These 2 Illinois cities are among the safest in the nation, analysis finds
Two Illinois cities and one town near St. Louis are among the nation’s safest midsize cities, according to one recent analysis.
The May 19 report from financial company SmartAsset, “America’s Safest Midsize Cities – 2026 Study” named Naperville the 26th safest and Bolingbrook the 62nd. St. Charles, Missouri landed in 13th place.
This wasn’t the first time Naperville has been recognized for its relatively low crime rates — a 2025 analysis from U.S. News & World report named the city the 19th-safest place to live in the nation.
To compare the cities, SmartAsset evaluated more than 300 locales with populations between 65,000 and 250,000 on measures such as violent crime and property crime rates, traffic fatality rates and natural disaster risk.
“While no place is risk-free, some midsized cities offer residents a stronger sense of everyday security than others,” SmartAsset’s report reads.
Data sources for the comparison included FEMA’s National Risk Index, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FBI, according to SmartAsset.
Here’s how the three cities performed for crime rates and more:
- St. Charles: 1.34 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, 8.87 property crime rate, 8.09 auto fatality rate and a “relatively moderate” natural disaster risk
- Naperville: 0.84 violent crime rate, 8.84 property crime rate, 4.91 auto fatality rate and a “relatively high” natural disaster risk
- Bolingbrook: 1.82 violent crime rate, 7.79 property crime rate, 8.4 auto fatality rate and a “relatively high” natural disaster risk
The News-Democrat has contacted city officials in Naperville and St. Charles for comment on the SmartAsset report.
Safest midsize cities in U.S.
Here are the top 15 safest midsize cities in America, according to SmartAsset:
1. Broomfield, Colo.
2. State College, Pa.
3. Warwick, R.I.
4. Ames, Iowa
5. Logan, Utah
6. Carmel, Ind.
7. Greenwood, Ind.
8. Waukesha, Wisc.
9. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
10. Appleton, Wisc.
11. Eau Claire, Wisc.
12. Franklin, Tenn.
13. St. Charles, Mo.
14. Newton, Mass.
15. Dubuque, Iowa
Ten other Illinois cities and four more in Missouri were ranked, but did not make the top 100.
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