A new study by SmartAsset has recognized Plano as the second safest large city in the United States, only behind Virginia Beach. This ranking evaluated 83 cities across the country with populations exceeding 250,000, which represents over 90 percent of major urban areas. Plano outperformed cities such as Madison, Wisconsin; Honolulu; and Chesapeake, Virginia, which completed the top five.
The study's methodology involved a composite score derived from four distinct measures, rather than focusing solely on crime statistics. Two of these measures were taken from the FBI's 2024 Crime in the United States report, which included rates of violent crimes and property crimes per 1,000 residents.
Additionally, the study incorporated motor vehicle fatalities per 100,000 residents, sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The last measure assessed disaster risk, utilizing data from FEMA's National Risk Index as of April 2026, which was then converted to a five-point scale.
For Plano, the statistics revealed 1.5 incidents of violent crime per 1,000 residents, 14.7 property crimes per 1,000 residents, and a rate of 6.9 auto fatalities per 100,000 residents.
However, one factor negatively impacted Plano's overall score. The city received a “Relatively High” rating for disaster risk, which contributed to its second-place finish rather than enhancing it. This disaster risk assessment also influenced rankings for other cities; for instance, Irvine, California, ranked 12th and Santa Ana 20th, both affected by their exposure to earthquakes and wildfires despite having moderate crime rates.
The study highlighted a notable disparity within Texas, where both Plano and Laredo ranked in the top 10 safest cities, at second and sixth, respectively. Conversely, Dallas and Houston were found in the bottom 10, with Houston positioned second from last.
