Which cities are the safest to live in when you’re starting a family?

There is a lot of planning that goes into starting a family. Every parent-to-be has to make huge decisions regarding their finances, career, lifestyle, and home — and if that weren’t enough, they also have to determine where their growing family will put down roots.

The best city to raise a family will be a personal decision, but one point all moms and dads can agree on is safety. Settling down in a fancy home and a gorgeous neighborhood doesn’t mean much if the area you reside in is dangerous, but the good news is there are cities all over the country that have the high safety ratings all parents search for. To help you make the best choice for your family, we’ve rounded up the top city picks from security experts. Each of our winners has low violent and property crime rates, and they’re also renowned for family-friendly factors like school ratings, community activities and events, and the overall cost of living.