CCCityCheck
Find Your City
SafetyCostThings to DoToolsDataSearch

Safest Cities in Delaware (2026 Rankings)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2024 FBI UCR data

Newark is the safest city in Delaware with a crime rate of 19.6 per 1,000 residents, earning a B- safety grade. Milford (22.5/1K) and Smyrna (22.8/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 6 cities with 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Crime Rate
23.5per 1K
Below National Avg
1of 6 cities
Above National Avg
5of 6 cities

All 6 Cities Ranked by Safety

#CityGradeCrime/1K
1Newark
B-
19.6
2Milford
B-
22.5
3Smyrna
B-
22.8
4Middletown
C+
25.2
5Wilmington
C+
25.3
6Dover
C+
25.8

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Most Dangerous Cities in Delaware

The highest crime rates among tracked cities in Delaware. These cities have the most crime per capita based on FBI data.

1
C+
Dover25.8/1K · Moderate · Violent: 436/100K
2
C+
Wilmington25.3/1K · Moderate · Violent: 451/100K
3
C+
Middletown25.2/1K · Moderate · Violent: 322/100K
4
B-
Smyrna22.8/1K · Moderate · Violent: 414/100K
5
B-
Milford22.5/1K · Moderate · Violent: 368/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety in Delaware

What is the safest city in Delaware?
As of 2026, Newark is the safest city in Delaware with a crime rate of 19.6 per 1,000 residents and a B- safety grade. It ranks above 59% of all US cities.
What are the top 10 safest cities in Delaware?
Based on 2026 FBI Uniform Crime Report data, the top 10 safest cities in Delaware based on crime rate are: Newark, Milford, Smyrna, Middletown, Wilmington, Dover.
What is the most dangerous city in Delaware?
Dover has the highest crime rate in Delaware at 25.8 per 1,000 residents, earning a C+ safety grade.
What is the average crime rate in Delaware?
The average crime rate across 6 tracked cities in Delaware is 23.5 per 1,000 residents. The average violent crime rate is 392 per 100K and property crime averages 1963 per 100K.
Is Delaware safe to live in?
Delaware has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 392 per 100K (national: 363.8). However, safety varies widely by city. Newark earns a B- while Dover gets a C+. 1 of 6 cities have crime rates at or below the national average.
How many cities are ranked in Delaware?
6 cities in Delaware are ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Report data. 1 have crime rates at or below the national average.
See 2027 rankings for Delaware →View all Delaware city safety gradesSafety index for all 50 states

2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

Know before you go

CityCheck covers safety grades, crime data, and things to do for every US city.

Explore cities