10 Safest Cities in Arizona in 2024 (With Pictures)

Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.

Whether you’re looking to move or simply want to holiday in Arizona, it helps to be vigilant and aware of the crime rate in the areas you’re going. In general, Arizona’s crime rates are on the decline, but the state sees more property crime than most states in the United States. Arizona’s overall crime rate is higher than the national average, but many of the safest cities in Arizona performed better than the nationwide average and make great holiday destinations.

In this article, we’ll take a quick look at the 10 safest cities in Arizona according to the latest property crime rates, violent crimes rates, and law enforcement employees. Let’s dive in!

The 10 Safest Cities in Arizona: A Quick Look

1. Florence, AZ

Florence is one of the oldest towns in Arizona and is regarded as a National Historic District with over 25 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s also one of the safest places to live in Arizona, with a crime rate over 80% below the national average and over 85% lower than the state of Arizona.

In Florence, you have a 1 in 599.7 chance of being a victim of violent crime, compared to a 1 in 219.6 chance nationwide. Property crime is also low, 86% lower than the national average and 88% lower than the Arizona average. In 2020, Florence was one of the only cities in Arizona to have fewer than 100 property crimes.

2. Paradise Valley, AZ

Paradise Valley is one of Arizona’s wealthiest municipalities, known for its luxury golf courses, restaurants, and real estate. It also has one of the lowest crime rates in Arizona as well as one of the lowest poverty rates at only 3.6%. The total crime rate in Paradise Valley is 50% lower than the national average, and 59% lower than the Arizona average. The violent crime rate is over 80% lower than the national average and the property crime rate is over 40% below the national average.

While the city is fairly expensive in terms of property and entertainment, there is plenty to do, a lot of jobs available, and the area is one of the safest in Arizona.

3. Oro Valley, AZ

Oro Valley was one of only three cities to improve its property crime rate in 2021, and you have a 1 in 78.2 chance of being a victim of property crime in Oro Valley, compared with a 1 in 47 national average. Violent crime is 85% below the national average, and crime rates overall are 46% lower than the national average.

Oro Valley is known for having over 10 high-tech firms and being within driving distance of the gorgeous Sonoran Desert and Santa Catalina mountains. There are several upmarket golf courses, resorts, and country clubs, and plenty of walks for nature and hiking enthusiasts.

4. San Luis, AZ

San Luis is a border town with a fast-growing population and was the only city in Arizona to report zero murders in 2020. The total crime rate is 46% below the national average, with a violent crime rate that’s 73% below the rest of the US. While property crime is still slightly high, you only have a 1 in 81.4 chance of being a victim, which is 40% below the national average.

That said, San Luis has a much higher poverty rate than other cities on this list, and jobs in the city are few and far between. Surprisingly, this has not had a massive effect on crime rates overall, although the city experiences more car theft than the national and state average.

5. Sahuarita, AZ

Sahuarita is a fast-growing community, with much of the housing built fairly recently and a much higher than average median household income. It’s known as a great place for families to raise kids with a good public school system and a large population of college-educated adults. There is also a lot of open space and recreational activities in the area, leading Sahuarita to be named one of the 50 Best Places to Live in the US by Money Magazine.

Violent crime in Sahuarita is 62% below the national average, and you have a 1 in 719 chance of being a victim of violent crime. Property crime is also significantly lower than the national median, and you have a 1 in 89.6 chance of being the victim of a property crime in Sahuarita.

6. Gilbert, AZ

Gilbert is the fifth largest municipality in Arizona and was once a prime farming community fueled by the railway and construction of the Roosevelt dam. Gilbert is a great place to raise kids, with 11 A+ schools plus was recently announced as the fourth best school district in America. The overall crime rate in Gilbert has declined steadily since 2002, when it was just below the national average, whereas in 2021 it was more than three times smaller than the US median.

You have a 1 in 1,035 chance of being a victim of violent crime in Gilbert, which is 73% lower than the national rate. Property crime is comparatively high with a 1 in 83 chance, but also still 43% below the US national average.

7. Somerton, AZ

Somerton has never been a city with very high crime rates, but the overall crime rate in Somerton has been consistently decreasing in recent years. Despite the low median household income, high poverty rate, and relatively low number of law enforcement employees, the city enjoys one of the lowest crime rates in Arizona.

The violent crime rate in Somerton is 41% below the national average, which gives you a 1 in 465 chance of being a victim, but it’s the property crime rate that’s really impressive, which is 63% lower than the US average.

8. Lake Havasu City, AZ

Lake Havasu is most well-known for recreational fishing and boating, with the lake being rated as one of the best bass fishing lakes in America and bringing in almost 750,000 visitors per year. There are also great trails around the lake plus a handful of other events that attract tourists to the city, not to mention London Bridge.

Despite all this movement in and out of the city, Lake Havasu has a fairly low crime rate, 44% below the national average. Violent crime is also low at 57% below the rest of the US, while property crime is somewhat high, but still 42% below the US national average.

9. Maricopa, AZ

Maricopa crime rates overall are 45% lower than the national average, and violent crimes are 68% lower than the rest of the US. Maricopa was once known as an oasis in the desert due to the convergence of four different water supplies. In 2003, Maricopa had only just over 1,000 residents, which then jumped to almost 16,000 just 2 years later!

Maricopa is one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States, and also one of the safest. You only have a 1 in 598 chance of being a victim of violent crime, and 1 in 84 of being a victim of property crime in Maricopa.

10. Prescott Valley, AZ

Known for its historic houses and structures, seasonal fishing and hiking in pristine nature, and its close proximity to the Prescott National Forest, Prescott is a popular tourist destination. It’s also a great place to settle in, especially for families with young children, and while it’s the tenth safest city in Arizona overall, it was listed as the safest city in Northern Arizona by Safewise Home Security.

Prescott has a violent crime rate 45% below the national average and 56% below the rest of Arizona, and a property crime rate 51% below the national average giving you a 1 in 98.5 chance of being a victim.

Crime Rates in Arizona

Both violent and property crime rates in Arizona have dropped over the past several years, although Arizona still ranks 10th on the highest crime rates among all 50 states and the 14th-highest property crime rate. There were six mass shootings in Arizona in 2019 and four in 2020, and officer-involved shootings increased from 75 in 2019 to 99 in 2020. Still, the above-mentioned cities all have overall crime rates that are far lower than the national average, and several of them are some of the safest places to live in the United States.

How to Stay Safe in Arizona

Staying safe in Arizona requires adhering to basic common sense safety practices that you’d apply elsewhere. This includes keeping all the doors locked in your home, not opening the door to strangers, keeping lights on your home while away, and keeping trees and shrubs trimmed to improve visibility around your home.

When traveling, make sure friends and family know where you’re going, try not to walk alone at night, park in well-lit areas, and check in and around your car before getting in.

Conclusion

If you’re planning a holiday or even planning on moving to Arizona in the near future, the above-mentioned cities are the safest in the state and even some of the safest in the US. Many of these cities have crime rates far below the national and state average, and crime rates in some are still dropping year after year.

Featured Image Credit: Fountain Lake Havasu City Arizona (Image Credit: Marine 69-71, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)