The Safest and Least Safe US Cities by Identity Theft of March 2024

ElitePersonalFinance
Last Update: September 25, 2023 Fraud Identity Theft Living Scams
View All Studies

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 March 2024

Rank:Metropolitan Area:Total Number of Identity Theft Reports:Identity Theft Score:
1Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC Metropolitan Statistical Area1890.11
2Danville, VA Micropolitan Statistical Area170.16
3Fond du Lac, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area270.26
4Staunton-Waynesboro, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area320.26
5Harrisonburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area410.31
6Roanoke, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area1080.34
7Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area650.36
8St. Cloud, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area770.39
9Lima, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area400.39
10Decatur, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area610.40
11Ogdensburg-Massena, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area460.42
12Fort Smith, AR-OK Metropolitan Statistical Area1170.42
13Tupelo, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area610.43
14Lewiston-Auburn, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area460.43
15Wheeling, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area610.43
16Dalton, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area640.44
17Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area1590.44
18Augusta-Waterville, ME Micropolitan Statistical Area540.45
19Jonesboro, AR Metropolitan Statistical Area580.45
20Logan, UT-ID Metropolitan Statistical Area630.46
21Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area780.46
22Elkhart-Goshen, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area930.46
23Glens Falls, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area600.47
24Appleton, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area1110.47
25Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area710.48
26Johnson City, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area970.48
27Hilo, HI Micropolitan Statistical Area950.48
28Springfield, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area660.49
29Binghamton, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area1190.49
30Beckley, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area610.50
31Farmington, NM Metropolitan Statistical Area580.50
32Mansfield, OH Metropolitan Statistical Area610.50
33Meridian, MS Micropolitan Statistical Area520.50
34Janesville-Beloit, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area810.50
35London, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area640.50
36Fairbanks, AK Metropolitan Statistical Area500.50
37Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI Metropolitan Statistical Area820.50
38St. Joseph, MO-KS Metropolitan Statistical Area650.51
39Lafayette, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area2510.51
40Wooster, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area590.51
41Cleveland, TN Metropolitan Statistical Area630.52
42Lynchburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area1350.52
43Odessa, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area840.53
44Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area630.53
45Johnstown, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area710.53
46Watertown-Fort Drum, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area600.53
47Tullahoma-Manchester, TN Micropolitan Statistical Area540.53
48Casper, WY Metropolitan Statistical Area440.54
49Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area1690.55
50Pittsfield, MA Metropolitan Statistical Area700.55
51Sioux Falls, SD Metropolitan Statistical Area1410.55
52Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metropolitan Statistical Area930.55
53Duluth, MN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area1530.55
54Billings, MT Metropolitan Statistical Area930.55
55Bluefield, WV-VA Micropolitan Statistical Area560.55
56Williamsport, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area650.56
57Evansville, IN-KY Metropolitan Statistical Area1780.56
58Green Bay, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area1780.56
59Gadsden, AL Metropolitan Statistical Area570.56
60Eau Claire, WI Metropolitan Statistical Area950.57
61San Angelo, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area680.57
62Bowling Green, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area970.57
63Joplin, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area1040.58
64Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metropolitan Statistical Area1270.58
65Lincoln, NE Metropolitan Statistical Area1910.58
66Utica-Rome, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area1700.58
67Claremont-Lebanon, NH-VT Micropolitan Statistical Area1250.58
68La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN Metropolitan Statistical Area790.58
69Winchester, VA-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area780.58
70Iowa City, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area1000.59
71Coeur d’Alene, ID Metropolitan Statistical Area910.59
72Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area2240.59
73Pottsville, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area840.59
74Abilene, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area1030.60
75Terre Haute, IN Metropolitan Statistical Area1030.60
76Wenatchee, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area710.60
77Arecibo, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area1110.60
78Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metropolitan Statistical Area890.60
79Gainesville, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area1170.60
80Bend-Redmond, OR Metropolitan Statistical Area1110.61
81Show Low, AZ Micropolitan Statistical Area670.61
82Bismarck, ND Metropolitan Statistical Area800.61
83Kennewick-Richland, WA Metropolitan Statistical Area1770.62
84Lubbock, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area1960.62
85Lake Charles, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area1290.62
86Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area4070.62
87Mankato-North Mankato, MN Metropolitan Statistical Area620.62
88New Bern, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area780.62
89Jamestown-Dunkirk-Fredonia, NY Micropolitan Statistical Area800.62
90Salem, OH Micropolitan Statistical Area640.62
91Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area2310.63
92Jefferson City, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area960.63
93Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area970.63
94Morgantown, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area870.63
95Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, MS Metropolitan Statistical Area2450.63
96State College, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area1010.63
97Bozeman, MT Micropolitan Statistical Area670.64
98San Germán, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area820.64
99Richmond-Berea, KY Micropolitan Statistical Area680.64
100Bangor, ME Metropolitan Statistical Area970.64

50 Least Safe Cities in the US by Identity Theft of March 2024

Rank:Metropolitan Area:Total Number of Identity Theft Reports:Identity Theft Score:
1Ann Arbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area9322.56
2Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area2971.96
3Sumter, SC Metropolitan Statistical Area2061.92
4Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area11,6061.91
5Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area7,9171.84
6Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area21,5641.62
7Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area3,9381.61
8San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area3,1921.61
9Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area5831.60
10San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area7,4501.59
11Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area11,5061.59
12Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area9,0101.56
13Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area1,6281.55
14Ponce, PR Metropolitan Statistical Area4791.55
15Punta Gorda, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area2751.54
16Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV Metropolitan Statistical Area3,1221.45
17Bakersfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area1,2791.45
18Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area4,3171.42
19Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area2,1041.42
20Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area13,4121.41
21Napa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area2001.41
22Tallahassee, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area5301.40
23Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area8,4441.39
24Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area6531.37
25Niles-Benton Harbor, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area2111.37
26Kalamazoo-Portage, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area4611.37
27California-Lexington Park, MD Metropolitan Statistical Area1541.37
28Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area9881.37
29North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area1,0771.37
30Gainesville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area3821.36
31Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area9,1801.36
32Vallejo-Fairfield, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area5931.35
33Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area3,0901.35
34Fresno, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area1,3051.33
35San Diego-Carlsbad, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area4,3951.32
36Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area8441.32
37Flint, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area5391.32
38Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ Metropolitan Statistical Area6,0981.31
39Wichita Falls, TX Metropolitan Statistical Area1971.31
40Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area7301.30
41Stockton-Lodi, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area9421.28
42Santa Rosa, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area6441.28
43Jackson, MI Metropolitan Statistical Area2021.27
44Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area7311.26
45Boulder, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area4011.24
46Macon-Bibb County, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area2851.24
47Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area5,5801.23
48Sebring, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area1241.23
49Columbus, GA-AL Metropolitan Statistical Area3791.23
50Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area1,4711.22

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!

MEET THE AUTHOR

ElitePersonalFinance

Recommended Articles

AS SEEN ON