A new study by SmartAsset has ranked Plano as the second safest large city in the United States, with Laredo also making the top ten at sixth place. This ranking highlights a notable contrast within Texas, as it also includes Dallas and Houston, which are positioned among the bottom ten safest cities.
The study evaluated 83 U.S. cities with populations exceeding 250,000, covering over 90 percent of the country's larger urban areas. Plano's strong performance was attributed to its low rates of violent and property crimes, with figures showing 1.5 violent crimes and 14.7 property crimes per 1,000 residents. Additionally, the city recorded 6.9 motor vehicle fatalities per 100,000 residents.
However, one metric 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 factor was significant in the rankings, as cities like Irvine, California, and Santa Ana, California, also faced lower placements due to environmental risks despite having moderate crime rates.
The study's methodology included four key metrics: violent crimes, property crimes, motor vehicle fatalities, and disaster risk, derived from various official sources including the FBI, CDC, and FEMA. This comprehensive approach means that rankings are not solely based on crime statistics, which can vary based on local reporting practices.