Safest Cities for Apartment Living in the US

When you're renting in a busy city, feeling safe at home is a big deal. That's why we set out to find the most secure cities in the U.S. for apartment living. To put this ranking together, we looked at four key factors that affect both safety and quality of life: property crime rates, how many people rent, how often people search for apartment security, and average rent prices. We analyzed 94 major cities to uncover which ones offer the best—and worst—mix of safety, affordability, and renter-friendly living.

Key takeaways

• Omaha, NE, and Tampa, FL, are the most secure apartment cities, while Oakland, CA, and Memphis, TN, are the least secure.
• Of the cities analyzed, Port St. Lucie, FL, Virginia Beach, VA, and Jersey City, NJ, have the lowest burglary rates per 100K residents.
• Seattle, WA, Memphis, TN, and Oakland, CA, have the highest burglary rates.
• Newark, NJ, Jersey City, NJ, and New York, NY, have the highest percentage of renters.

Explore the safest cities for apartment living

Use the interactive chart below to see how each city ranks across key factors that impact safety, affordability, and the overall renter experience.

Omaha, Nebraska, topped the list as the most secure apartment city, with low burglary and larceny rates along with affordable rent. Tampa, Florida, came in second overall, followed by Gilbert, Arizona, Cape Coral, Florida, and Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Oakland, California, Memphis, Tennessee, and Detroit, Michigan, ranked lowest in apartment security. High rates of property crime in these areas make them less appealing to safety-conscious renters, despite some of their affordability advantages.

What renters should know about crime, cost, and infrastructure

The chart below breaks down the best and worst cities in each of the ranking categories, giving you a deeper look at how factors like crime, affordability, and renter volume compare nationwide.

Port St. Lucie, Florida, stood out with the lowest rates across burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Jersey City, New Jersey, also reported minimal burglary incidents per 100,000 residents. In contrast, burglary was significantly more common in Seattle, Memphis, and Oakland. These high-crime areas pose greater risks for apartment dwellers concerned about personal and property safety.

Beyond crime, we looked at community behavior. Atlanta, Georgia, ranked No. 1 in apartment security-related search activity. This suggests strong public awareness and a proactive approach to safety. Looking at renter populations, Newark, New Jersey (75%), Jersey City, New Jersey (72%), and New York City (67%) had the highest concentration of renters. This means that these urban hubs could have better infrastructure and policies tailored to apartment living.

Rent prices also varied across the country. Toledo, Ohio, Wichita, Kansas, and Memphis, Tennessee, had some of the lowest average monthly rents. While these cities ranked lower for safety overall, they appear at the top in this category because secure apartments can still be found at more affordable prices. Just be sure to research neighborhoods carefully before making a move.

Where apartment security matters most to renters

Some cities may not have the lowest crime rates, but still show strong concern for apartment safety. We measured it by their online search behavior over the past two years.

Atlanta, Georgia, led all U.S. cities in apartment security-related search volume, reflecting a high level of renter awareness and demand for protective technology. The city logged more than 7,490 safety-related searches per 100,000 residents, covering topics like smart locks, security systems, and break-in prevention. St. Louis, Miami, Minneapolis, and Cleveland rounded out the top five, each with over 5,000 safety-related searches.

Conclusion: Smart ways to stay secure in your apartment

Even in cities with high safety rankings, renters should take steps to secure their apartments. Invest in a smart lock or doorbell camera to monitor entryways, especially in buildings without doormen or front-desk security. Use motion-activated lighting and install window sensors if you're on a ground floor or have a balcony. Always review your lease for any restrictions and get landlord approval where required.

Knowing which cities prioritize safety and how your city stacks up can help you make more informed decisions when choosing your next rental. With the right tools and awareness, you can feel confident in creating a safe, secure space wherever you live.

Methodology

To evaluate which U.S. cities offer the most secure and renter-friendly environments for apartment living, we analyzed data across four key categories to create a composite index. Each factor was normalized and weighted to produce a final score out of 100. Rankings included only major U.S. cities with sufficient data across all four categories:

• Property crime rates (70%): We used 2023 FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data, which is the most recently available data on burglary, larceny, arson, and motor vehicle theft per 100,000 residents.
• Renter population (10%): U.S. Census data was used to measure the percentage of renter-occupied housing in each city, reflecting the presence of apartment infrastructure, where a higher percentage indicates greater apartment-friendliness.
• Search interest in apartment security (10%): We assessed how many searches per 100,000 residents related to key search terms including "smart lock," "apartment security system," "security camera," "apartment package theft," "apartment break-in," and "apartment safety." Higher volume means more awareness, responsibility, and people proactively searching for ways to protect themselves.
• Average rent (10%): Lower average monthly rent values contributed positively to a city's score to reflect affordability.

Limitations: Due to data availability, only 94 cities were considered. Therefore, this ranking reflects only cities included in it, not every city in the U.S UCR data only includes crimes reported to the police, and not all law enforcement agencies may participate.

Fair use statement

We invite you to share these insights for noncommercial purposes. Please include a link back to this page to credit Vivint and give readers full access to our research.