FORT WORTH NAMED THIRD SAFEST CITY IN AMERICA

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

 

Fort Worth named third-safest city in America, followed closely by Arlington

By Tiffani Jackson

Updated September 6, 2025 1:47 AM

 

Fort Worth’s reputation as a place to plant roots just got a boost. A new report ranks it among the safest big cities in America.

 

SmartAsset’s 2025 study of America’s safest cities has Fort Worth ranking No. 3 among 50 cities, and Arlington at No. 7.

 

Other Texas cities on the list include El Paso at No. 8 and Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio much further down. Here’s what to know about how the cities ranked.

 

How safe is Fort Worth compared to other big cities?

 

Fort Worth’s No. 3 ranking placed it ahead of cities like Dallas, Houston and Austin, which all fell in the middle of the pack. Researchers measured violent and property crime data from 2023, fatal car accidents, drug overdose deaths and excessive drinking rates.

 

Fort Worth stood out for lower-than-average drug overdose deaths (17.9 per 100,000 people) and moderate excessive drinking rates (18% of adults). While its traffic fatality rate (10.8 per 100,000 people) was higher than in some top cities, it was still low enough to keep Fort Worth in the top tier.

 

How did Arlington and El Paso stand out?

 

Arlington and El Paso joined Fort Worth in the top 10, ranking seventh and eighth, respectively.

 

Arlington’s profile looked similar to Fort Worth’s, with housing and income levels almost identical.

 

El Paso, meanwhile, offered affordability that set it apart: housing costs averaging just over $1,000 a month compared to a median income of about $59,000.

 

Both cities had relatively low overdose death rates compared to national averages.

 

How did other Texas cities perform?

 

Dallas (No. 18), Houston (No. 24), Austin (No. 28) and San Antonio (No. 29) all ranked lower. These cities faced higher crime levels and property loss, along with more roadway deaths.

 

Still, each showed strengths. Austin’s traffic fatality rate was below the national average, while Dallas and Houston reported lower drug overdose deaths than some peer metros.

 

How did researchers measure safety?

 

SmartAsset used federal data, including the FBI’s 2023 Uniform Crime Reporting Database and the 2025 County Health Rankings.

 

They compared 50 of the nation’s largest cities on per-capita rates of violent and property crimes, fatal car accidents, overdose deaths and binge or heavy drinking.

 

Researchers also factored in affordability by including median housing costs and household income from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey.

 

What’s the safest city in 2025 overall?

 

San Jose, California, topped the list. It landed in the top 10 across every category reviewed, with especially low violent crime and overdose death rates.

 

Here’s the Top 10 list:

 

1. San Jose

2. Los Angeles

3. Fort Worth, Texas

4. Omaha, Neb.

5. Virginia Beach, Va.

6. Las Vegas, Nev.

7. Arlington, Texas

8. El Paso, Texas

9. Charlotte, N.C.

10. Raleigh, N.C.

Coming in at No. 50 was Memphis, Tenn.