A recent SmartAsset study has identified Plano as the second safest large city in the United States, just behind Virginia Beach. This ranking reflects a broader trend among Texas cities, with Plano and Laredo, which ranked sixth, representing the state's safer urban areas. In contrast, Dallas and Houston found themselves in the bottom 10, with Houston ranking second from last.
The study evaluated 83 cities across the country, each with populations exceeding 250,000. It combined various metrics beyond just crime statistics. Specifically, it analyzed violent crimes and property crimes per 1,000 residents based on the FBI's 2024 Crime in the United States report.
Additionally, it included motor vehicle fatalities per 100,000 residents from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and disaster risk data from FEMA's National Risk Index, which was assessed as of April 2026.
Plano's statistics revealed 1.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents and 14.7 property crimes per 1,000 residents, along with 6.9 auto fatalities per 100,000 residents. However, the city's disaster risk was rated as "Relatively High," which impacted its overall standing. Despite this, Plano managed to secure the second position, highlighting that disaster risk can significantly influence rankings.
The study's methodology is crucial to understanding the results. It utilized county-level data as a proxy for city conditions, which can skew outcomes, especially in Texas, where urban and suburban areas coexist within the same counties. This limitation particularly affects larger cities like Dallas and Houston, which are more likely to have diverse conditions within their boundaries.
