Key Findings
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The safest city in Missouri is Cottleville, which has a crime rate of 292 per 100,000 residents, which is 87% below the national average.
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Poplar Bluff is the second safest place to live in Missouri, boasting a crime rate that is 80% lower than the national average.
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The top 10 safest cities in Missouri have a total crime rate that is more than 50% lower than the US average.
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Your chances of being the victim of a crime in the safest cities in Missouri are lower than 1 in 100.
10 Safest Cities in Missouri
- Cottleville
- Poplar Bluff
- Savannah
- Greenwood
- Pleasant Hill
- Glendale
- Ballwin
- Smithville
- Holts Summit
- Higginsville
1. Cottleville
Cottleville is the safest city in Missouri. Situated in St. Charles County, the city has a population of 5,611 residents. Known for being one of the oldest cities in St. Charles County, Cottleville offers a rich history and suburban ambiance with very little crime. Cottleville has the lowest total crime rate in Missouri at just 292 incidents per 100,000 residents, 87% lower than the national average and 167% lower than the statewide average. Violent crime in Cottleville is also 87% lower than the rest of the US, while property crime is 86% lower. Your odds of experiencing a crime in Cottleville are only 1 in 343.
2. Poplar Bluff
Poplar Bluff is another one of the safest cities in Missouri. Nicknamed the Gateway of the Ozarks, Poplar Bluff is located in Butler County in the southeastern part of the state. It has a population of 16,225 residents, according to the 2020 census. It’s a peaceful mid-sized city with low crime and a family-friendly atmosphere. The total crime rate is 476 incidents per 100,000 residents, which makes it 80% safer than the rest of the US and 142% safer than the rest of the country. The violent crime rate is also 88% lower than the US average, while the property crime rate is 78% lower. The odds you’ll be a victim of a crime in Popular Bluff is 1 in 211.
3. Savannah
Savannah is also among the safest cities in Missouri. Situated in the northeastern corner of Missouri, Savannah is the county seat of Andrew County. It’s home to 5,069 residents and is known for its community-oriented atmosphere with frequent festivals, parades, and other cultural events happening on a regular basis. It’s also a very safe place to live, with a total crime rate of 477 incidents per 100,000 residents. That makes it 79% safer than the rest of the country and 142% safer than the rest of Missouri. The violent crime rate is also 73% lower than the rest of the country, while the property crime rate is 81% lower. The chance you’ll encounter any crime in Savannah is 1 in 210.
4. Greenwood
Greenwood is another one of the safest communities in Missouri. Located in both Jackson and Cass counties, Greenwood is a peaceful suburb within the Kansas City metro area. It’s known for its charming, small-town atmosphere and has a population of 5,221 residents as of the 2020 census. Greenwood is also very safe, with a total crime rate of 477 residents, which is 79% lower than the national average and 142% lower than the statewide average. However, the violent crime rate is 69% lower, while the property crime rate is 81% lower. As a result, your chances of being the victim of a crime in Greenwood are 1 in 210.
5. Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Hills is another one of the least dangerous cities in Missouri. It’s about 10 miles southeast of Greenville within the Kansas City Metro area. It has a population of 8,777 residents, according to the 2020 census. As its name implies, it’s a very pleasant place to live with a laidback pace of life and low crime rate. The total crime rate in Pleasant Hill is 545 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is 77% lower than the rest of the US and 135% lower than the rest of Missouri. Property crime is 76% lower than the national average, while violent crime is 82% lower. Your chances of being the victim of a crime in Pleasant Hill are 1 in 184.
6. Glendale
Glendale is also one of the safer cities in Missouri. Named after the beautiful dales and glens found in the community, Glendale is a peaceful suburb in Saint Louis County with a population of 6,176 as of the 2020 census. The total crime rate is 623 incidents per 100,000 residents, making it 73% safer than the average US city and 128% safer than the rest of Missouri. There is virtually no violent crime in Glendale, and the property crime rate is 68% lower than the US average. Your chances of experiencing any crime in Glendale are 1 in 161.
7. Ballwin
Another one of the safest communities in Missouri is the city of Ballwin. Ballwin is a tranquil suburb of St. Louis with a population of 31,103 as of the 2020 census. Known for being one of the best places to live in the US, Ballwin is a picturesque suburb with low crime and plenty of parks and green space. The total crime rate is 676 crimes per 100,000 residents, making it 71% safer than the rest of the country and 122% safer than the rest of Missouri. It also experiences 92% less violent crime than the rest of the country and 67% less property crime. Your chances of being the victim of a crime in Ballwin are 1 in 148.
8. Smithville
Smithville is another one of the safer cities in Missouri. Nestled on the banks of the Little Platte River, Smithville is located in Clay and Platte Counties within the Kansas City metro area. It has a population of 10,406 residents. Smithville is a very safe area with a total crime rate of 685 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is 71% lower than the rest of the US and 122% lower than the rest of the country. The violent crime rate is 67% below than the US average, while property crime is 71% lower. Your odds of encountering any crime in Smithville are 1 in 146.
9. Holts Summit
Holts Summit is also among the safest cities in Missouri. The small city is located about 7 miles northeast of Jefferson City in Callaway County. It has a population of 4,458 residents. The total crime rate in Holts Summit is 700 crimes per 100,000 residents. That makes it 70% safer than the average US city and 120% safer than the rest of Missouri. The violent crime rate is also 80% lower than the US average, and the property crime rate is 68% lower. Your chances of being the victim of a crime in Holts Summit are 1 in 143.
10. Higginsville
Higginsville is another one of the least dangerous areas of Missouri. The small city is located in Lafayette County, about 10 miles southeast of Lexington and 20 miles north of Warrensburg. It has a population of 4,817 residents as of the 2020 census. The total crime rate in Higginsville is 754 crimes per 100,000 residents, which is 68% lower than the US average and 116% lower than the US average. Violent crime is minimal, and property crime is also 68% lower than in the rest of the county. Your chances of being the victim of a crime in Higginsville are 1 in 133.