Texas is the third-least safe state, according to a new WalletHub study comparing the 50 states across 52 key metrics. The analysis considered factors ranging from assaults and traffic fatalities per capita to losses from climate disasters and the unemployment rate.
With news of accidents, natural disasters, violent crime, massive layoffs and other tragedies constantly in the news, it can be hard not to worry about the safety of your family, both physically and financially. However, living in the right state can help minimize your stress.
“The safest states in America protect their residents from harm in a multitude of different ways, from keeping crime rates low and maintaining safe roadways to having strong economies and job markets that prevent people from falling into dangerous financial situations. They have high levels of occupational safety and disaster preparedness, too,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “In addition, states are made safer by efforts that individual residents take, such as forming a neighborhood watch or working in firefighting and EMT jobs at high rates.”
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In-Depth Look at Texas
Texas has the second-fewest workplace injuries and illnesses per capita. The state also has the fourth-best job security, so residents are safer from layoffs than people in other parts of the country. In addition, Texas has the seventh-lowest rate of drug overdose deaths, which is good news considering how big of a problem the opioid epidemic is nationwide.
The Lone Star State does have some shortcomings when it comes to safety, though. For example, it has the highest share of residents without health insurance in the country, which can cause people to avoid medical care or fall into a deep financial hole. Texas also had the most mass shootings between January 2024 and September 2026, and it has experienced the most climate disasters causing $1 billion or more in damage since 1980.
How Texas Ranks in Key Categories
- 40th for Personal & Residential Safety
- 40th for Financial Safety
- 40th for Road Safety
- 30th for Workplace Safety
- 48th for Emergency Preparedness
This puts Texas in 48th place overall out of the 50 states in WalletHub's study.
Safest States in the U.S.
Overall Rank* | State | Total Score | Personal & Residential Safety Rank | Financial Safety Rank | Road Safety Rank | Workplace Safety Rank | Emergency Preparedness Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Vermont | 66.63 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 11 |
2 | Massachusetts | 66.58 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 9 |
3 | Maine | 65.93 | 4 | 16 | 8 | 21 | 2 |
4 | New Hampshire | 65.16 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 41 | 4 |
5 | Connecticut | 63.40 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 25 | 15 |
6 | Utah | 62.73 | 35 | 26 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
7 | Minnesota | 61.77 | 23 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 23 |
8 | Indiana | 60.83 | 7 | 25 | 11 | 10 | 28 |
9 | Rhode Island | 60.19 | 8 | 20 | 16 | 39 | 8 |
10 | Hawaii | 59.97 | 20 | 2 | 26 | 22 | 13 |
