Two Montana Cities Rank Among America’s Safest Places to Live

When choosing a place to live, there are plenty of things to consider. Affordability, job opportunities, schools, weather, and the surrounding environment all play a role in deciding where to put down roots and raise a family.

Safety First: A Top Priority for Families

One of the biggest considerations for many people is safety. You want to feel comfortable in your community, knowing you and your family can enjoy where you live without constantly worrying about safety.

Montana’s Safe Cities Shine on a National Stage

Well, a new ranking of the safest cities in America has some good news for Montana. Two of our state's largest cities have earned spots on the list, with one landing in the top 20 nationwide. 

Missoula: A Top Contender for Safety

According to WalletHub, Missoula ranks No. 17 among 182 U.S. cities evaluated in the study.

WalletHub compared 182 cities using 41 key indicators of safety. The study examined several aspects of safety, including home and community safety, financial security, and risks associated with natural disasters. 

READ MORE:  Four Measures of How Safe Montana Is Compared to Other States

Missoula performed particularly well in one of those categories, earning a No. 7 ranking for natural disaster risk. That's a top-10 finish for the Garden City. 

Home and Community Safety: Room for Improvement

Missoula didn't rank quite as high in the home and community safety category, coming in at No. 65. Even so, its performance across the different categories was enough to land the city at No. 17 overall. 

Missoula wasn't the only Montana city to make the cut. Billings also earned a spot, coming in at No. 55 overall. 

That places Billings in the upper half of the rankings.

Financial Safety: Billings’ Notable Ranking

Billings performed particularly well in the financial safety category, where it ranked No. 15. However, the city had more room for improvement in the home and community safety category, coming in at No. 95. 

READ MORE: One Montana City Among the Best in America for Raising a Family

Having two Montana cities appear on the list is certainly something worth noting, especially as people continue to evaluate where they want to live, work, and raise their families. 

Juneau: The Safest City in America

So, which city took the top spot? 

According to WalletHub, Juneau, Alaska, ranked as the safest city in the United States. 

Juneau earned the No. 1 ranking for natural disaster risk and came in at No. 4 for financial safety. 

While a Montana city didn't claim the top spot, Missoula's No. 17 ranking puts it among the country's highest-ranked cities, while Billings' No. 55 finish gives Montana another city represented in the rankings. 

Of course, no ranking can tell you everything about what it's like to live in a particular community. Safety can vary by neighborhood, and people have different priorities when deciding where to call home. 

Still, it's interesting to see how Montana's cities compare with communities across the country.