August 18, 2025, 2:51 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

The U.S. ranks 128th out of 163 in the current Global Peace Index, placing it in the bottom third worldwide. However, the U.S. is not uniform. Safety and peacefulness vary greatly depending on where you are in this vast country. The news platform “U.S. News & World Report” regularly publishes a best-of list of U.S. states, primarily based on official data. In one subcategory, the list of the safest U.S. states was created. TRAVELBOOK presents the least safe states in the U.S. according to “U.S. News & World Report” and shows the entire list.

The Least Safe States in the U.S.

Recently, we have regularly heard about violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Los Angeles. California is generally considered not particularly safe due to its high rate of homelessness and drug problems in major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. New York City might also come to mind when thinking of dangerous cities. Recently, TRAVELBOOK presented the most dangerous cities in the U.S. (based on FBI data) and found that neither New York nor Los Angeles ranked particularly high. Looking at the lower end of the list of safest states in the “U.S. News & World Report” ranking, it’s similar: Neither California nor New York appears at the bottom.

Instead, New Mexico ranks last in public safety. The state in the southwestern U.S., bordering Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, and Mexico, also ranks last in terms of violent crime and property crimes. In the crime and corrections category, it ranks 49th, and in the overall ranking of the best states in the U.S., New Mexico is 47th.

Colorado and Louisiana in Second and Third Place

The second least safe state in the U.S. is neighboring Colorado, which ranks 11th overall among the best U.S. states. How does this discrepancy arise? Colorado scores particularly well in education (3rd place), economy (6th place), and health (9th place). It also ranks well in infrastructure (11th place) and nature (16th place). However, the state in the central west ranks 48th in property crimes, 47th in crime and corrections, and 44th in violent crime.

Louisiana is the third least safe state in the U.S.—and the worst in the overall best ranking. In terms of crime and corrections, the southeastern state also ranks 50th, 46th in violent crime, and 47th in property crimes.

Looking at the lower half of the ranking, both California and New York appear. California is in the last ten ranks, specifically 43rd, the eighth last of all 50 states. New York State ranks significantly higher at 30th place, considering the size of the state compared to the relatively small New York City.

These Are the Ten Least Safe States in the U.S., According to “U.S. News & World Report”

50. New Mexico
49. Colorado
48. Louisiana
47. Tennessee
46. Arkansas
45. Alaska
44. Washington
43. California
42. Nevada
41. South Carolina

The Safest States in the U.S.

The safest state in the U.S. and second best overall, according to the ranking, is New Hampshire. The small state in the central north of New England impresses with its natural beauty of forests, rivers, and mountains, as well as its palpable idyllic character. Number two is neighboring Maine, known for its numerous natural beauties, charming fishing villages, and excellent lobster. Maine also ranks second in crime and corrections, but only 27th in the overall best ranking. Number three among the safest states is Idaho in the northwest U.S. The state also holds third place in the overall ranking. In terms of property crimes, Idaho ranks first in the country.

The Safest and Least Safe States in the U.S. Overview According to “U.S. News & World Report”

1. New Hampshire
2. Maine
3. Idaho
4. Rhode Island
5. Connecticut
6. West Virginia
7. Wyoming
8. Massachusetts
9. Wisconsin
10. New Jersey
11. Mississippi
12. Hawaii
13. Kentucky
14. Iowa
15. Utah
16. Virginia
17. Pennsylvania
18. Florida
19. Vermont
20. Minnesota
21. Indiana
22. Ohio
23. Nebraska
24. Illinois
25. South Dakota
26. North Dakota
27. Georgia
28. Alabama
29. Michigan
30. New York
31. Delaware
32. Arizona
33. Montana
34. North Carolina
35. Maryland
36. Kansas
37. Oklahoma
38. Texas
39. Missouri
40. Oregon
41. South Carolina
42. Nevada
43. California
44. Washington
45. Alaska
46. Arkansas
47. Tennessee
48. Louisiana
49. Colorado
50. New Mexico