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The Safest and Least Safe US Cities by Identity Theft of February 2025

Elite Personal Finance
Last Update: December 1, 2024 • Fraud • Identity Theft • Living • Scams •
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Residents in some cities are more vulnerable to identity theft, according to a review of federal data by ElitePersonalFinance. There were 371,061 identity theft complaints in the US, according to the data from the Federal Trade Commission Report.

For this reason, ElitePersonalFinance analyzed the identity theft risk by cities.

Key Findings

  • The safest city is Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC, with a score of 0.11. With a population of 1.73 million, the city had 189 complaints overall. It is followed by Danville, VA, and Fond du Lac, WI, which scored 0.16 and 0.26, respectively.
  • Ann Arbor, MI, is the least safe city with 2.56 complaints per 1,000 people, 932 total complaints. Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL, and Sumter, SC follow closely with respective scores of 1.96 and 1.92.
  • Ann Arbor’s score is almost 24 times worse than the score of Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News.
  • Ann Arbor scored worse than the safest eight cities combined.
  • Less populated cities are safer than those with a greater population.

Ranking Criteria

We collected the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network data to assess cities’ identity theft safety levels across the US.

Next, we analyzed the data and calculated the number of identity theft complaints per 1,000 residents. This means that the city with the ‘lowest score’ on our list is actually the safest city by identity theft criteria. For example, the safest city, Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC, has a score of 0.11, which means that there were 0.11 identity theft complaints per 1,000 residents of this city.

Likewise, Ann Arbor, MI, which scored 2.56 (2.56 complaints per 1,000 people), is the least safe city in the US.

*Please note that not all the victims reported identity theft.

* *For more precise statistics, we analyzed metropolitan areas. Most of them have at least 100,000 residents, while a small number have 50,000 – 100,000.

Here is a list of:

100 Safest Cities in the US by Identity Theft of February 2025

Rank: Metropolitan Area: Total Number of Identity Theft Reports: Identity Theft Score:
1 Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 189 0.11
2 Danville, VA Micropolitan Statistical Area 17 0.16
3 Fond du Lac, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 27 0.26
4 Staunton-Waynesboro, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 32 0.26
5 Harrisonburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 41 0.31
6 Roanoke, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 108 0.34
7 Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 65 0.36
8 St. Cloud, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 77 0.39
9 Lima, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 40 0.39
10 Decatur, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 61 0.40
11 Ogdensburg-Massena, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area 46 0.42
12 Fort Smith, AR-OK Metropolitan Statistical Area 117 0.42
13 Tupelo, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area 61 0.43
14 Lewiston-Auburn, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area 46 0.43
15 Wheeling, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 61 0.43
16 Dalton, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 64 0.44
17 Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 159 0.44
18 Augusta-Waterville, ME Micropolitan Statistical Area 54 0.45
19 Jonesboro, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area 58 0.45
20 Logan, UT-ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 63 0.46
21 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 78 0.46
22 Elkhart-Goshen, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 93 0.46
23 Glens Falls, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 60 0.47
24 Appleton, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 111 0.47
25 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 71 0.48
26 Johnson City, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 97 0.48
27 Hilo, HI Micropolitan Statistical Area 95 0.48
28 Springfield, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 66 0.49
29 Binghamton, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 119 0.49
30 Beckley, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 61 0.50
31 Farmington, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area 58 0.50
32 Mansfield, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 61 0.50
33 Meridian, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area 52 0.50
34 Janesville-Beloit, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 81 0.50
35 London, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area 64 0.50
36 Fairbanks, AK Metropolitan Statistical Area 50 0.50
37 Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI Metropolitan Statistical Area 82 0.50
38 St. Joseph, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area 65 0.51
39 Lafayette, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 251 0.51
40 Wooster, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area 59 0.51
41 Cleveland, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area 63 0.52
42 Lynchburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 135 0.52
43 Odessa, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 84 0.53
44 Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area 63 0.53
45 Johnstown, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 71 0.53
46 Watertown-Fort Drum, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 60 0.53
47 Tullahoma-Manchester, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area 54 0.53
48 Casper, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area 44 0.54
49 Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area 169 0.55
50 Pittsfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area 70 0.55
51 Sioux Falls, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area 141 0.55
52 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metropolitan Statistical Area 93 0.55
53 Duluth, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 153 0.55
54 Billings, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area 93 0.55
55 Bluefield, WV-VA Micropolitan Statistical Area 56 0.55
56 Williamsport, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 65 0.56
57 Evansville, IN-KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 178 0.56
58 Green Bay, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 178 0.56
59 Gadsden, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 57 0.56
60 Eau Claire, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 95 0.57
61 San Angelo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 68 0.57
62 Bowling Green, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 97 0.57
63 Joplin, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 104 0.58
64 Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area 127 0.58
65 Lincoln, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area 191 0.58
66 Utica-Rome, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 170 0.58
67 Claremont-Lebanon, NH-VT Micropolitan Statistical Area 125 0.58
68 La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 79 0.58
69 Winchester, VA-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 78 0.58
70 Iowa City, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area 100 0.59
71 Coeur d’Alene, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area 91 0.59
72 Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area 224 0.59
73 Pottsville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area 84 0.59
74 Abilene, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 103 0.60
75 Terre Haute, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area 103 0.60
76 Wenatchee, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 71 0.60
77 Arecibo, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area 111 0.60
78 Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area 89 0.60
79 Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 117 0.60
80 Bend-Redmond, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area 111 0.61
81 Show Low, AZ Micropolitan Statistical Area 67 0.61
82 Bismarck, ND Metropolitan Statistical Area 80 0.61
83 Kennewick-Richland, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area 177 0.62
84 Lubbock, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 196 0.62
85 Lake Charles, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area 129 0.62
86 Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area 407 0.62
87 Mankato-North Mankato, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area 62 0.62
88 New Bern, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 78 0.62
89 Jamestown-Dunkirk-Fredonia, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area 80 0.62
90 Salem, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area 64 0.62
91 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 231 0.63
92 Jefferson City, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area 96 0.63
93 Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 97 0.63
94 Morgantown, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area 87 0.63
95 Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area 245 0.63
96 State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area 101 0.63
97 Bozeman, MT Micropolitan Statistical Area 67 0.64
98 San Germán, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area 82 0.64
99 Richmond-Berea, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area 68 0.64
100 Bangor, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area 97 0.64

50 Least Safe Cities in the US by Identity Theft of February 2025

Rank: Metropolitan Area: Total Number of Identity Theft Reports: Identity Theft Score:
1 Ann Arbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 932 2.56
2 Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 297 1.96
3 Sumter, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area 206 1.92
4 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 11,606 1.91
5 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 7,917 1.84
6 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 21,564 1.62
7 Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,938 1.61
8 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,192 1.61
9 Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 583 1.60
10 San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 7,450 1.59
11 Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 11,506 1.59
12 Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 9,010 1.56
13 Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,628 1.55
14 Ponce, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area 479 1.55
15 Punta Gorda, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 275 1.54
16 Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,122 1.45
17 Bakersfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,279 1.45
18 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 4,317 1.42
19 Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 2,104 1.42
20 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area 13,412 1.41
21 Napa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 200 1.41
22 Tallahassee, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 530 1.40
23 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 8,444 1.39
24 Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 653 1.37
25 Niles-Benton Harbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 211 1.37
26 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 461 1.37
27 California-Lexington Park, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area 154 1.37
28 Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 988 1.37
29 North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,077 1.37
30 Gainesville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 382 1.36
31 Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 9,180 1.36
32 Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 593 1.35
33 Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 3,090 1.35
34 Fresno, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,305 1.33
35 San Diego-Carlsbad, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 4,395 1.32
36 Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 844 1.32
37 Flint, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 539 1.32
38 Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area 6,098 1.31
39 Wichita Falls, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area 197 1.31
40 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area 730 1.30
41 Stockton-Lodi, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 942 1.28
42 Santa Rosa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 644 1.28
43 Jackson, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area 202 1.27
44 Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 731 1.26
45 Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area 401 1.24
46 Macon-Bibb County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area 285 1.24
47 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area 5,580 1.23
48 Sebring, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area 124 1.23
49 Columbus, GA-AL Metropolitan Statistical Area 379 1.23
50 Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area 1,471 1.22

How Safe is Your City?

Should you have any concerns about identity theft issues in your city, you can share them in the comments below. Likewise, if you are satisfied with safety levels, please feel free to comment on that.

Sources

FTC.gov – Consumer Sentinel Network

Census – Annual Estimates of the Resident Population

Do you want to prevent identity theft? We can help.

100 Tips to Prevent Identity Theft

Our Identity Theft Blog

Identity Theft SafeGuard – The complete identity theft guide!

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