When it comes to picking where to live in Arizona, safety is usually the first question — and the answer changes dramatically from city to city. SafeWise’s 2026 report on the safest cities in Arizona, built entirely on FBI crime data, ranks 27 qualifying cities by violent and property crime per 1,000 residents. The result: a newcomer takes the crown, half the top 10 are Phoenix suburbs, and the safest cities sit far below the national average.
TL;DR: San Luis is Arizona’s safest city for 2026, with 0.9 violent crimes and 5.6 property crimes per 1,000 residents. Surprise, Oro Valley, Queen Creek, and Sahuarita round out the top five. The 10 safest cities averaged just 0.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents — versus 4.43 nationally.
How SafeWise Ranked Arizona’s Safest Cities
SafeWise’s 2026 ranking uses the most recent FBI-reported violent and property crime data — the 2024 Crime in the United States annual reports, submitted through the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) — adjusted for population so cities of different sizes can be compared fairly. Only agencies that submitted complete reports to the FBI are included. Twenty-seven Arizona cities qualified for ranking this year, and SafeWise notes that “safest” refers explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data — no other characterization of any community is implied.
Arizona’s 10 Safest Cities in 2026
1. San Luis — 0.9 Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents
A border city of 38,809 in Yuma County, San Luis is the only border town to crack the top 10 — and it debuts at #1 with 0.9 violent crimes and 5.6 property crimes per 1,000 residents. It reported zero murders.
2. Surprise — 1.0 Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents
Surprise, home to 163,202 people in the Northwest Valley, climbed three spots — the biggest upward move on the list. It reports 1.0 violent crimes and 8.9 property crimes per 1,000 residents, with property crime down year over year.
3. Oro Valley — 0.5 Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents
Oro Valley, north of Tucson with 48,680 residents, has the lowest violent crime rate of any city on this list at 0.5 per 1,000, alongside 11.5 property crimes per 1,000. Violent crime dropped year over year, and the city reported zero murders.
4. Queen Creek — 1.2 Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents
Queen Creek’s 82,639 residents in the Southeast Valley report 1.2 violent crimes and 8.3 property crimes per 1,000 residents. Property crime fell year over year, and the city reported zero murders.
5. Sahuarita — 0.9 Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents
South of Tucson, Sahuarita’s 37,049 residents report 0.9 violent crimes and 10.3 property crimes per 1,000 residents, with violent crime down year over year.
6. Buckeye — 1.6 Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents
Buckeye held its #6 spot with 114,513 residents, reporting 1.6 violent crimes and 7.8 property crimes per 1,000 residents — cutting both figures year over year.
7. Gilbert — 1.3 Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents
At 277,527 residents, Gilbert is by far the largest city on the list. It reports 1.3 violent crimes and 7.8 property crimes per 1,000 residents, with property crime down year over year.
8. Marana — 1.2 Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents
Marana, northwest of Tucson (pop. 60,507), held #8 with 1.2 violent crimes and 13.5 property crimes per 1,000 residents — property crime down year over year.
9. Prescott Valley — 2.2 Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents
Prescott Valley moved up one spot to #9, with 51,116 residents reporting 2.2 violent crimes and 8.1 property crimes per 1,000 — cutting both figures year over year.
10. Maricopa — 2.3 Violent Crimes per 1,000 Residents
Maricopa closes the top 10 with 75,614 residents, 2.3 violent crimes, and 9.2 property crimes per 1,000 residents — violent crime down year over year in the fast-growing city south of Phoenix.
Geographically, half the top 10 are Phoenix suburbs — Surprise, Queen Creek, Buckeye, Gilbert, and Maricopa — while Oro Valley, Sahuarita, and Marana anchor the Tucson side.
Arizona vs. the National Average
Statewide, Arizona’s violent crime rate is 3.28 per 1,000 people (national: 4.43), and property crime is 18.26 per 1,000 (national: 22.89). The 10 safest cities go much further: just 0.2 violent crimes and 2.2 property crimes per 1,000 residents combined. For the full picture, see our ranking of the 10 most dangerous cities in Arizona — and browse our Phoenix neighborhoods guide if the Valley is your target.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest city in Arizona?
San Luis tops SafeWise’s 2026 FBI-data ranking: the Yuma County border city (pop. 38,809) reports 0.9 violent crimes and 5.6 property crimes per 1,000 residents, with zero murders reported.
How does SafeWise determine the safest cities in Arizona?
SafeWise uses the most recent FBI-reported violent and property crime data — the 2024 Crime in the United States annual reports via the FBI’s NIBRS system — adjusted for population. Only complete-reporting agencies are included; 27 Arizona cities qualified for the 2026 ranking.
Which Arizona cities reported zero murders?
San Luis, Oro Valley, and Queen Creek all reported zero murders in the data behind SafeWise’s 2026 ranking.
Is Arizona safer than the national average?
Yes. Arizona’s violent crime rate is 3.28 per 1,000 versus 4.43 nationally, and its property crime rate is 18.26 versus 22.89, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
Is Phoenix one of the safest cities in Arizona?
No. Phoenix did not make SafeWise’s 2026 top 10. The largest city on the list is Gilbert, with 277,527 residents, followed by Surprise at 163,202.
Which of the safest cities are near Tucson?
Oro Valley, Sahuarita, and Marana — all Tucson-area suburbs — made the top 10, ranking #3, #5, and #8 respectively.
Which Arizona cities improved the most since last year?
Surprise climbed three spots — the biggest upward move — and Prescott Valley moved up one. Buckeye and Prescott Valley cut both violent and property crime year over year.
