Boston, September 3, 2025
News Summary
A recent analysis has revealed that two suburbs of Boston, Lexington and Winchester, are ranked among the top three safest and wealthiest cities in the U.S. Lexington holds the #2 spot with an impressive average income of $300,000 and a low property crime rate of 2.93 per 1,000. Winchester follows closely at #3 with an average income of $296,000 and a property crime rate just over 4 per 1,000. The Boston area showcases a strong presence of high-income, low-crime communities.
Boston
Two Boston suburbs rank among the top three in a new national list of the safest and wealthiest cities in the United States. A recent analysis that compared income and crime data for 1,000 cities placed Lexington at #2 and Winchester at #3, making the Boston area home to two of the three highest-ranked communities on the list.
Top-line findings
The ranking identified the 50 “safest and wealthiest cities in America” by combining measures of household income and public safety. Lexington reported an average income of $300,000 and a property crime rate of 2.93 per 1,000 people. Winchester recorded an average income of $296,000 and a property crime rate of just over 4 per 1,000 people. In addition to these two, eight other Boston-area suburbs appeared in the top 50 list, reflecting a strong regional presence among high-income, low-crime communities.
Which Boston suburbs made the top 50
Local rankings within the national list
- #2: Lexington — average income $300,000; property crime rate 2.93 per 1,000
- #3: Winchester — average income $296,000; property crime rate just over 4 per 1,000
- #14: Wellesley
- #26: Belmont
- #29: Reading
- #37: Sharon
- #39: Hopkinton
- #40: Newton
- #41: Needham
- #48: Brookline
How the ranking was compiled
The analysis examined 1,000 U.S. cities using publicly available data to calculate combined scores for wealth and safety. Income measures were drawn from population and labor statistics, while safety was assessed using both violent and property crime rates. The data sources used in the evaluation included national demographic and economic datasets, housing-market information, and federal crime reports. Scores for each city were derived by combining a wealth metric based on average income with a safety metric based on reported crime rates.
Supporting details and context
The presence of multiple Boston suburbs on the list highlights a concentration of high-income communities with relatively low rates of property and violent crime. The specific figures for Lexington and Winchester show both very high average incomes and low property crime rates compared with national averages reported in the dataset used for the ranking. Other suburbs listed — including Wellesley, Belmont, and Newton — are similarly known for elevated household incomes and community safety indicators, although the publicly provided summary includes full income and crime-rate details only for the top-ranked communities.
The method combined income and safety to create a composite score; both components mattered in placing towns high on the list. Cities with high incomes but elevated crime rates did not necessarily rank as highly as those combining wealth with low crime. Conversely, areas with low crime but more moderate incomes also ranked lower than high-income, low-crime communities.
What this means for residents and prospective movers
The ranking offers a snapshot comparing income and safety across a broad sample of U.S. cities. For people evaluating communities, the list provides a starting point that highlights places with above-average household incomes and lower reported crime levels according to the underlying datasets. It does not replace local, up-to-date research into housing costs, school performance, municipal services, or recent crime trends that can change year to year.
Background on the dataset
The ranking drew on information from national demographic and economic surveys, labor statistics, housing data, and federal crime reports. Both violent and property crime rates were included in the safety component. The combined approach aims to identify municipalities that are both economically well-off and have low reported crime, producing a list of 50 cities judged to balance wealth and safety most strongly within the 1,000-city sample.
FAQ
- Q: Who created the ranking?
- A: The ranking was produced by a personal finance analysis that evaluated 1,000 U.S. cities using publicly available income and crime data.
- Q: What criteria determined the rankings?
- A: Rankings were based on a composite of average household income and safety scores derived from reported violent and property crime rates.
- Q: Which Boston suburbs ranked in the top 50?
- A: Ten Boston-area suburbs made the top 50, including Lexington at #2 and Winchester at #3, as well as Wellesley, Belmont, Reading, Sharon, Hopkinton, Newton, Needham, and Brookline.
- Q: Are the income and crime figures current?
- A: The figures reflect the datasets used in the analysis, which drew on recent publicly available census, labor, housing and federal crime data; users should consult the original sources for the latest updates.
- Q: Does the list account for cost of living or housing prices?
- A: The primary metrics were average income and crime rates. Housing affordability or cost-of-living adjustments were not the main factors in the composite ranking.
At-a-glance table: Boston suburbs in the top 50
| Rank | Suburb | Average Income | Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Lexington | $300,000 | 2.93 |
| 3 | Winchester | $296,000 | Just over 4 |
| 14 | Wellesley | Not specified | Not specified |
| 26 | Belmont | Not specified | Not specified |
| 29 | Reading | Not specified | Not specified |
| 37 | Sharon | Not specified | Not specified |
| 39 | Hopkinton | Not specified | Not specified |
| 40 | Newton | Not specified | Not specified |
| 41 | Needham | Not specified | Not specified |
| 48 | Brookline | Not specified | Not specified |
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Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
BOSTON STAFF WRITER The BOSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBoston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Boston, Suffolk County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Boston Marathon, Head of the Charles Regatta, and Boston Harborfest. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Massachusetts, plus leading businesses in finance, biotech, and insurance that power the local economy such as Fidelity Investments, Biogen, and Liberty Mutual Insurance. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Massachusetts's dynamic landscape.
