California bottom of safest new states for 2026

California may look like paradise, but new data suggests otherwise.

In a new ranking of U.S. states ranked from safest to most dangerous, the Golden State ranks well below average, at 39th.

Compiled by WalletHub’s data wizards, the list considered five factors: personal and home safety, financial security, traffic safety, workplace safety, and emergency preparedness.

With its emphasis on personal and residential security, California falls straight down, coming in at 48th place – ahead of only three other West Coast states: Oregon, Nevada and Alaska.

The list also ranks California as the worst state in terms of financial security for unemployed workers.

“The safest states in America protect their residents from harm in many different ways, from keeping crime rates low and maintaining safe roads to having a strong economy and job market that keeps people from falling into dangerous financial situations,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo.

“They also have high levels of workplace safety and disaster preparedness. Additionally, states are made safer through efforts made by residents, such as forming a neighborhood watch or working in firefighting and paramedics at high rates,” he explained.

Other West Coast states did better than California overall — with Washington ranking 13th and Oregon ranking 24th. Arizona ranked 14th on the list, while Arizona came in at 31st. The best-performing state west of the Rockies was Utah, at 6th.

A separate SmartAsset study earlier this year found that California is home to some of the most dangerous cities in the country.

That report found that Oakland has the second-highest crime rate in the country, at 19.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. San Francisco and Stockton tied for the highest traffic fatality rate in the study, with 18.5 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Across the country, New England dominated WalletHub’s list of safest states, making the top five. Vermont ranks first, followed by Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut.

According to the survey, 76% of Vermont parents believe they live in safe neighborhoods. The state also has the 15th most aggravated assaults, the sixth fewest non-negligent murders and manslaughters, and the 21st fewest robberies per capita in the country.

Massachusetts, the second safest state in the country, has the eighth fewest robberies and the fourth fewest murders and manslaughters per capita.

The study used data from the US Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Bureau of Investigation, TransUnion, US Fire Administration, Administration for Community Living – AGing Integrated Database and more.

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