The No. 2 Safest City In America Has Low Unemployment Rates

Safety is massively important when it comes to choosing your new home. In fact, Zillow reports that 85% of consumers mark safety as the most important factor when choosing a neighborhood. The cost of crime for those living in the most dangerous cities in the United States is astronomical, making safety a further priority. Though safety is important for many, economic opportunities are also a major consideration. In a recent WalletHub report outlining the safest cities in the United States, one Kansas town proved to be both safe and offered high employment opportunities. The list was compiled by weighing multiple factors, including Individual safety, natural disaster risk, and economic safety.

Overland Park, Kansas, came in at No. 2 on the list of the nation's safest cities, falling behind only Warwick, Road Island. The city of nearly 210,000 people, located just outside of Kansas City, found its spot on the list primarily due to the safety of its roads. The city is also considered ideal for its economic opportunities, as it has the 14th-lowest unemployment rate in the country. Additionally, Overland Park is far from the type of towns and houses people should avoid for retirement, as it lies far from the coast and the natural disasters of flooding and hurricanes.

Drivers and pedestrians run low risks of incidents when passing through Overland Park, which has the fifth-lowest pedestrian fatality rate according to WalletHub. Additionally, large portions of drivers in the city are insured, and while there were still traffic collisions, very few of them were fatal. These facts are echoed by Walk Score, giving the city a 92/100 rating, making it a highly pedestrian-friendly city. Residents may need a car to access nearby Kansas City, which offers a vibrant cultural center, including a new restaurant from celebrities like Patrik Mahomes and Travis Kelce.

Overland Park has seen a massive population boom in the last 40 years, going from just over 80,000 residents in 1980 to its current population of over 200,000. While in some cases this may mean higher housing costs and more competition for gainful employment, Overland Park has high financial stability, as according to World Population Review, the average household income is over $100,000. Additionally, the city has an unemployment rate of only 3.3% and many residents report a mortgage far below 35% of their income. Because of this, a very small portion of the city is under the poverty line, which bolstered its ranking via the WalletHub criteria.