Illinois is the 38th-safest 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 Illinois
Illinois excels when it comes to certain elements of public safety, boasting the seventh-most law enforcement personnel and the eighth-fewest aggravated assaults per capita. It also has the eighth-lowest suicide rate, which demonstrates that residents are taking good care of their mental health.
There are some areas where Illinois struggles, though. For example, the state had the third-most mass shootings between January 2024 and September 2026. It has also experienced the third-most climate disasters causing $1 billion or more in damage since 1980. In addition, Illinois has the fourth-highest share of households without a bank account, indicating that some families are in a risky financial situation. They might have little to no savings, or they might keep everything in cash somewhere at home, which puts them at risk for theft and fire.
How Illinois Ranks in Key Categories
- 33rd for Personal & Residential Safety
- 42nd for Financial Safety
- 20th for Road Safety
- 24th for Workplace Safety
- 36th for Emergency Preparedness
This puts Illinois in 38th 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 |
