In the case of choosing a place to live, the issue of security always becomes an essential factor. Whoever desires to find a home, a city with high levels of crime rates is not an ideal place to find one. Luckily, there are several splendid places in Michigan where one can live safely without becoming a victim of violent crime. I will unveil my best picks of the safest cities in the region of Michigan as per the crime rates of recent times.

What Ensures that a City is Safe?

While determining the safety of cities, I used data from the FBI Uniform Crime Report 2019 and scores and ratings obtained from other sources such as Niche.com. The following cities have lower incidences of violent crimes and property crimes than both the state and national average. Other reasons included high scores in the aspects of public safety and low crime indexes compared to other cities in Michigan.

  • Exemplary neighborhood watch programs
  • Proactive policing strategies
  • Neighbourly feel that woe and give back where residents support each other
  • There is also adequate lighting and the rooms are observed by security cameras.
  • They include the participation of people in their communities as well as the investments made in the safety of the societies.

Instead of focusing on the number of crimes only I considered the views of the inhabitants and the advantages of the facilities of public safety. Safety is infrastructure, policies, and culture; it includes community safety, safety response time, and so on. Read on to learn about the cities that have excelled in these aspects.

Michigan is home to several safe cities.

1. Rochester Hills

Rochester Hills also boasts very low crime rates and has received a series of safety recognitions recently, so Michigan’s safest city is undoubtedly Rochester Hills. This city in Oakland County reported a violent crime rate of 7.4 per 1000 people, 85 percent less than the national average. And it has only a 1 in 210 chance of becoming a victim of a crime in this area.

Other safety achievements include ranking third as ‘The Safest City in Michigan’ in a study conducted by Backgroundchecks.org in 2021. Rochester Hills was also given high ratings for public safety by another website, Niche.com, with an A+ score on the subject. That being the case, it is important to note that the police department has sustained the accreditation for more than a quarter of a century. 

2. Clarkston

In comparing the rates of Clarkston for both property and violent crimes, the results are significantly less than the national averages. This Oakland County pick has seen a trend of reduced crime rate as observed from year to year. Although being under 1 square mile for every 1890 residents, it does not experience some problems inherent to densely populated cities.

The metrics that point to public safety are also good for Clarkston, although the general outlook for the city has been negative. AreaVibes ranked it 73 for livability, primarily due to low crime rates noted in the region. Additionally, there were positive evaluations reflected in the A+ grade, which niche users assigned to the level of public safety. It is invoked in neighborhood watches and community fundraising for local police and fire departments; thus, engagement contributes to safety.

3. Grandville

This is a suburb of Grand Rapids in Kent County and boasts roughly 16 violent crimes per 10000 residents. In comparison, the national average is slightly above 37 per 10,000 people. the picture painted by property crime figures is almost identical to what has been discussed above. Looking at the rate, Grandville has a little above 100 incidences per 10,000 people while the national rate is slightly above 200 per 10, 000 people.

It means that the people of a small town are united and friendly to one another providing the closeness needed in a community. But let us look at Grandville where 35% of the total budget is spent on protective services. These results are possible due to the retention of a police force that consists of over thirty individuals, guaranteeing fast reaction times. Another recent was a $2 million millage for public safety improvement including new equipment, facilities, and enhanced emergency responses.

4. Rockford

Located slightly north of Grand Rapids, there lies the largest and safest city in the whole of Michigan. , although its location puts it in both Kent and Ottawa Counties. It can accommodate less than 6,000 people in a square mile.

Even though homicides, rape, robbery, assaults, burglaries, thefts, and carjackings are far lower than the national average. Remarkably, arson offenses are ranked almost six times less than the rest of the country.

Rockford also invests a decent amount in safety and security. A more significant portion of its budget is spent on the police and fire departments, which account for almost a quarter of its total budget. The city boasts round-the-clock personnel and staffing to ensure the response times are as quick as possible.

5. Pleasant Ridge

Never underestimate this city, even though it is one of the smallest cities in the United States, occupying an area of less than 3 square miles. Tucked firmly in safety and security Pleasant Ridge does not fail to deliver. Oakland County is a small place where crime cannot easily operate due to the closeness of the people and their strong bond.

Violent crimes are relatively low in incidence while property crimes are more or less in tandem with the national rate. And this is where Pleasant Ridge shines the brightest – in community closeness. People are familiar with one another, especially those who live close to one another and might be willing to assist in the event of an emergency. A barred private community and many community meetings and activities also contribute to the low crime rate.

6. Grosse Pointe Farms

These are some of the states that make up the complete list; Wayne County’s Grosse Pointe Farms occupies the last position. This community is located among Pointes and is one of the smallest cities, with only 2.3 miles in width. This restriction creates easily manageable streets in terms of security.

Property and violent crime statistics are significantly lower compared to what other cities in Michigan, or the United States record. Free residences such as the “Dignity Project” ensure that people treat each other kindly and with dignity to reduce acts of violence in public domains. As in the other points, awareness, and intervention by the community through proactive service from law enforcement keeps crime at bay.

It is important to note that burglary can happen in populous and affluent neighborhoods. Still, this risk appears well contained in Grosse Pointe Farms. There are also a lot of community-oriented efforts toward identifying and preventing substance use among the youth and the related mischievous behaviors as well. 

Stay Safe in Michigan

The security of homes is a concern to many individuals in Michigan. Concerning the crime rates, fast response to emergencies, and active groups and neighbors, I have decided that Rochester Hills is the safest city to live in. However, several cities including Clarkston, Grandville, Rockford, Pleasant Ridge, and Grosse Pointe Farms are among the cities with relatively low risks.

When you are in any area of your choice, you ought to make efforts such as introducing yourself to the neighbors and becoming members of the neighborhood watch. The safety of your surroundings is also maintained through the reporting of crime or suspicious activity by dialing 9-1-1. Think about homes with security systems or putting up additional lights and motion-sensitive lights across your property as well. However, it's important to find the right town to be safe and Michigan has the best towns for that.