This metro-east city is one of the ‘safest college towns’ in US, analysis finds
A city in Madison County was recently named one of the 50 “safest college towns” in the nation by one report.
The March 17 analysis “50 Safest College Towns in America for 2026”, from academic rankings company Research.com, named Edwardsville No. 14.
The city is home to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and Research.com reported Edwardsville has a population of 26,698, with an overall crime rate of 6.07, a violent crime rate of 0.3 and a property crime rate of 5.77 per 1,000 residents.
To evaluate the college towns, Research.com used data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting program and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau to compare violent crime rates, property crime rates and total crime rate per 1,000 residents.
In a previous analysis, from financial website GoBankingRates, Edwardsville was named one of the “15 Cheapest, Safest Places To Live in the U.S.”
Along with its relatively low crime rates, the Research.com analysis lauded Edwardsville for its academic atmosphere and cultural and recreational opportunities.
“Being named the 14th safest college town reflects the strong partnership between SIUE and the City of Edwardsville,” SIUE Police Chief David Goodwin said in a May 7 press release. “This recognition underscores what we see every day— a community where engaged residents, campus partners and dedicated law enforcement work side-by-side to create a safe, supportive environment for our students and community.”
Attractions in Edwardsville include SIUE’s gardens, downtown coffee shops, local businesses and the Edwardsville Children’s Museum.
“Edwardsville is a vibrant, terrific community and SIUE is a vital part of what makes this such a great place to live and to enjoy a fulfilling college experience,” Edwardsville Police Department Major Mike Lybarger said in the release. “Protecting and serving our citizens and students is the highest priority for us.”
Edwardsville was one of three Illinois towns to make the list. Here’s what to know about the rest of the U.S. college towns to make the top 20 for safety.
Top 20 safest college towns in America
Here’s how the top 20 safest college towns in the U.S. compared, according to Research.com:
1. Niceville, Fla. (0.42 overall crime rate per 1,000 residents)
2. Durham, N.H. (2.39)
3. Bristol, R.I. (2.62)
4. Bridgewater, Mass. (3.11)
5. Rexburg, Idaho (4.2)
6. Berea, Ohio (4.41)
7. Madison, N.J. (4.81)
8. Wellesley, Mass. (4.85)
9. Wheaton, Ill. (5.06)
10. Amherst, Mass. (5.4)
11. Lisle, Ill. (5.64)
12. Montclair, N.J. (5.91)
13. Milton, Mass. (6.01)
14. Edwardsville, Ill. (6.07)
15. North Andover, Mass. (6.1)
16. Mequon, Wisc. (6.59)
17. Beverly, Mass. (6.76)
18. Midland, Mich. (7.17)
19. Blacksburg, Va. (7.74)
20. Smithfield, R.I. (7.78)
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