How Safe is Your City?

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

20 Aug 2010 11:54 PM

I am a sucker for lists. For some reason I can't resist scanning "Best of" or "Worst of" lists, be it a column itemizing the "World's Best Ice Cream" or the "Worst Movies of 2009." So when Men's Health magazine recently published its list on the "100 Safest American Cities for Kids," I was drawn to it like mold to moisture.

Love the list... and not just because my family lives near the safest city in the United States (according the magazine). Love it because my family spends a ton of time in the top TWO safest cities in the United States.

According to Men's Health magazine, the Top 10 Safest Cities for Children are:

1.) Madison, Wisconsin

2.) Honolulu, Hawaii

3.) San Francisco, California

4.) Virginia Beach, Virginia

5.) Spokane, Washington

6.) Providence, Rhode Island

7.) Jersey City, New Jersey

8.) Colorado Springs, Colorado

9.) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

10.) Burlington, Vermont

The magazine used the following factors to determine which cities were best for kids ages 5 to 14:

*Number of car-seat inspection locations per child/per state

*Number of child predators per capita

*Percentage of abused children protected from further abuse

*Strength of child restraint and bike-helmet laws

I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. What's more, our home is just a short drive away from Madtown, so my 6-year-old is able to experience the city's "safe factors" quite frequently.

In addition, I was born and raised in Hawaii. Consequently, my daughter has the good fortune of temporarily living in the second safest city in the United States each time we fly home to visit family.

So am I bragging? Oh ye... I mean... well, it's not everyday that Wisconsin and Hawaii share space on the same lists. Believe me.

Am I glad that my daughter gets the benefit of spending large amounts of time in "safe" cities? Why wouldn't I? Of course, the blessing is strictly providential and the list is not set in stone. Still, I must admit, I am glad we don't live near the worst American cities for kids. Those are:

1.) Jacksonville, Florida

2.) New Orleans, Louisiana

3.) Baltimore, Maryland

4.) Bakersfield, California

5.) Tulsa, Oklahoma

6.) Modesto, California

7.) Grand Rapids, Michigan

8.) Fresno, California

9.) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

10.) Corpus Christi, Texas

By the way, Chicago ranked 22nd, Boston and New York ranked 39th and 40th, respectively, and Los Angeles ranked 47th in the magazine's list.

To see where your city ranked, click here.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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