Two buzzy Dallas neighbors, McKinney and Frisco, have landed top-10 spots in a new SmartAsset ranking of the safest suburbs in America for 2025.
McKinney came in at No. 9, and Frisco followed at No. 10.
To determine the safest suburbs, SmartAsset's experts ranked 360 U.S. towns based on violent crime rates, property crime rates, drug overdoses, traffic deaths, and the percentage of the population participating in "excessive drinking." Crime rates were measured by city, while the remaining three metrics were examined at the county level.
The report further narrowed the scope of the list by only choosing suburbs located within a 45-minute driving distance of a major city.
Salt Lake City suburb Lehi, Utah ranked as the nation's safest suburb for the second consecutive year.
McKinney and Frisco are no stranger to being included on such lists, as they both have appeared in other national studies commissioned by the likes of GoBankingRates and MoneyGeek.
"Both located in Collin County, [McKinney and Frisco] have some of the lowest drug overdose death rates studywide, and also score particularly well for crime," the report's author wrote.
Based on the county data, the two suburbs have a traffic fatality rate of 6.88 per 100,000 residents, and 18.21 percent of Collin County adults reportedly engage in excessive drinking.
McKinney has had a stellar year in regard to its livability. The city was crowned the No. 1 most affordable place to live earlier this year, and it most recently topped another list of the best U.S. cities for renters in 2025.
McKinney also appeared as the second-safest American suburb in SmartAsset's 2023 report. At the time, Plano ranked 5th on the list, but the city has since dropped off the list for the last two years.
Frisco is a highly desirable place to live in its own right thanks to its affordability and fast-growing population. Frisco's popularity is soaring so much that the city will soon get its very first Whole Foods. Now that's growth.
Frisco is a fun place to live for families looking for an affordable suburb with plenty of things to do.Visit Frisco, TX/Facebook
A city's safety and its cost of living are both major factors that must be considered when it comes to finding the right place to live, SmartAsset says.
"Many households are willing to pay a premium to be in a neighborhood they feel physically safe in, as valuable qualitative benefits may be at stake in establishing a sense of safety – particularly for families with children," the report said. "But safety trends can change due to economic, legislative and other factors."
The report also provided data for the median housing costs and median household income for all 360 cities.
"In McKinney, the median monthly housing payment is $2,101, compared to a median household income of $120,273," the report said. "In Frisco, the figures are slightly higher with median housing payments at $2,389 and household incomes at $146,158."
Two other Dallas-Fort Worth cities ranked among the top 100 safest U.S. suburbs: Seagoville (No. 89), located 20 miles southeast of downtown Dallas, and Denton (No. 90).
The top 10 safest suburbs in America for 2025 are:
- No. 1 – Lehi, Utah (Salt Lake City)
- No. 2 – Bethesda, Maryland (Washington, D.C.)
- No. 3 – Great Falls, Virginia (Washington, D.C.)
- No. 4 – Rockville, Maryland (Washington, D.C.)
- No. 5 – Dacula, Georgia (Atlanta)
- No. 6 – Buford, Georgia (Atlanta)
- No. 7 – Layton, Utah (Salt Lake City)
- No. 8 – Edgewater, New Jersey (New York City)
- No. 9 – McKinney, Texas (Dallas)
- No. 10 – Frisco, Texas (Dallas)
MealybugTAMU