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Mid-size cities are getting their much-deserved moment in the spotlight. These locales offer Americans increased safety, a lower cost of living and a better opportunity to build wealth compared to larger cities.
These mid-size cities are evenly dispersed throughout the nation rather than being concentrated in any one region. Findings from a new GOBankingRates study analyzing America’s 50 safest and richest mid-size cities revealed these cities can be found along the East and West coasts, as well as throughout the Midwest and South.
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For this study, GOBankingRates first defined mid-sized cities as those with total populations between 75,000 and 500,000 people. Key factors analyzed include each location’s average household income, average home value and crime data (via the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Offenses Known to Law Enforcement). We scored those to determine the 50 mid-size cities that are safest and richest.
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Key Findings
- Cary, North Carolina, is the safest and richest mid-size city in America. It is the only North Carolina city to break into the top 50 and boasts an average household income of $170,942.
- Mid-size cities in Minnesota, Arizona and Utah rounded out the top five. Rochester and Woodbury, Minnesota, were second and third, followed by Gilbert, Arizona, and Lehi, Utah.
- Texas had a strong turnout, with eight mid-size cities mentioned in the top 50. The cities and their ranks are Cedar Park (#19), Plano (#25), Sugar Land (#29), Richardson (#33), Pearland (#35), New Braunfels (#36), Georgetown (#40) and Denton (#43).
- Savannah, Georgia, and Worcester, Massachusetts, have the lowest violent crime rates out of the 50 ranking locations. Savannah ranked at #24 and Worcester came in at #32.
- 30 cities have median household incomes of $100,000 or greater. Newton, Massachusetts, has the highest average salary at $266,160.
- No Florida cities appeared in the top 50.
See which 50 mid-size cities rank as the safest and richest in 2026. And don’t forget to review 2025’s 50 wealthiest suburbs in America.
1. Cary, North Carolina
- Population: 179,306
- Average household income: $170,942
- Average home value: $626,396
- Livability: 90
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 13.17
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.71
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2. Rochester, Minnesota
- Population: 122,330
- Average household income: $124,737
- Average home value: $339,455
- Livability: 92
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 13.68
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.54
3. Woodbury, Minnesota
- Population: 78,305
- Average household income: $159,434
- Average home value: $457,355
- Livability: 88
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 11.80
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.99
4. Gilbert, Arizona
- Population: 280,262
- Average household income: $150,067
- Average home value: $572,507
- Livability: 89
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 9.68
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.32
5. Lehi, Utah
- Population: 85,173
- Average household income: $154,527
- Average home value: $568,596
- Livability: 86
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 5.41
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.88
6. Plymouth, Minnesota
- Population: 79,220
- Average household income: $176,362
- Average home value: $508,713
- Livability: 85
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 10.24
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.51
7. Newton, Massachusetts
- Population: 89,044
- Average household income: $266,160
- Average home value: $1,528,894
- Livability: 84
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 5.99
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.49
8. Carmel, Indiana
- Population: 101,651
- Average household income: $191,688
- Average home value: $563,458
- Livability: 83
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 8.13
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.66
9. San Ramon, California
- Population: 85,993
- Average household income: $239,072
- Average home value: $1,543,534
- Livability: 87
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 11.13
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.86
10. Naperville, Illinois
- Population: 150,692
- Average household income: $200,019
- Average home value: $610,454
- Livability: 83
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 8.84
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.84
11. Orem, Utah
- Population: 97,182
- Average household income: $110,552
- Average home value: $504,054
- Livability: 89
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 13.60
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.74
12. South Jordan, Utah
- Population: 82,686
- Average household income: $159,325
- Average home value: $665,928
- Livability: 85
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 8.67
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.15
13. Fishers, Indiana
- Population: 102,337
- Average household income: $130,203
- Average home value: $441,582
- Livability: 82
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 6.59
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.73
14. Appleton, Wisconsin
- Population: 75,023
- Average household income: $119,940
- Average home value: $297,642
- Livability: 86
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 13.47
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 2.02
15. Layton, Utah
- Population: 83,286
- Average household income: $124,457
- Average home value: $527,623
- Livability: 86
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 13.46
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.30
16. Lynchburg, Virginia
- Population: 79,497
- Average household income: $79,031
- Average home value: $262,101
- Livability: 91
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 17.38
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 3.57
17. Cranston, Rhode Island
- Population: 83,250
- Average household income: $112,100
- Average home value: $446,694
- Livability: 85
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 10.52
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.93
18. Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Population: 122,036
- Average household income: $123,028
- Average home value: $523,391
- Livability: 89
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 17.16
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 3.02
19. Cedar Park, Texas
- Population: 78,301
- Average household income: $153,637
- Average home value: $471,699
- Livability: 83
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 11.98
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.96
20. Hoover, Alabama
- Population: 92,642
- Average household income: $142,446
- Average home value: $437,228
- Livability: 83
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 12.57
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.78
21. Meridian, Idaho
- Population: 130,138
- Average household income: $132,812
- Average home value: $526,994
- Livability: 83
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 5.71
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.47
22. Redmond, Washington
- Population: 77,353
- Average household income: $213,179
- Average home value: $1,402,276
- Livability: 88
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 27.40
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.31
23. Broomfield, Colorado
- Population: 76,304
- Average household income: $153,131
- Average home value: $632,201
- Livability: 85
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 18.56
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.48
24. Savannah, Georgia
- Population: 147,898
- Average household income: $80,242
- Average home value: $326,509
- Livability: 81
- Property crime rate per 1,000: NA
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.20
25. Plano, Texas
- Population: 290,594
- Average household income: $151,865
- Average home value: $498,989
- Livability: 83
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 14.66
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.52
26. O’Fallon, Missouri
- Population: 93,801
- Average household income: $128,022
- Average home value: $376,395
- Livability: 80
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 4.79
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.59
27. Castle Rock, Colorado
- Population: 79,123
- Average household income: $171,148
- Average home value: $672,107
- Livability: 80
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 9.38
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.36
28. Arlington Heights, Illinois
- Population: 76,005
- Average household income: $151,283
- Average home value: $470,945
- Livability: 80
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 8.80
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.50
29. Sugar Land, Texas
- Population: 110,016
- Average household income: $176,473
- Average home value: $447,176
- Livability: 80
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 13.84
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.78
30. Kirkland, Washington
- Population: 92,621
- Average household income: $225,280
- Average home value: $1,265,788
- Livability: 83
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 20.12
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.61
31. Pleasanton, California
- Population: 76,960
- Average household income: $241,093
- Average home value: $1,601,646
- Livability: 84
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 16.77
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.15
32. Worcester, Massachusetts
- Population: 207,055
- Average household income: $94,360
- Average home value: $430,112
- Livability: 80
- Property crime rate per 1,000: NA
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.16
33. Richardson, Texas
- Population: 118,731
- Average household income: $131,546
- Average home value: $440,400
- Livability: 84
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 18.34
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.47
34. Hillsboro, Oregon
- Population: 108,231
- Average household income: $131,867
- Average home value: $522,557
- Livability: 88
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 24.29
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 3.18
35. Pearland, Texas
- Population: 127,514
- Average household income: $146,302
- Average home value: $382,157
- Livability: 81
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 14.40
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.96
36. New Braunfels, Texas
- Population: 104,643
- Average household income: $112,101
- Average home value: $350,104
- Livability: 83
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 12.84
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.56
37. Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Population: 456,349
- Average household income: $120,766
- Average home value: $427,032
- Livability: 83
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 16.40
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 0.92
38. Bend, Oregon
- Population: 103,390
- Average household income: $134,313
- Average home value: $732,650
- Livability: 84
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 13.62
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.68
39. Farmington Hills, Michigan
- Population: 83,515
- Average household income: $132,229
- Average home value: $387,308
- Livability: 81
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 6.81
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.98
40. Georgetown, Texas
- Population: 85,999
- Average household income: $121,048
- Average home value: $426,799
- Livability: 83
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 11.70
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.91
41. Lexington, Kentucky
- Population: 323,725
- Average household income: $101,608
- Average home value: $329,115
- Livability: 87
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 22.74
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 2.62
42. Bellevue, Washington
- Population: 151,847
- Average household income: $234,392
- Average home value: $1,516,154
- Livability: 87
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 33.39
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.39
43. Denton, Texas
- Population: 152,866
- Average household income: $98,819
- Average home value: $354,135
- Livability: 85
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 17.45
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 2.04
44. Evanston, Illinois
- Population: 76,340
- Average household income: $157,507
- Average home value: $470,774
- Livability: 84
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 27.42
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.42
45. Provo, Utah
- Population: 114,766
- Average household income: $90,536
- Average home value: $484,203
- Livability: 85
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 12.71
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 2.07
46. Beaverton, Oregon
- Population: 97,812
- Average household income: $123,149
- Average home value: $530,795
- Livability: 89
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 26.61
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 3.65
47. Roswell, Georgia
- Population: 92,621
- Average household income: $175,419
- Average home value: $658,156
- Livability: 80
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 10.21
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.60
48. Parma, Ohio
- Population: 79,870
- Average household income: $84,240
- Average home value: $210,914
- Livability: 81
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 7.10
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 1.19
49. Boise, Idaho
- Population: 237,242
- Average household income: $114,774
- Average home value: $499,492
- Livability: 84
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 11.10
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 2.94
50. Somerville, Massachusetts
- Population: 81,036
- Average household income: $167,361
- Average home value: $940,239
- Livability: 84
- Property crime rate per 1,000: 16.99
- Violent crime rate per 1,000: 2.21
Read more original studies and surveys in the GOBankingRates original research center.
Methodology: For this study, GOBankingRates analyzed mid-sized cities to find the safest and richest places to live. Mid-sized cities are considered cities with a total population between 75,000 and 500,000 people. The total population and income were sourced from the U.S. Census 2024 ACS. The cost-of-living indexes were sourced from Sperling’s BestPlaces and national average expenditure costs for all households were sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey. The average cost of expenditures were calculated for each city. The average house value was sourced from Zillow Home Value Index. Assuming a 10% down payment and using the national average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, as sourced from the Federal Reserve Economic Data, the average mortgage was calculated for each city. Using crime data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Offenses Known to Law Enforcement, GOBankingRates found the property crimes and violent crimes reported in each city. Using the total population and crimes reported, the crime rate per 1,000 residents was calculated. The livability index was sourced from AreaVibes for each location and all locations with a livability below 80 were removed as they represent locations with a lower quality of life. The total cost of living, mean household income, livability index , property crime rate and violent crime rate were scored and weighted equally to find the safest and richest mid-sized cities in the U.S. All data is up to date as of April 23, 2026.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 50 Safest and Richest Mid-Size Cities in 2026
