Texas is among the least safe states in the nation, according to a new study.
The Lone Star State ranked No. 48 out of 50 states in WalletHub’s Safest States in America in 2026 report, released Oct. 5, placing it among the bottom three states for overall safety. Only Louisiana and Mississippi performed worse in the nationwide analysis.
To determine which states are the safest places to live, WalletHub compared all 50 states across five key categories: personal and residential safety, financial safety, road safety, workplace safety and emergency preparedness.
Source: WalletHub
Texas struggled in several individual safety categories, ranking No. 40 in personal and residential safety, financial safety, and road safety.
Which state is the safest in America?
While Texas ranked near the bottom, Vermont was named the safest state in America, according to WalletHub.
The state performed particularly well in neighborhood safety, with “nearly 76% of parents reporting that they believe they live in safe neighborhoods, the third-highest percentage nationwide,” the study reported.
Vermont also has the seventh-highest number of neighborhood watch groups per capita, which WalletHub noted can help residents identify suspicious activity and alert law enforcement.
Crime statistics also helped the state stand out. According to the study, Vermont recorded the 15th-fewest aggravated assaults, sixth-fewest murders and nonnegligent manslaughter, and 21st-fewest thefts per capita.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on Twitter; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How safe is Texas? New study ranks state among worst in US
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