
Steve Northup, Time Life Pictures | Getty
No. 4: Vermont
It's nice to know there are some places left in the world where folks don't have to live under lock and key. Vermont was the safest state in 2003 along with 1994 & 1996.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 47
Burglary: 36
Murder: 41
Motor Vehicle Theft: 49
Rape: 42
Robbery: 46
Next: No. 5 Safest State -
Beth Gauper, St. Paul Pioneer Press / MCT
No. 5: South Dakota
As one of the safest states to live in, South Dakota suffers from a shockingly high incidence of rape, but ranks in the top 5 in all other categories.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 46
Burglary: 48
Murder: 49
Motor Vehicle Theft: 50
Rape: 9
Robbery: 48
Next: No. 6 Safest State -
Landon Nordeman, Getty Images
No. 6: Wyoming
Wyoming is a great example of a state with low income and low economic growth that does not fall prey to major crime.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 30
Burglary: 43
Murder: 46
Motor Vehicle Theft: 46
Rape: 36
Robbery: 49
Next: No. 7 Safest State -
Andrew Schneider, St. Louis Post Dispatch / MC
No. 7: Montana
Some credit Montana's low crime rate to the high level of gun ownership. Since most criminals are looking for easy targets, this may keep some in line. The Treasure State has lowest burglary rate in the country.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 28
Burglary: 50
Murder: 42 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 41
Rape: 31
Robbery: 47
Next: No. 8 Safest State -
Beth Gauper, St. Paul Pioneer Press / MCT
No. 8: Iowa
The Hawkeye State pulls in the No. 8 ranking for the fourth year in a row thanks to above average scores in all six crime categories.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 26
Burglary: 30
Murder: 42 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 42
Rape: 33
Robbery: 42
Next: No. 9 Safest State -
Cassandra Shie
No. 9: Idaho
Idaho is a regular on most of the best places to live lists published from various media venues, thanks to its much touted city, Boise. But they need to work on that rape statistic.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 31
Burglary: 37
Murder: 38
Motor Vehicle Theft: 44
Rape: 13
Robbery: 35
Next: No. 10 Safest State -
Beth Gauper, St. Paul Pioneer Press/ MCT
No. 10: Wisconsin
Wisconsin consistently ranks well below the national crime average.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 38
Burglary: 40
Murder: 33
Motor Vehicle Theft: 36
Rape: 47
Robbery: 28
Next: No. 11 Safest State -
Romain Blanquart, Detroit Free Press / MCT
No. 11: Connecticut
Connecticut is the state where many New Yorkers relocate when it's time to raise a family and give in to the hour-plus commute to the Big Apple. A plus: low levels of assault, burglary and rape.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 44
Burglary: 44
Murder: 32
Motor Vehicle Theft: 28
Rape: 48
Robbery: 22
Next: No. 12 Safest State -
Brad Clift, MCT
No. 12: Rhode Island
The Ocean State improves four spots this year to score the second best gain after Washington state thanks to strong rankings in all categories except auto theft.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 45
Burglary: 39
Murder: 37
Motor Vehicle Theft: 22
Rape: 38
Robbery: 37
Next: No. 13 Safest State -
Kristen Jackson, Seattle Times/MCT
No. 13: Utah
Home to one of the safest cities in America, Orem, the Beehive State maintains its No. 13 ranking that it also held last year.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 42
Burglary: 33
Murder: 42 (tie)
Motor Vehicle Theft: 25
Rape: 21
Robbery: 40
Next: No. 14 Safest State -
Bob Downing, Akron Beacon Journal/MCT
No. 14: West Virginia
West Virginia is seeing an influx of commuters from the Washington D.C. metro region (including Northern Virginia and parts of Maryland) for its low crime rate and more affordable land and housing.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 27
Burglary: 28
Murder: 29
Motor Vehicle Theft: 39
Rape: 45
Robbery: 41
Next: No. 15 Safest State -
Cassandra Shie, AOL
No. 15: Virginia
The Old Dominion State improves one position for the third year in a row and holds its best ranking since 2001. It has low crime in all categories except burglaries where it has the fifth worst rate in the nation.
Rankings in Crime (out of 50)
Assault: 39
Burglary: 45
Murder: 23
Motor Vehicle Theft: 40
Rape: 43
Robbery: 27
· Buy Full Crime Rankings Report
Next: Most Dangerous States -
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images
Most Dangerous States
The two most populace states in the U.S., California and New York, don't have the best crime rates, but they are not among the top most dangerous states. See which states do have the highest crime rates.
15 Most Dangerous States in U.S.
· Buy Full Crime Rankings Report
Next: Safest Cities in AmericaRelated Links:
-
Julie Malakie, AP
Safest Cities in America
You've seen the safest states in the America. Now see which cities have the lowest crime rates. Cities in California, New Jersey, New York, Texas and Massachusetts dominate the top of the most recent CQ Press rankings.
25 Safest Cities in America
More on AOL: $5 Gas By Labor DayRelated Links:
-
ALSO ON AOL:
$5 Gas by Labor Day
With oil hitting record prices almost daily, you are going to see gas prices surge this summer at the pump. But how high will gas prices go?
Get Ready for $5 Gas
Best & Worst States to Own a Car
Buying the car is only part of the cost you will incur. The insurance, fees, fuel and other costs vary greatly by state. See how your state stacks up.
10 Priciest States 10 Cheapest States
Recent Comments
SaGaShous2 11:01:17 AM Dec 27 2008
Type your own comThere " ISN''T" too many spooks in West Virginia? That doesn't sound too intelligent to me. Did you mean there "AREN'T" I tell you what though, there are a lot of NON-SPOOK's in Morgantown, West Virginia Correctional Facilitiy I had the pleasure of observing this with my own spooky eyes while visiting someone in the visiting room. That's okay though, I'm glad they found out who killed little Caylee, her mom. Sad, isn't it? And you do remember Mr. Peterson, the who killed is beautiful pregnant wife a few years ago. Or Columbine? And it will always be a question in my mind, did the parents of beautiful Jon Benet murder her? What I like about what non-spooky people they go for the gusto, they don't kill just one at a time, they say hey let's get this done in one clean sweep. Now that's spooky as well as your icon pictures. ment here
SaGaShous2 11:00:34 AM Dec 27 2008
There " ISN''T" too many spooks in West Virginia? That doesn't sound too intelligent to me. Did you mean there "AREN'T" I tell you what though, there are a lot of NON-SPOOK's in Morgantown, West Virginia Correctional Facilitiy I had the pleasure of observing this with my own spooky eyes while visiting someone in the visiting room. That's okay though, I'm glad they found out who killed little Caylee, her mom. Sad, isn't it? And you do remember Mr. Peterson, the who killed is beautiful pregnant wife a few years ago. Or Columbine? And it will always be a question in my mind, did the parents of beautiful Jon Benet murder her? What I like about what non-spooky people they go for the gusto, they don't kill just one at a time, they say hey let's get this done in one clean sweep. Now that's spooky as well as your icon pictures.
DCStiffey 09:29:39 AM Dec 27 2008
It has nothing to do with race. If you do the research, the states listed here are also the least populated states. This report is completely irrelevant because it needs to look at crime as a percentage of the population or criminal events per capita. This is another misleading report based on sensationalism.
WJLAURA 07:31:09 AM Dec 27 2008
I THINK THESE NUMBER ARE ALL MIX 'S UP. HOW CAN A STATE WITH 30 AND 50MURDERS BE MORE SAFER THAN ONE WITH 4 OR 5. IT DOSE NOT MAKE SENCETO ME......
CATCHjr 05:28:59 PM Dec 25 2008
The Amish folks have it all figured out in my estimation.
JTooon 11:46:21 AM Dec 25 2008
>>>>>what do all these states have in common? very low percentage of blacksNo, you're wrong. What these states all have in common is that they are the coldest states in the USA. People there can't commit crimes because they are too busy keeping their butts warm insides their houses.
AngelsTouchAll 11:31:40 PM Dec 07 2008
Immigrants and blacks commit crimes, yes. As do many other races. Leave it to the whites to kill by the masses, shoot innocent children at schools beacuse they were picked on, become serial rapists, molest children, etc..I am not racist by any means but like the gent before me stated, these are facts. Lets stop pointing fingers, grow up and accept that good and bad exists everywhere and is commited by all races. Back to immigrants and blacks, from slavery and poverty, less educated and supressed, many whites got a head start on a decent life. Obama is President elect and white trash still exists, give us time were getting educated! - Mexican female here, educated business owner, thanks!
Neighbor From Hell?
It doesn't matter if you live in the suburbs or the city, there are nasty neighbors everywhere.
Mortgage Basics
How familiar are you with the mortgage process? Mortgage terms? Mortgage fees and costs? Learn about them all here.
- Types of Mortgage Loans
- How Much House Can You Afford?
- Obtaining Preapproval for Mortgages
- Should You Rent or Buy a Home?
- Biweekly Mortgage Loans
- Improve the Value of Your Home
- More Money Basics
Featured Sponsor
Looking for High-Yield Interest Rates?
Rates among the highest in the nation. Member FDIC.
Find the Perfect Home
Mortgages Tools
Use these mortgage calculators and tools to make the most informed decisions about mortgages.
- What Will My Mortgage Payments Be?
- How Much Down Payment?
- Fixed or Adjustable Mortgages?
- 15-Year vs. 30-Year Term Mortgages
- Calculate Mortgage Closing Costs
- Pay Points to Lower Mortgage Rate?
- Which Mortgage Loan Is Better?
- Are You Better Off Renting?
- See All Calculators
| Type | Current | APR |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Yr Fixed Mtg | 5.36% | 5.61% |
| 15 Yr Fixed Mtg | 5.07% | 5.39% |
| 3/1 ARM (I/O) | 5.56% | 4.88% |
| 5/1 ARM | 5.74% | 5.12% |
| 5/1 ARM (I/O) | 5.80% | 5.34% |
| 7/1 ARM | 5.93% | 5.17% |
| 7/1 ARM (I/O) | 6.00% | 5.39% |
| 30 Yr FHA Mtg | 5.47% | 5.63% |