Vermont Ranks as Safest U.S. State in New Study, Southern States Lag
A new study by WalletHub has identified Vermont as the safest state in America. The research evaluated all 50 states across 52 safety metrics, categorized into five key areas, including unemployment rates, assaults per capita, and climate disaster losses. Vermont secured the top spot due to its strong performance in neighborhood safety, financial security, and road safety. Specifically, nearly 76% of Vermont parents believe their neighborhoods are safe, the state has the third-highest percentage of neighborhood watch groups per capita, and it ranks low in murders, serious assaults, and thefts. Financially, Vermont boasts one of the lowest unemployment rates at 2.7%, the third-lowest rate of non-business bankruptcies, and the lowest percentage of significantly underwater mortgages. The state also excels in road quality, with the second-best roads in the U.S., and low traffic and pedestrian fatalities. Conversely, Mississippi was ranked as the least safe state, performing poorly in financial safety, road saf...