New Report Reveals Arizona’s Safest and Most Dangerous Cities

By Matthew Holloway |

A recent report has highlighted Arizona’s five safest cities, noting a decline in violent crime along with a minor reduction in property crime rates. The findings, published by SafeWise, rank Oro Valley, Queen Creek, Gilbert, Sahuarita, and Surprise as the top five safest cities. In total, 25 cities were evaluated.

In contrast, Apache Junction, Avondale, Casa Grande, Glendale, and Tempe held the lowest ranks. For instance, Oro Valley reported a mere 0.55 violent crimes per 1,000 residents and 11.51 property crimes. Tempe, with a significantly larger population, had 5.2 violent crimes per 1,000 people and 36.13 property crimes.

The report’s data shows that the collective violent crime rate for the top five safest cities stands at 1.0 incidents per 1,000 individuals, while property crime rates are recorded at 10.4 incidents per 1,000. Additionally, the percentage of Arizonans feeling safe has risen from 36% to 41% over the past year.

Rebecca Edwards, SafeWise Managing Editor and Safety Expert, remarked, “Violent crime experiences are trending down across Arizona, with mass shootings decreasing by over 60% year over year — from eight in 2023 to just three in 2024. Cities like Queen Creek and Surprise are evidencing safety improvements.”

Despite 63% of surveyed Arizonans expressing daily concerns about property crime, personal experiences with it have fallen significantly, with only 26% reporting such incidents in the past year. Moreover, Arizona ranks third nationally for home security camera adoption, trailing only Delaware and Louisiana. A preference for security cameras over guard dogs was noted among 59% of respondents, compared to 44% favoring canine protection.

While concerns about violent crime persist, experiences of such crime decreased from 19% to 11%. Approximately 14% of those polled carry firearms for personal safety, and 33% own firearms for property protection. Interestingly, the percentage of individuals worried about gun violence grew from 58% to 67%, even with the decline in mass shootings.

SafeWise attributed its findings to self-reported data submitted by cities to the FBI’s Summary Reporting System and National Incident-Based Reporting System. The latest FBI data for reported crimes in 2023 was released in October 2024, covering the 2025 reporting year. The complete report and methodology can be accessed through SafeWise.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.