City LiveabilitySafest Cities to Live in 2026: Quick Answer
Based on crime index scores (where a lower number means less reported crime), some of the safest cities to live in for 2026 include Selva and Verbier at a crime index of 15, followed closely by Vail and Aspen at 18 and a group of very safe cities, including Tokyo, St. Moritz, Dingle, Breckenridge, North Bend, State College, Park City, and Bern at 20. While all numbers here indicate low crime relative to many global cities, those in the mid‑teens are among the best in the world for perceived personal safety.
Crime index alone does not tell the whole story, so this guide also factors in liveability scores and walk scores to help you understand how safety interacts with daily life, mobility, and the overall experience of living in each city.
How to Read the Crime Index and Liveability Scores
The crime index is a comparative measure of crime levels: a lower index means fewer reported incidents and a stronger sense of safety. In this list, the numbers range from 15 to 20, which already place every city in a relatively safe bracket. The difference between a crime index of 15 and 20 is meaningful but not extreme—both are associated with low crime environments compared with major global metros.
Liveability scores (rated here out of 10) summarize broader quality of life factors such as access to services, housing, environment, and amenities. Walk score measures how easy it is to accomplish daily errands on foot: higher walk scores mean more shops, services, and transit stops within walking distance. For residents, the safest cities to live are those where low crime aligns with decent liveability and the ability to move around comfortably and independently.
Top Tier: Ultra-Low Crime Index 15
Two cities stand out in 2026 with an exceptionally low crime index of 15: Selva in Italy and Verbier in Switzerland. Both combine alpine scenery with strong perceptions of safety and day‑to‑day security.
Selva, Italy (liveability 7.0/10, walk score 70, crime index 15): Selva pairs one of the best liveability scores on this list with one of the lowest crime index values. A walk score of 70 indicates that many daily needs can be met on foot, which, combined with very low crime, makes walking and evening activities feel comfortable for residents. This mix of accessibility and safety is particularly attractive for families, retirees, and remote workers looking for a stable, village‑style environment with solid amenities.
Verbier, Switzerland (liveability 5.0/10, walk score 70, crime index 15): Verbier matches Selva’s crime index of 15 and similar walk score of 70, meaning you can navigate much of the resort town by foot while benefiting from very low crime. Its liveability score of 5.0/10 suggests that while safety and walkability are excellent, other factors—such as housing costs, seasonality, and service availability—may temper the overall experience. Residents who prioritize a safe, active, mountain lifestyle often accept these trade‑offs in exchange for the security and outdoor access Verbier offers.
Very Safe in the US Alps and Rockies: Crime Index 18
Vail and Aspen in the United States both achieve a crime index of 18, still firmly within the “very safe” band. These communities balance resort‑driven economies with residential life, and their safety scores are a significant draw for year‑round residents.
Vail, United States (liveability 6.0/10, walk score 56, crime index 18): Vail’s crime index of 18 signals low overall crime, appealing to families and seasonal residents who value security. A walk score of 56 indicates that while some neighborhoods are walkable, a car or transit may still be helpful for many errands. The liveability score of 6.0/10 reflects a solid quality of life, especially for those who enjoy outdoor recreation, and the high safety level means residents can take advantage of trails, events, and village areas with relatively low personal risk.
Aspen, United States (liveability 5.0/10, walk score 75, crime index 18): Aspen combines a strong walk score of 75 with a low crime index of 18, making it one of the easiest and safest US resort towns to navigate on foot. The availability of WE‑cycle, a seasonal, nonprofit bike‑share system serving Aspen and nearby Basalt, adds another low‑risk mobility option, particularly for short trips around town with integration to local transit. While the liveability score of 5.0/10 suggests mixed accessibility and affordability, Aspen’s safety, walkability, and active transport options can make day‑to‑day living feel secure and convenient for those who can manage the costs.
Safe Global Hubs and Mountain Towns: Crime Index 20
A larger group of cities share a crime index of 20, still indicating low crime and generally high levels of safety for residents: Tokyo, St. Moritz, Dingle, Breckenridge, North Bend, State College, Park City, and Bern. Within this band, other factors—walkability, liveability, and health rankings—help differentiate the best fit for different lifestyles.
Tokyo, Japan (liveability 6.0/10, walk score 95, crime index 20, health rank 5): Tokyo is notable for combining big‑city scale with low crime. A walk score of 95 reflects an extremely walkable environment with dense transit and services, while a crime index of 20 is very low for a global megacity. Its health rank of 5 suggests strong health outcomes and systems. Docomo Bike Share, with 15,000+ bikes across 1,200+ stations, extends safe, short‑trip mobility; day passes from ¥1,650 make cycling viable for residents who want a car‑free or car‑light lifestyle. For urban dwellers, this makes Tokyo one of the safest cities to live in at metropolitan scale.
St. Moritz, Switzerland (liveability 6.0/10, walk score 65, crime index 20): St. Moritz offers a crime index of 20 with above‑average liveability (6.0/10) and a walk score of 65. Residents benefit from low crime in a compact alpine setting where many daily routes can be walked, though some errands may still favor local transit or driving. Safety perceptions are reinforced by the town’s resort infrastructure and community scale.
Dingle, Ireland (liveability 5.0/10, walk score 75, crime index 20): Dingle’s walk score of 75 and crime index of 20 make it a small, coastal town where most essentials are easily accessible on foot in a low‑crime environment. The liveability score of 5.0/10 hints at limited big‑city services and job diversity, but for residents prioritizing safety, walkability, and a slower pace, Dingle represents a secure option.
Breckenridge, United States (liveability 5.0/10, walk score 60, crime index 20): Breckenridge delivers a crime index of 20 and a walk score of 60, indicating that key parts of town are walkable but that some reliance on cars or shuttles remains likely. Low crime supports a sense of safety for outdoor activities and tourism‑driven work life, and the liveability score of 5.0/10 reflects a balance between mountain‑town amenities and the limitations of a smaller economy.
North Bend, United States (liveability 5.0/10, walk score 55, crime index 20): North Bend’s crime index of 20 indicates a comparatively safe environment within reach of larger urban areas. With a walk score of 55, walkability is moderate; some neighborhoods support walking, but many residents will combine walking with driving. Security‑minded residents may view North Bend as a compromise between small‑town safety and access to city opportunities.
State College, United States (liveability 5.0/10, walk score 68, crime index 20): State College pairs a crime index of 20 with a walk score of 68, reflecting a pedestrian‑friendly college town with low overall crime. Shared micromobility has periodically been provided through partners such as Spin, offering app‑based dockless e‑scooters and e‑bikes in pilot and seasonal programs. These options, when available, extend safe, car‑free movement between campus and adjacent streets. For students and faculty, the combination of walkability and low crime significantly shapes daily comfort.
Park City, United States (liveability 5.0/10, walk score 62, crime index 20): Park City’s crime index of 20 and walk score of 62 make it a relatively safe, moderately walkable mountain destination. Many residents can walk for leisure and core errands, while using cars or shuttles for longer trips. The town’s appeal lies in its outdoor amenities and low crime rather than comprehensive urban infrastructure.
Bern, Switzerland (liveability 5.0/10, walk score 70, crime index 20, health rank 14): Bern stands out as a national capital with both a crime index of 20 and a walk score of 70, indicating a very walkable and safe urban environment. A health rank of 14 points to strong health outcomes. BernRollt, the city’s main bike share program, offers free or low‑cost short‑term bicycle rentals from multiple stations, including near the main train station and central squares, which encourages safe, everyday cycling. For residents, this means a blend of low crime, accessible health care, and practical active transport in a mid‑sized European city.
Key Trends Among the Safest Cities to Live
Across these 12 locations, three patterns stand out. First, most of the safest cities to live in 2026 are smaller resort towns, university communities, or mid‑sized capitals rather than huge, high‑crime metros. Tokyo is the major exception, showing that strong governance and transit can keep crime low even at large scale. Second, walkability and low crime often go hand in hand: places like Aspen, Dingle, Bern, and Tokyo give residents confidence to walk and cycle, supported by bike‑share systems where available.
Third, liveability scores and safety do not always rise together. Verbier and Aspen match or nearly match the best safety levels but only achieve 5.0/10 liveability, suggesting trade‑offs with housing, seasonality, or service access. Selva, by contrast, demonstrates that a crime index of 15 and liveability of 7.0/10 can coexist, but such combinations are relatively rare and often limited to smaller, specialized communities.
How to Choose the Right Safe City for You
When comparing these safest cities to live, start with crime index as a baseline—anything between 15 and 20 is already very low—and then weigh liveability and walk scores against your lifestyle. If you value car‑free, urban living with strong health systems, Tokyo and Bern stand out. If alpine recreation and small‑town community are more important than broad job markets, Selva, St. Moritz, Verbier, Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, or Park City may be more appealing.
Students and academics might gravitate toward State College for its low crime, walkability, and campus‑oriented infrastructure, while those prioritizing coastal living and compact, walkable streets might prefer Dingle. In all cases, the safest choice is the one where low crime is matched by the amenities, mobility options, and community structure that fit your daily routine, budget, and long‑term plans.
Frequently asked questions
What does a crime index of 15–20 mean for everyday safety?
A crime index of 15–20 indicates relatively low levels of reported crime compared with many global cities, so residents typically experience fewer incidents of theft, assault, and property damage, and feel more comfortable walking, commuting, and spending time in public spaces.
Which cities in 2026 have the lowest crime index on this list?
Selva in Italy and Verbier in Switzerland have the lowest crime index at 15, making them among the safest cities to live in this comparison, followed closely by Vail and Aspen at 18.
Is Tokyo a safe city to live in despite its size?
Yes. Tokyo has a crime index of 20, a very high walk score of 95, and a strong health rank of 5, meaning it combines low crime with excellent walkability, transit, and health outcomes for a large metropolitan area.
How important is walkability when choosing a safe city to live in?
Walkability matters because higher walk scores and good bike‑share options make it easier to travel without a car, reduce exposure to traffic risks, and often correlate with well‑lit, active streets where low crime levels feel meaningful in everyday life.
Do the safest cities to live always have the highest liveability scores?
Not always. All cities listed are very safe, but liveability scores vary from 5.0/10 to 7.0/10, showing that low crime can coexist with challenges such as high costs, seasonality, or limited services.
How should I use crime index data when deciding where to move?
Use crime index as a first filter to identify safe cities, then compare liveability scores, walk scores, health rankings, and mobility options like bike‑share to see which place best matches your budget, daily routine, and long‑term goals.