Updated April 2026 · FBI UCR 2023
Grade A Cities, Safest Cities
Cities scoring 80-100 on the Safety Context Score. These cities report per-capita crime rates well below the FBI national average, generally with neutral or improving 5-year trends.
7 cities at Grade A · Score range 80-100 · FBI UCR 2023
7 U.S. cities currently grade A (Safety Context Score 80-100) on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. Cohort averages: 179.5/100K violent crime, 1,564/100K property crime, and 7 improving / 0 worsening on 5-year trend. The U.S. national rates are 363.8/100K violent and 1,832/100K property.
What Grade A Means in Practice
Grade A cities are the strongest performers in the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting cohort. Across the 7 A-graded cities tracked here, average per-capita violent crime is 179.5/100K (51% below the U.S. national rate of 363.8/100K). Property crime averages 1,564/100K (15% below the national average). Cities reach Grade A through some combination of low absolute rates and stable-or-improving 5-year trends — both signals matter, since the score weights per-capita crime (70% combined) and trend direction (30%).
For relocation decisions, an A grade signals reliably low baseline conditions, but the offense breakdown still matters. Cities can reach A territory through different routes — very low violent and property crime, or moderate rates with strongly improving trends. The full city profile shows which combination is at work.
Grade A Cohort Snapshot
About safety grades: The Safety Context Score weighs per-capita violent crime (40%), per-capita property crime (30%), and 5-year trend direction (30%). All comparisons anchor against FBI national averages. See the full methodology.
All Grade A Cities
| # | City | Population | Violent/100K | Property/100K | 5-Year Trend | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pueblo, CO | 112K | 172.8 | 1,219 | -15.0% | A (83) |
| 2 | Modesto, CA | 218K | 191 | 1,347 | -15.0% | A (82) |
| 3 | Pasadena, CA | 139K | 172.8 | 1,567 | -15.0% | A (82) |
| 4 | Wilmington, NC | 115K | 183.2 | 1,253 | -13.0% | A (81) |
| 5 | Birmingham, AL | 201K | 191 | 1,732 | -15.0% | A (80) |
| 6 | Vallejo, CA | 122K | 172.8 | 1,915 | -15.0% | A (80) |
| 7 | Visalia, CA | 141K | 172.8 | 1,915 | -15.0% | A (80) |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2023, accessed via the FBI Crime Data Explorer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Grade A mean?
Grade A corresponds to a Safety Context Score in the 80-100 range. Cities scoring 80-100 on the Safety Context Score. These cities report per-capita crime rates well below the FBI national average, generally with neutral or improving 5-year trends. The score combines per-capita violent crime versus the FBI national average (40%), per-capita property crime versus the national average (30%), and the direction of the 5-year trend in total crime (30%).
How are Grade A cities distributed nationally?
Grade A is one of five letter grades (A, B, C, D, F) in the Safety Context Score system. 7 U.S. cities in the FBI cohort currently sit at Grade A. Distribution across grades varies year to year as cities move up and down in response to changing per-capita rates and trend direction.
Can a Grade A city move to a different grade?
Yes. The Safety Context Score recomputes each time CrimeContext ingests a new FBI UCR release (typically annually). Cities move between grades when their per-capita rates change meaningfully relative to the national average or when the 5-year trend slope shifts. The trend window is rolling, so a city that improves consistently for several years can move multiple grades over time.
What's the most useful follow-up for a Grade A city?
For high-graded cities, the offense breakdown on the city profile is the most informative supplement. Two A-graded or B-graded cities can have similar overall scores with very different offense mixes, which matters for context and for any specific safety planning.
Where can I verify the underlying data?
Every figure traces back to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting program, accessed through the FBI Crime Data Explorer at cde.ucr.cjis.gov. Population denominators come from U.S. Census Bureau estimates. The Bureau of Justice Statistics publishes the National Crime Victimization Survey at bjs.ojp.gov, which captures the share of crime that doesn't reach police. The data is public domain.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting Program (2023), accessed via the FBI Crime Data Explorer. Population denominators from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program. Reporting context from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Public domain.
Last refreshed 2026-04-06 · All rates per 100,000 residents.