Safe space

Plano ranks as No. 2 safest big city in the U.S. for 2026

Plano has been ranked the No. 2 safest city in the U.S. by SmartAsset.

Facebook/Plano Texas Police Department

Plano can add a new title to its growing list of superlatives. A new study from personal finance website SmartAsset ranks the Dallas suburb as the second-safest big city in the U.S. among cities with at least 250,000 residents.

Only Virginia Beach, Virginia ranked higher than Plano.

The 2026 study looked at 83 U.S. cities' violent crimes, property crimes, traffic deaths, and disaster risk.

Plano fared well in three of the four categories: 1.5 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, 14.7 property crimes per 1,000 residents, and 6.9 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents.

However, the study tagged Plano with a “relatively high” risk for natural disasters. You can pin the blame on the potential for tornadoes, flash floods, thunderstorms, and extreme heat in North Texas.

For all cities in the study, disaster risk and traffic deaths were measured at the county level.

“With consistently low crime rates and exceptional police and fire response times, Plano stands among the safest cities in America, ensuring peace of mind for residents and businesses alike,” Plano Economic Development says on its website.

Plano is one of two Texas cities in the SmartAsset study’s top 10. Laredo appears at No. 6. The top 10 cities are:

1. Virginia Beach, Virginia
2. Plano, Texas
3. Madison, Wisconsin
4. Honolulu, Hawaii
5. Chesapeake, Virginia
6. Laredo, Texas
7. Lexington, Kentucky
8. Boston, Massachusetts
9. Lincoln, Nebraska
10. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“While no major population center is entirely free from danger, some are more successful than others at creating environments where people can live, work and travel with confidence,” SmartAsset says.

When it comes to lifestyle, Plano consistently ranks at or near the top of the rankings. It’s recently been named the 12th fittest city in the U.S. and the No. 4 city for raising a family, and its park system has been recognized as the country’s 13th best.

Here’s how other DFW cities rank in the SmartAsset study:

Arlington, No. 19. It had 4.8 violent crimes per 1,000, 24.1 property crimes per 1,000, 10.8 traffic deaths per 100,000, and a relatively high disaster risk.
Fort Worth, No. 22. It had 4.6 violent crimes per 1,000, 27 property crimes per 1,000, 10.8 traffic deaths per 100,000, and a relatively high disaster risk.
Irving, No. 32. It had 2.8 violent crimes per 1,000, 22 property crimes per 1,000, 12.5 traffic deaths per 100,000 and a very high disaster risk.
Dallas, No. 73, making it the 11th least safe big city. It had 6.6 violent crimes per 1,000, 33.5 property crimes per 1,000, 12.5 traffic deaths per 100,000, and a very high disaster risk.

Elsewhere in Texas:

Austin landed at No. 26.
San Antonio landed at No. 54
Houston landed at No. 82, putting it at No. 2 among the least safe big cities.

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Settling Down

Dallas named one of the 50 best places to retire in the U.S. in 2026

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Dallasites getting ready to give up the daily grind are already living in the right place for their next chapter in life. Dallas has just been named the third-best city to retire in Texas, and it lands as the 50th best city in the U.S. for retirement living, according to a new WalletHub report.

The study examined 182 U.S. cities and ranked them based on 45 "retirement-friendly" livability metrics across four categories: affordability, activities, quality of life, and health care.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Florida dominated the top 10, with Orlando, Miami, and Tampa locking in the top three spots and Fort Lauderdale ranking eighth on the list.

Dallas fared best in the categories for "activities" and "affordability," respectively ranking 39th and 69th. The activities category analyzed attractions and entertainment venues for seniors, like the number of per capita museums, theaters, book clubs, senior centers, and bingo halls; whereas the affordability rank encompassed the local cost of living, taxpayer-friendliness, the costs for in-home services, and other factors.

Costs were a significant factor in the rankings, as many retirees live on a fixed income. Finances and affordability also play a huge part in determining where to live once it's time to put up those work boots, WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said.

"As a result, the best cities for retired people are those that minimize taxes and expenses, as well as have good opportunities for retirees to continue paid work for extra income, if they choose to do so," he said. "In addition, the top cities provide high-quality health care and offer plenty of enjoyable activities for retirees."

Dallas fell behind in the "quality of life" (No. 119) and "health care" (No. 130) rankings, but it wasn't enough to tank the city's overall performance.

In fact, Dallas is the Metroplex's No. 1 city for retirees, with six more DFW neighbors earning spots on the list:

No. 75 – Plano
No. 78 – Fort Worth
No. 91 – Grand Prairie
No. 101 – Garland
No. 107 – Irving
No. 124 – Arlington

Elsewhere in Texas, Austin topped the list as the No. 1 best place to retire statewide, and it ranked No. 23 nationwide. San Antonio claimed the No. 2 spot statewide and was the only other Texas city to rank among the national top 50.

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