According to the New York-based Kneller Insurance Agency, insurers typically use a person’s address to gather crime reports from local law enforcement to be able to assess the risks.
“Areas that experience a high volume of break-ins and vandalism also raise claims and rates,” the firm wrote in a blog on its website. “Since insurers operate in risk, they see high crime rates as more of a chance that you will file a claim for vandalism or theft. As a result, the premium increases to account for this higher level of risk.”
Insurtech CoverHound, meanwhile, explained that policyholders do not need to experience a crime for their premiums to rise.
“Even if you are not a victim of crime yourself, your rates may increase,” the firm noted. “That’s because insurance companies offer rates based on collective risk, and if you live in a bad neighborhood, then your neighbors could file more claims, which will impact your rates.”
Read more: “Unprecedented” rise in auto thefts – insurance crime bureau issues warning
Violent crimes on the rise
A recent analysis of crime trends by the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) revealed that reports of violent crimes have been rising in the country’s major cities. Data gathered by the group has shown a rising number of homicides in the past few years, with 2021 figures ticking up 5% from 2020 but jumping 44% from 2019.
According to the study, the increase was primarily due to “pandemic pressures and change in policing tactics.”
Murder rates, meanwhile, have declined significantly since the 1990s, with CCJ’s research recording just almost half the volume of incidents compared to 29 years ago. In 2021, the rate was 15 deaths per 100,000 residents, down from 28 per 100,000 in 1993.
Richard Rosenfeld, criminologist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and author of the study, noted that the reasons for increases, particularly in the number of homicides, vary from year to year. In 2020, for example, incidents rose following the killing of George Floyd, which sparked calls for racial justice and police reform, and caused unrest in cities across the country.
“The social unrest after the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis very likely played a role in [increased homicides], but differences across cities in 2021 suggests that local factors are now becoming more important,” Rosenfeld told CBS News in an interview.
Read more: Sharp jump in violence could make this product the industry’s “next cyber”
Top 10 safest cities in the US in 2022
To identify the safest cities across America, fintech firm SmartAsset analyzed data from 200 of the country’s largest cities using five metrics – violent and property crime rates, vehicular and drug poisoning mortality rates, and the percentage of the population engaging in excessive drinking.
To work out the average annual home premiums in each area, meanwhile, Insurance Business used Insurance.com’s home insurance calculator. The figures below are for a $200,000 dwelling with a $1,000 deductible and $100,000 liability coverage. For auto insurance rates, we referred to The Zebra’s car insurance calculator. Coverage is for a 40-year-old homeowner with a fully paid 2020 model vehicle who currently has an existing plan.
Here are the cities that made it to the top 10 of SmartAsset’s list.
1. Frisco, Texas
Violent crime rate: 86 per 100,000 residents
Property crime rate: 972 per 100,000 residents
Vehicular mortality rate: 6.3 per 100,000 residents
Drug poisoning mortality rate: 7.3 per 100,000 residents
% of population engaging in excessive drinking: 18.66%
Safety index: 100
Average annual home insurance rate: $2,980
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,464 to $1,788
2. McKinney, Texas
Violent crime rate: 134 per 100,000 residents
Property crime rate: 936 per 100,000 residents
Vehicular mortality rate: 6.3 per 100,000 residents
Drug poisoning mortality rate: 7.3 per 100,000 residents
% of population engaging in excessive drinking: 18.66%
Safety index: 98.63
Average annual home insurance rate: $3,080
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,500 to $1,836
3. Santa Clarita, California
Violent crime rate: 131 per 100,000 residents
Property crime rate: 907 per 100,000 residents
Vehicular mortality rate: 8 per 100,000 residents
Drug poisoning mortality rate: 10.5 per 100,000 residents
% of population engaging in excessive drinking: 17.81%
Safety index: 98.13
Average annual home insurance rate: $886
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,416 to $1,740
4. Sunnyvale, California
Violent crime rate: 149 per 100,000 residents
Property crime rate: 2,062 per 100,000 residents
Vehicular mortality rate: 6.5 per 100,000 residents
Drug poisoning mortality rate: 9.4 per 100,000 residents
% of population engaging in excessive drinking: 16.92%
Safety index: 97.63
Average annual home insurance rate: $634
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,368 to $1,668
5. Glendale, California
Violent crime rate: 103 per 100,000 residents
Property crime rate: 1,597 per 100,000 residents
Vehicular mortality rate: 8 per 100,000 residents
Drug poisoning mortality rate: 10.5 per 100,000 residents
% of population engaging in excessive drinking: 17.81%
Safety index: 95.26
Average annual home insurance rate: $809
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,860 to $2,268
Read more: Where is your client’s car most likely to be stolen?
6. McAllen, Texas
Violent crime rate: 85 per 100,000 residents
Property crime rate: 1,931 per 100,000 residents
Vehicular mortality rate: 10.2 per 100,000 residents
Drug poisoning mortality rate: 3.8 per 100,000 residents
% of population engaging in excessive drinking: 14.65%
Safety index: 94.13
Average annual home insurance rate: $3,146
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,200 to $1,476
=7. Cary, North Carolina
Violent crime rate: 66 per 100,000 residents
Property crime rate: 946 per 100,000 residents
Vehicular mortality rate: 7.3 per 100,000 residents
Drug poisoning mortality rate: 12.4 per 100,000 residents
% of population engaging in excessive drinking: 18.31%
Safety index: 93.88
Average annual home insurance rate: $1,106
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,356 to $1,656
=7. Santa Clara, California
Violent crime rate: 156 per 100,000 residents
Property crime rate: 2,501 per 100,000 residents
Vehicular mortality rate: 6.5 per 100,000 residents
Drug poisoning mortality rate: 9.4 per 100,000 residents
% of population engaging in excessive drinking: 16.92%
Safety index: 93.88
Average annual home insurance rate: $628
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,320 to $1,608
9. Plano, Texas
Violent crime rate: 155 per 100,000 residents
Property crime rate: 1,645 per 100,000 residents
Vehicular mortality rate: 6.3 per 100,000 residents
Drug poisoning mortality rate: 7.3 per 100,000 residents
% of population engaging in excessive drinking: 18.66%
Safety index: 93.63
Average annual home insurance rate: $3,043
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,464 to $1,788
10. Torrance, California
Violent crime rate: 191 per 100,000 residents
Property crime rate: 2,046 per 100,000 residents
Vehicular mortality rate: 8.0 per 100,000 residents
Drug poisoning mortality rate: 10.5 per 100,000 residents
% of population engaging in excessive drinking: 17.81%
Safety index: 88.26
Average annual home insurance rate: $722
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,344 to $1,644
Top 10 most dangerous cities in the US in 2022
A separate study by analytics firm NeighborhoodScout, meanwhile, revealed the most dangerous cities in America based on raw crime data it compiled from all 18,000 law enforcement agencies across the country. The company ranked each city according to violent crime rates and the likelihood of a person becoming a victim. These are the ones that came out on top.
1. Monroe, Louisiana
Violent crime rate: 29.4 per 1,000 residents
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 34
Average annual home insurance rate: $2,166
Average annual auto insurance rate: $2,280 to $2,784
2. Memphis, Tennessee
Violent crime rate: 24.2 per 1,000 residents
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 41
Average annual home insurance rate: $2,615
Average annual auto insurance rate: $4,296 to $5,256
3. Saginaw, Michigan
Violent crime rate: 23.8 per 1,000 residents
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 42
Average annual home insurance rate: $1,964
Average annual auto insurance rate: $2,196 to $2,688
4. Detroit, Michigan
Violent crime rate: 22.6 per 1,000 residents
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 44
Average annual home insurance rate: $2,720
Average annual auto insurance rate: $3,312 to $4,044
5. St. Louis, Missouri
Violent crime rate: 20 per 1,000 residents
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 50
Average annual home insurance rate: $2,641
Average annual auto insurance rate: $2,064 to $2,532
Read more: Fatal shootings boost demand for active assailant insurance
6. Alexandria, Louisiana
Violent crime rate: 18.8 per 1,000 residents
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 53
Average annual home insurance rate: $2,185
Average annual auto insurance rate: $2,796 to $3,420
=7. Pine Bluff, Arkansas
Violent crime rate: 18.1 per 1,000 residents
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 55
Average annual home insurance rate: $3,030
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,788 to $2,184
=7. Little Rock, Arkansas
Violent crime rate: 18.1 per 1,000 residents
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 55
Average annual home insurance rate: $3,032
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,428 to $1,740
9. Albany, Georgia
Violent crime rate: 17.7 per 1,000 residents
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 56
Average annual home insurance rate: $2,086
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,404 to $1,704
10. South Bend, Indiana
Violent crime rate: 17.1 per 1,000 residents
Chance of being a victim: 1 in 59
Average annual home insurance rate: $1,854
Average annual auto insurance rate: $1,386 to $1,668
