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

Last Update: September 25, 2023 • 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 September 2024

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 September 2024

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.