Morgan Quitno Press' 6^th Annual Safest Metro Award

Most Dangerous Order

Safest Order

Metro Area

Score

1998 Population

152

96

Abilene, TX

(14.91)

123,462

53

195

Albany, GA

24.06

120,126

5

243

Albuquerque, NM

81.54

677,816

30

218

Alexandria, LA

36.71

126,985

232

16

Altoona, PA

(54.47)

130,716

109

139

Amarillo, TX

(0.07)

211,603

66

182

Anchorage, AK

19.50

254,250

191

57

Ann Arbor, MI

(33.54)

538,465

176

72

Asheville, NC

(27.80)

214,727

134

114

Athens, GA

(10.62)

141,404

26

222

Atlanta, GA

39.56

3,702,527

97

151

Atlantic City-Cape May, NJ

5.42

337,270

79

169

Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC

11.79

466,660

163

85

Austin-San Marcos, TX

(21.10)

1,088,710

78

170

Bakersfield, CA

12.50

636,378

10

238

Baltimore, MD

68.30

2,494,963

241

7

Bangor, ME

(59.01)

65,068

213

35

Barnstable-Yarmouth, MA

(43.98)

148,848

16

232

Baton Rouge, LA

57.11

572,392

45

203

Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX

27.37

381,183

154

94

Bellingham, WA

(16.38)

156,421

225

23

Bergen-Passaic, NJ

(50.43)

1,345,674

88

160

Birmingham, AL

8.96

906,749

203

45

Bismarck, ND

(39.49)

90,618

198

50

Boise, ID

(36.07)

389,633

196

52

Boston, MA-NH

(35.71)

3,468,653

189

59

Boulder-Longmont, CO

(33.18)

266,841

230

18

Brazoria, TX

(52.96)

229,128

175

73

Bremerton, WA

(27.64)

237,914

99

149

Bridgeport, CT

4.06

450,935

147

101

Brockton, MA

(13.72)

249,817

151

97

Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, TX

(14.09)

323,425

149

99

Bryan-College Station, TX

(13.99)

135,204

228

20

Burlington, VT

(51.78)

148,107

186

62

Casper, WY

(31.05)

63,771

58

190

Charleston-North Charleston, SC

22.67

520,162

148

100

Charleston, WV

(13.84)

252,666

24

224

Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill, NC-SC

42.14

1,372,645

205

43

Charlottesville, VA

(40.70)

147,858

226

22

Cheyenne, WY

(50.68)

78,893

158

90

Chico-Paradise, CA

(17.75)

196,561

141

107

Colorado Springs, CO

(11.93)

489,659

192

56

Columbia, MO

(33.90)

129,188

51

197

Columbia, SC

26.09

514,392

141

107

Columbus, GA-AL

(11.93)

279,624

52

196

Columbus, OH

25.08

1,461,411

104

144

Corpus Christi, TX

2.93

394,488

215

33

Cumberland, MD-WV

(45.37)

99,630

27

221

Dallas, TX

38.47

3,073,484

246

2

Danbury, CT

(67.14)

167,952

171

77

Danville, VA

(25.46)

109,521

71

177

Daytona Beach, FL

17.06

474,256

202

46

Decatur, AL

(38.30)

141,928

119

129

Denver, CO

(3.77)

1,929,700

183

65

Des Moines, IA

(30.86)

430,798

17

231

Detroit, MI

56.87

4,486,023

234

14

Dubuque, IA

(54.77)

88,432

229

19

Dutchess County, NY

(52.36)

265,243

146

102

El Paso, TX

(13.43)

713,161

118

130

Elkhart-Goshen, IN

(3.66)

171,744

214

34

Elmira, NY

(45.26)

93,283

127

121

Enid, OK

(6.99)

57,212

210

38

Erie, PA

(42.88)

278,959

117

131

Eugene-Springfield, OR

(3.58)

315,100

236

12

Fargo-Moorhead, ND-MN

(55.64)

166,404

56

192

Fayetteville, NC

23.88

288,676

164

84

Flagstaff, AZ

(21.22)

122,509

7

241

Flint, MI

77.15

437,229

220

28

Florence, AL

(49.55)

138,337

59

189

Florence, SC

22.61

126,893

180

68

Fort Collins-Loveland, CO

(29.84)

230,550

85

163

Fort Lauderdale, FL

10.32

1,206,383

37

211

Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL

31.24

394,012

100

148

Fort Pierce-Port St. Lucie, FL

4.05

300,932

177

71

Fort Smith, AR-OK

(28.01)

193,654

135

113

Fort Walton Beach, FL

(10.66)

170,576

167

81

Fort Wayne, IN

(22.60)

480,387

96

152

Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

6.03

1,678,768

23

225

Fresno, CA

43.27

879,444

8

240

Gainesville, FL

73.35

201,872

64

184

Galveston-Texas City, TX

21.64

246,991

50

198

Gary, IN

26.10

595,172

244

4

Glens Falls, NY

(62.32)

122,839

120

128

Goldsboro, NC

(4.22)

113,806

219

29

Grand Forks, ND-MN

(48.82)

101,641

194

54

Grand Junction, CO

(34.66)

112,899

142

106

Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland, MI

(13.02)

1,018,110

116

132

Greeley, CO

(3.51)

158,717

84

164

Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Pt, NC

10.55

1,172,269

72

176

Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, SC

16.80

924,142

14

234

Greenville, NC

61.50

121,211

235

13

Hagerstown, MD

(55.63)

129,186

162

86

Hamilton-Middletown, OH

(18.69)

327,386

182

66

Hartford, CT

(30.55)

1,045,559

169

79

Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir, NC

(24.45)

323,557

173

75

Honolulu, HI

(27.25)

874,736

94

154

Houma, LA

7.16

191,974

40

208

Houston, TX

30.80

3,914,915

153

95

Huntsville, AL

(15.45)

335,537

38

210

Indianapolis, IN

31.12

1,512,798

174

74

Iowa City, IA

(27.62)

102,677

20

228

Jacksonville, FL

52.08

1,053,156

198

50

Jacksonville, NC

(36.07)

145,344

128

120

Jackson, MI

(7.06)

156,029

6

242

Jackson, MS

80.13

429,157

12

236

Jackson, TN

64.58

100,484

46

202

Jersey City, NJ

27.22

555,697

211

37

Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

(43.56)

464,976

157

91

Jonesboro, AR

(17.73)

77,389

138

110

Killeen-Temple, TX

(11.14)

304,690

223

25

Kokomo, IN

(50.25)

100,578

216

32

Lafayette, IN

(46.26)

145,195

112

136

Lafayette, LA

(2.55)

373,480

73

175

Lake Charles, LA

16.72

179,573

11

237

Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL

66.00

456,667

125

123

Lansing-East Lansing, MI

(6.25)

449,318

82

166

Laredo, TX

11.50

186,245

77

171

Las Cruces, NM

15.53

167,750

13

235

Las Vegas, NV-AZ

61.76

1,312,825

105

143

Lawton, OK

2.58

114,988

238

10

Lewiston-Auburn, ME

(56.97)

101,208

145

103

Lima, OH

(13.35)

155,263

159

89

Lincoln, NE

(17.88)

234,164

35

213

Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR

32.90

555,662

102

146

Longview-Marshall, TX

3.09

214,265

22

226

Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA

44.96

9,257,996

90

158

Louisville, KY-IN

8.78

1,000,093

42

206

Lubbock, TX

28.80

233,660

206

42

Lynchburg, VA

(40.95)

209,182

49

199

Macon, GA

26.70

322,664

221

27

Manchester, NH

(49.77)

179,671

204

44

Mansfield, OH

(39.69)

175,211

91

157

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX

8.59

519,359

179

69

Medford-Ashland, OR

(29.24)

173,016

111

137

Melbourne-Titusville-Palm Bay, FL

(1.56)

469,219

57

191

Merced, CA

22.73

198,548

2

246

Miami, FL

112.08

1,708,207

237

11

Middlesex-Somerset-Hunterdon, NJ

(56.53)

1,114,033

144

104

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI

(13.19)

2,818,088

63

185

Mobile, AL

21.96

531,145

44

204

Modesto, CA

27.96

427,034

245

3

Monmouth-Ocean, NJ

(63.24)

1,085,263

18

230

Monroe, LA

56.18

147,629

43

205

Montgomery, AL

28.77

324,278

4

244

Myrtle Beach, SC

82.29

172,598

126

122

Naples, FL

(6.34)

199,230

107

141

New Bedford, MA

1.48

176,602

161

87

New Haven-Meriden, CT

(18.44)

557,162

3

245

New Orleans, LA

95.96

1,313,102

32

216

New York, NY

35.97

8,653,748

76

172

Newark, NJ

15.69

1,958,610

130

118

Norfolk-Va Beach-Newport News, VA-NC

(8.61)

1,558,156

41

207

Oakland, CA

29.95

2,298,398

93

155

Ocala, FL

7.73

241,551

165

83

Odessa-Midland, TX

(21.77)

247,408

48

200

Oklahoma City, OK

26.81

1,039,904

181

67

Olympia, WA

(30.43)

203,183

81

167

Omaha, NE-IA

11.60

690,063

195

53

Orange County, CA

(35.43)

2,707,157

62

186

Orlando, FL

22.02

1,311,747

110

138

Panama City, FL

(0.79)

148,837

239

9

Parkersburg-Marietta, WV-OH

(57.43)

150,532

68

180

Pensacola, FL

17.75

404,185

65

183

Philadelphia, PA-NJ

20.05

4,944,642

31

217

Phoenix-Mesa, AZ

36.56

2,910,641

1

247

Pine Bluff, AR

188.72

82,748

209

39

Pittsburgh, PA

(41.36)

2,363,888

247

1

Pittsfield, MA

(70.05)

97,349

227

21

Pocatello, ID

(51.16)

75,010

108

140

Portland-Vancouver, OR-WA

0.98

1,812,321

217

31

Portland, ME

(46.36)

241,184

193

55

Providence-Fall River-Warwick, RI-MA

(34.00)

948,985

240

8

Provo-Orem, UT

(58.36)

334,676

34

214

Pueblo, CO

33.53

135,564

243

5

Punta Gorda, FL

(61.40)

136,071

80

168

Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

11.69

1,066,464

143

105

Rapid City, SD

(13.10)

87,190

187

61

Reading, PA

(31.51)

353,497

98

150

Redding, CA

5.15

165,196

113

135

Reno, NV

(2.59)

318,556

170

78

Richland-Kennewick-Pasco, WA

(24.49)

185,373

70

178

Richmond-Petersburg, VA

17.14

951,250

67

181

Riverside-San Bernardino, CA

18.29

3,082,283

172

76

Roanoke, VA

(26.82)

230,468

207

41

Rochester, MN

(41.11)

115,573

190

58

Rochester, NY

(33.46)

1,086,446

75

173

Rocky Mount, NC

15.91

148,572

60

188

Sacramento, CA

22.42

1,521,655

122

126

Saginaw-Bay City-Midland, MI

(4.48)

404,722

160

88

Salem, OR

(18.18)

329,164

114

134

Salinas, CA

(2.86)

366,382

156

92

Salt Lake City-Ogden, UT

(17.19)

1,272,244

168

80

San Angelo, TX

(23.75)

104,343

92

156

San Antonio, TX

8.33

1,536,344

124

124

San Diego, CA

(5.54)

2,756,316

106

142

San Francisco, CA

1.92

1,682,556

185

63

San Jose, CA

(30.97)

1,628,933

188

60

San Luis Obispo-Atascadero, CA

(32.78)

236,176

201

47

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA

(36.81)

395,024

178

70

Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA

(28.28)

243,462

184

64

Santa Rosa, CA

(30.87)

433,909

129

119

Sarasota-Bradenton, FL

(8.44)

548,416

29

219

Savannah, GA

37.01

290,010

83

165

Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA

11.12

2,299,063

155

93

Sherman-Denison, TX

(16.52)

103,218

25

223

Shreveport-Bossier City, LA

41.73

380,217

137

111

Sioux City, IA-NE

(11.09)

121,249

233

15

Sioux Falls, SD

(54.58)

164,548

69

179

South Bend, IN

17.63

259,596

87

161

Spokane, WA

9.68

410,348

33

215

Springfield, MA

35.74

505,110

200

48

Springfield, MO

(36.71)

329,863

231

17

Stamford-Norwalk, CT

(54.35)

333,124

39

209

Stockton-Lodi, CA

31.09

549,212

242

6

St. Cloud, MN

(59.56)

162,552

199

49

St. Joseph, MO

(36.11)

97,776

54

194

Sumter, SC

23.98

108,743

212

36

Syracuse, NY

(43.88)

743,177

15

233

Tacoma, WA

60.35

674,773

21

227

Tallahassee, FL

49.11

265,270

115

133

Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL

(3.44)

1,628,331

103

145

Texarkana, TX-AR

3.01

124,998

95

153

Toledo, OH

6.87

613,063

133

115

Trenton, NJ

(9.34)

332,325

19

229

Tucson, AZ

54.83

799,675

61

187

Tulsa, OK

22.15

771,310

47

201

Tuscaloosa, AL

27.12

161,946

74

174

Tyler, TX

16.14

169,397

222

26

Utica-Rome, NY

(50.05)

297,301

131

117

Vallejo-Fairfield-Napa, CA

(8.71)

496,352

208

40

Ventura, CA

(41.27)

734,945

139

109

Victoria, TX

(11.85)

83,378

89

159

Vineland-Millville-Bridgeton, NJ

8.90

141,992

86

162

Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, CA

10.29

357,542

28

220

Waco, TX

38.30

206,335

101

147

Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV

3.22

4,629,510

136

112

Waterbury, CT

(10.99)

185,995

166

82

Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

(22.38)

121,928

9

239

West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL

69.22

1,036,734

121

127

Wichita Falls, TX

(4.40)

139,367

224

24

Williamsport, PA

(50.42)

118,218

36

212

Wilmington, NC

31.75

217,061

151

97

Worcester, MA-CT

(14.09)

483,458

55

193

Yakima, WA

23.92

220,398

123

125

Yolo, CA

(5.20)

154,686

218

30

York, PA

(48.34)

369,932

132

116

Yuba City, CA

(8.93)

141,037