A violent crime rate of 15.2 per 100,000 residents. In a state where the average sits at 293.7, that figure reads like a typo — but it is the real, FBI-sourced rate for Sammamish, the suburban city that headlines this year’s ranking of the safest cities in Washington. Every one of the ten cities on the 2026 list reports violent crime at least 79 percent below the national average, and most of them share the same Seattle-area corridor.
TL;DR: A 2026 analysis of FBI Crime Data Explorer statistics for Washington cities with more than 10,000 residents, reported by American Homes News, ranks Sammamish as the state’s safest city with a violent crime rate of 15.2 per 100,000. King County’s Eastside suburbs dominate the top 10, Camas is the lone outlier near Portland, and approximate median home values across the list run from about $687,000 to $1,895,000.
The 10 Safest Cities in Washington in 2026
Cities are ordered by reported violent crime rate per 100,000 residents. Here is the full top 10, with the approximate median home value cited alongside each:
- Sammamish — 15.2. The No. 1 city by a clear margin, with a rate roughly 95 percent below the state average. Approximate median home value: $1,347,000.
- Mercer Island — 18.7. Takes second place — and carries the list’s highest median home price, about $1,895,000.
- Bainbridge Island — 23.4. Ranking third, with homes near $1,124,000.
- Maple Valley — 28.9. More affordable at roughly $847,000, Maple Valley shows low crime and relative affordability can coexist.
- Lake Forest Park — 31.2. Ranking fifth, with homes around $923,000.
- Snoqualmie — 34.6. The list’s second-most affordable entry at about $782,000.
- Newcastle — 38.1. Landing seventh, with homes near $1,156,000.
- Camas — 42.3. The geographic outlier near Portland, and the list’s lowest median home price at roughly $687,000.
- Woodinville — 49.7. Ranking ninth, with homes around $956,000.
- Issaquah — 56.4. Closing the top 10 at 56.4 — still about 85 percent below the national rate — with homes near $1,043,000.
Why King County’s Eastside Dominates the Safest Cities List
The pattern in the data is unmistakable: King County’s Eastside suburbs dominate the ranking, with nine of the ten cities sitting in the Seattle metro area. Camas, near Portland, is the lone city outside the Seattle orbit — which only sharpens the pattern.
How These Safety Rankings Were Built
The ranking comes from a 2026 analysis of the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer, limited to Washington cities with more than 10,000 residents and reported by American Homes News. Cities are ordered strictly by reported violent crime rate per 100,000 residents — the standard way the FBI normalizes crime counts across different population sizes. The Washington statewide average of 293.7 and the U.S. benchmark of 387.8 come from the same FBI dataset, which is why every city here lands at least 79 percent below the national rate. Median home values are approximate 2026 figures cited alongside the ranking.
What the Numbers Don’t Tell You
Violent crime is only one slice of the safety picture. Property crime, traffic safety, and natural hazards can look very different from city to city — none are captured in this ranking. The figures also reflect reported crime, which is not the same as actual victimization. And a citywide average says nothing about individual neighborhoods; conditions vary street by street even in the safest cities. Use this list as a starting point, then check a prospective city’s police dashboard and talk to locals before making a move.
Looking beyond Washington? See our companion ranking of Nevada’s 10 safest cities in 2026, built from the same FBI data.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest city in Washington in 2026?
Sammamish, with a violent crime rate of 15.2 per 100,000 residents, according to a 2026 analysis of FBI Crime Data Explorer statistics covering Washington cities with more than 10,000 residents.
How is the violent crime rate calculated?
It is the number of reported violent crimes per 100,000 residents. The per-capita rate lets you fairly compare a city of 15,000 with a city of 150,000.
How does Washington compare to the national violent crime average?
Washington’s statewide average of 293.7 per 100,000 sits below the U.S. benchmark of 387.8 — and every city on this list is at least 79 percent below that national figure.
Are Washington’s safest cities expensive?
Mostly, yes. Approximate median home values on this list range from about $687,000 in Camas to $1,895,000 on Mercer Island. Camas and Snoqualmie are the most affordable entries.
Is Seattle itself on the safest-cities list?
No. The list is made up of suburbs; larger urban centers carry higher reported violent crime rates and do not crack the top 10.
Why do Eastside suburbs dominate the list?
King County’s Eastside suburbs are mature, economically stable communities with low population turnover — conditions consistently linked to lower violent crime rates.
Does low violent crime mean low property crime?
Not necessarily. Property crime is measured separately and can follow a different pattern, so check both figures for any city you are considering.
How current is this ranking?
It is based on a 2026 analysis of FBI Crime Data Explorer data. Crime rates shift year to year, so treat this as a snapshot, not a permanent verdict.
