Welcome to Indiana! Indiana is well known for its basketball teams and stars, automobile industry, and rich limestone bedrock. Ready to move to the Hoosier State? We’ve compiled a list of the 10 safest cities to help you make an informed decision.
1. Zionsville
- Population: 27,185
- Violent Crimes: 0 (0 per capita)
- Non-Violent Crimes: 60 (0.2207 per capita)
- Most Common Crime: Larceny; Burglary
91.41% Below National Crime Rate, 91.38% Below State Crime Rate
Zionsville tops the list of Indiana’s safest cities list. Located in the southeast area of Boone County, Zionsville is a town of more than 27,000 and located a mere 20 miles away from Indianapolis. With no violent crimes committed in the past year and 0.2 non-violent crimes committed per capita, it’s difficult to beat Zionsville in terms of safety! Zionsville is also home to interesting attractions, such as an antique fan museum.
2. Lowell
- Population: 9,711
- Violent Crimes: 1 (0.0103 per capita)
- Non-Violent Crimes: 21 (0.2162 per capita)
- Most Common Crime: Larceny; Burglary; Car Theft
91.18% Below National Crime Rate, 91.16% Below State Crime Rate
Next on our list is Lowell, a small town in West Creek and Cedar Creek townships. Established in 1852, the city was named after its resemblance to Lowell, Massachusetts. Lowell honors its town history well; not only is the town’s founder’s original house open to the public, but Lowell also hosts the state’s longest running Labor Day Parade. With only one violent crime committed in the past year, and 0.2 non-violent crimes committed her capita, Lowell is neck-and-neck with Zionsville in terms of safety!
3. New Whiteland
- Population: 6,182
- Violent Crimes: 1 (0.0103 per capita)
- Non-Violent Crimes: 44 (0.7717 per capita)
- Most Common Crime: Larceny; Burglary
72.29% Below National Crime Rate, 72.21% Below State Crime Rate
New Whiteland is a small town in Pleasant Township, Johnson County. Established in 1954, this 6,000 resident town is relatively new to the state. Despite its small size, the town has thrived and retained a steady population in the past decade. In addition to its low crime ratings, New Whiteland has an affordable housing economy, with houses averaging in the early $100,000s.
4. St. John
- Population: 17,615
- Violent Crimes: 2 (0.017 per capita)
- Non-Violent Crimes: 111 (0.6301 per capita)
- Most Common Crime: Larceny; Burglary
74.80% Below National Crime Rate, 74.74% Below State Crime Rate
Founded in 1837 by German immigrants, St. John is located in Lake County. This affluent city of 17,000 residents boasts multiple lakefront parks, golf courses, and biking paths, making it an attractive town for outdoor enthusiasts. The median house price averages between the early to mid $300,000s.
5. Carmel
- Population: 94,128
- Violent Crimes: 43 (0.0457 per capita)
- Non-Violent Crimes: 716 (0.7607 per capita)
- Most Common Crime: Larceny; Car Theft
68.60% Below National Crime Rate, 68.52% Below State Crime Rate
The sweet city of Carmel! Located north of Indianapolis and near Zionsville, Carmel is one of the largest cities on our list, with over 94,000 residents calling this Hamilton County city home. Among other features, Carmel is known for its Arts & Designs District, which features several blocks of art galleries, restaurants and shops. Ready to move to a sweet, safe city? The average house in Carmel is priced around $350,000.
6. Fishers
- Population: 94,035
- Violent Crimes: 46 (0.0489 per capita)
- Non-Violent Crimes: 815 (0.8667 per capita)
- Most Common Crime: Larceny; Car Theft
64.35% Below National Crime Rate, 64.26% Below State Crime Rate
To the east of Carmel lies Fishers, another city topping over 94,000 residents. Named the #1 Place to Live in the US by Money Magazine in 2017, Fishers is known for its innovative city processes and commitment to protecting its surrounding natural beauty. Having blossomed from 388 residents in 1960 to nearly 100,000 in 50 years, Fishers is one of the fastest growing cities in the state.
7. Westfield
- Population: 41,037
- Violent Crimes: 11 (0.0268 per capita)
- Non-Violent Crimes: 390 (0.9504 per capita)
- Most Common Crime: Larceny; Burglary
61.95% Below National Crime Rate, 61.85% Below State Crime Rate
Located in Hamilton County, Westfield is a city of 41,000 residents. Sports heavily permeate Westfield’s culture, from its Pacers Athletic Center to its Grand Park Sports Campus. Whether you want to hit the biking trails or play a round of golf on its multiple golf courses, Westfield features something for everyone. Houses in Westfield average in the mid $350,000s.
8. Crown Point
- Population: 29,884
- Violent Crimes: 6 (0.0201 per capita)
- Non-Violent Crimes: 335 (1.121 per capita)
- Most Common Crime: Larceny; Car Theft
55.57% Below National Crime Rate, 55.45% Below State Crime Rate
Crown Point is the county seat of Lake County, Indiana. Crown Point is known for hosting the infamous gangster John Dillinger, who escaped from the Lake County Jail in 1934. In modern times, Crown Point is known for its parks, trails, and museums. If you’re a car fanatic, be sure to check out the summertime Car Cruise, where owners of vintage cars display and discuss their old mechanical beauties.
9. Dyer
- Population: 15,880
- Violent Crimes: 10 (0.063 per capita)
- Non-Violent Crimes: 133 (0.8375 per capita)
- Most Common Crime: Larceny; Burglary; Car Theft
64.94% Below National Crime Rate, 64.85% Below State Crime Rate
Dyer is a small town located in Lake County. The town was settled in the early 1800’s and was officially incorporated in Indiana in 1910. In the 1920’s, Dyer earned national attention for an experimental model highway construction project, which ended up setting the standards for highway construction going forward. Homes in Dyer average in the early to mid $200,000s.
10. West Lafayette
- Population: 46,906
- Violent Crimes: 31 (0.0661 per capita)
- Non-Violent Crimes: 401 (0.8549 per capita)
- Most Common Crime: Larceny; Burglary
64.14% Below National Crime Rate, 64.05% Below State Crime Rate
Rounding out our list is West Lafayette, located in Tippecanoe County. West Lafayette is known for being the home of the famous research and education institute Purdue University. In addition, West Lafayette is home to parks, art museums, and nature centers. Like Dyer, houses in West Lafayette average in the early to mid $200,000s.
All information taken from the FBI crime statistics.
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Sarah graduated from Trinity University in 2012 with a degree in International Relations and Political Science. She writes blogs on new homes, decor, communities, and more for NewHomeSource. When she’s not writing, you can find her spending time with her three cats.