Safest Cities in Missouri (2026 Rankings)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2024 FBI UCR data

Festus is the safest city in Missouri with a crime rate of 19.4 per 1,000 residents, earning a B- safety grade. Maryville (19.8/1K) and Branson (20/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 81 cities with 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Crime Rate

24.1per 1K

Below National Avg

19of 81 cities

Above National Avg

62of 81 cities

All 81 Cities Ranked by Safety

#	City	Grade	Crime/1K	Risk Level	Violent	Property
1	Festus	B-	19.4	Moderate	327	1612
2	Maryville	B-	19.8	Moderate	347	1637
3	Branson	B-	20	Moderate	337	1659
4	Webster Groves	B-	20.1	Moderate	347	1660
5	Jackson	B-	20.3	Moderate	353	1674
6	Moberly	B-	20.3	Moderate	380	1654
7	Marshall	B-	20.6	Moderate	371	1691
8	Raymore	B-	21	Moderate	412	1690
9	Farmington	B-	21	Moderate	431	1669
10	Wildwood	B-	21.2	Moderate	413	1709
11	Harrisonville	B-	21.4	Moderate	333	1806
12	Grandview	B-	21.5	Moderate	455	1692
13	Rolla	B-	21.5	Moderate	439	1706
14	West Plains	B-	21.5	Moderate	415	1738
15	Jennings	B-	21.6	Moderate	455	1702
16	Monett	B-	21.6	Moderate	416	1748
17	University City	B-	21.7	Moderate	468	1704
18	Raytown	B-	21.9	Moderate	363	1823
19	Arnold	B-	21.9	Moderate	405	1786
20	St. Peters	B-	22.1	Moderate	403	1810
21	Wentzville	B-	22.2	Moderate	459	1758
22	Republic	B-	22.2	Moderate	388	1835
23	Creve Coeur	B-	22.2	Moderate	362	1854
24	Maryland Heights	B-	22.4	Moderate	355	1889
25	Clayton	B-	22.5	Moderate	329	1921
26	Ozark	B-	22.6	Moderate	372	1886
27	Sikeston	B-	22.7	Moderate	365	1904
28	Webb City	B-	22.7	Moderate	412	1860
29	Lee's Summit	B-	22.9	Moderate	384	1909
30	Ballwin	B-	22.9	Moderate	390	1895
31	Bridgeton	B-	22.9	Moderate	405	1888
32	Joplin	C+	23	Moderate	356	1945
33	Springfield	C+	23.3	Moderate	422	1910
34	St. Joseph	C+	23.3	Moderate	451	1878
35	Hazelwood	C+	23.3	Moderate	414	1915
36	O'Fallon	C+	23.4	Moderate	442	1899
37	St. Ann	C+	23.4	Moderate	360	1976
38	Sedalia	C+	23.5	Moderate	442	1912
39	Ferguson	C+	23.6	Moderate	366	1993
40	Grain Valley	C+	23.6	Moderate	334	2024
41	Bellefontaine Neighbors	C+	23.6	Moderate	406	1954
42	Kansas City	C+	23.8	Moderate	403	1978
43	Mexico	C+	23.8	Moderate	441	1940
44	St. Charles	C+	23.9	Moderate	384	2011
45	Kirkwood	C+	23.9	Moderate	466	1920
46	Kennett	C+	23.9	Moderate	360	2027
47	Neosho	C+	24	Moderate	326	2073
48	Blue Springs	C+	24.1	Moderate	433	1975
49	Dardenne Prairie	C+	24.1	Moderate	376	2029
50	Town and Country	C+	24.2	Moderate	454	1963
51	Kirksville	C+	24.3	Moderate	353	2076
52	Hannibal	C+	24.4	Moderate	422	2015
53	Belton	C+	24.6	Moderate	391	2068
54	Bolivar	C+	24.6	Moderate	313	2148
55	Crestwood	C+	24.7	Moderate	371	2102
56	Fulton	C+	24.8	Moderate	363	2112
57	Excelsior Springs	C+	24.8	Moderate	447	2036
58	Jefferson City	C+	24.9	Moderate	446	2041
59	Ellisville	C+	24.9	Moderate	331	2160
60	Liberty	C+	25	Moderate	386	2112
61	Lake St. Louis	C+	25	Moderate	411	2085
62	Gladstone	C+	25.1	Moderate	432	2075
63	Poplar Bluff	C+	25.1	Moderate	372	2143
64	Cape Girardeau	C+	25.2	Moderate	472	2043
65	Carthage	C+	25.2	Moderate	439	2079
66	Troy	C+	25.2	Moderate	347	2172
67	Washington	C+	25.3	Moderate	408	2126
68	Eureka	C+	25.3	Moderate	432	2100
69	Kearney	C+	25.3	Moderate	410	2118
70	Union	C+	25.4	Moderate	449	2089
71	Manchester	C+	25.5	Moderate	370	2179
72	Smithville	C+	25.7	Moderate	430	2137
73	Lebanon	C+	25.8	Moderate	454	2128
74	Florissant	C+	25.9	Moderate	425	2162
75	Warrensburg	C+	25.9	Moderate	397	2195
76	Overland	C+	25.9	Moderate	429	2163
77	Independence	C+	26.2	Moderate	453	2172
78	Nixa	C+	26.4	Moderate	416	2227
79	Columbia	C+	26.6	Moderate	480	2179
80	Chesterfield	C	26.9	Elevated	446	2246
81	St. Louis	F	77	Very High Risk	1900	5800

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

Most Dangerous Cities in Missouri

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

St. Louis77/1K · Very High Risk · Violent: 1900/100K

Chesterfield26.9/1K · Elevated · Violent: 446/100K

C+

Columbia26.6/1K · Moderate · Violent: 480/100K

C+

Nixa26.4/1K · Moderate · Violent: 416/100K

C+

Independence26.2/1K · Moderate · Violent: 453/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety in Missouri

What is the safest city in Missouri?

As of 2026, Festus is the safest city in Missouri with a crime rate of 19.4 per 1,000 residents and a B- safety grade. It ranks above 60% of all US cities.

What are the top 10 safest cities in Missouri?

Based on 2026 FBI Uniform Crime Report data, the top 10 safest cities in Missouri based on crime rate are: Festus, Maryville, Branson, Webster Groves, Jackson, Moberly, Marshall, Raymore, Farmington, Wildwood.

What is the most dangerous city in Missouri?

St. Louis has the highest crime rate in Missouri at 77 per 1,000 residents, earning a F safety grade.

What is the average crime rate in Missouri?

The average crime rate across 81 tracked cities in Missouri is 24.1 per 1,000 residents. The average violent crime rate is 419 per 100K and property crime averages 1995 per 100K.

Is Missouri safe to live in?

Missouri has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 419 per 100K (national: 363.8). However, safety varies widely by city. Festus earns a B- while St. Louis gets a F. 19 of 81 cities have crime rates at or below the national average.

How many cities are ranked in Missouri?

81 cities in Missouri are ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Report data. 19 have crime rates at or below the national average.

See 2027 rankings for Missouri →View all Missouri city safety grades Safety 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.

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