The 10 Safest Cities In Missouri For 2026

Cottleville residents don't need to be coddled. Not with such safe streets. Cottleville has a property crime rate roughly nine times lower than the national average, earning the city the gold medal in this category. And you could count the number of violent crimes Cottleville saw in the last year of available data on one hand.

Did I mention that Cottleville also scores a perfect 10/10 on our overall snackability score? Really, whatever your priorities are for choosing a place to live, Cottleville probably has what you're looking for. Especially if one of those priorities is drinking a vanilla cream ale from Exit 6 Brewery.

Cottleville is a western suburb of St. Louis.

Another safe suburb of St. Louis -- that was a fun little alliteration -- Glendale finds itself in the same position as last year near the top of our ranking.

Glendale's property and violent crime rates rank as the fifth safest and second safest, respectively, in the state at anywhere from 8-10x better than the national average. Add in the fact that over 75% of the population has at least college education, people make a ton of money, and housing is in super high demand and you actually have one of the single best places to live in MIssouri according to our data for this year.

Located in the southeast region of Missouri, Poplar Bluff is not only the county seat of Butler County but also a historic hub that has earned the nickname "The Gateway to the Ozarks." Poplar Bluff has maintained a steady growth and now forms the core of the Poplar Bluff Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Poplar Bluff's impressive safety record is reflected in its crime rates, with a total of 2 murders and an overall low 37/100k people violent crimes per capita. The city's commitment to safety is evident with fifth safest place ranking for violent crimes and a #3 for property crimes statewide. These statistics contribute to Poplar Bluff's designation as the third safest place to live in Missouri.

While Missouri is home to two of the most dangerous cities in the country in St. Louis and Springfield, it's also home to gems like Ballwin.

A second-ring western suburb of St. Louis, it takes the reigns as the fifth safest place to live in Missouri for 2026.

The large 'burb of some 30,000 people boasts the 11th safest violent crime rate and 13th safest property crime rate in the state. Even better, there were zero murders and robberies here in the last reporting year.

Add in a highly educated adult population and it's no wonder people are flocking to the city -- it scores a 10/10 on our SnackAbility score and marks a best place to live in Missouri.

O'Fallon, a key suburb within St. Charles County in Missouri, is celebrated as the sixth safest city statewide for 2026. The city boasts a robust economy and strong community infrastructure, contributing to its low crime rates. Despite its population of 94,911 and proximity to the St. Louis metropolitan area, O'Fallon's crime rates remain low with just 56 violent incidents. Property crimes are slightly higher with 455 occurrences, but still modest for its size.

Founded in 1856, O'Fallon has evolved into a pivotal suburb. Its effective police force has earned it rankings of 13th safest in violent crime and 12th safest in property crime within Missouri, reinforcing O'Fallon's status as a secure place to reside.

Greenwood is no stranger to this ranking, as it still ranks as one of the safest cities to live in Missouri.

And don't just take our word for it -- several other organizations have ranked Greenwood the safest city in the state for the past couple of years. That also means our methodology is accurate, in case you were worried.

While the town still has crime rates that are 10x better than the national average, violent crime was up a tick from previous years.

In Nixa, you can unlock your doors, flip the porch light on, and truly kick back and relax. That is because if there is one thing you do not have to fret about in this city, it is someone breaking into your home and stealing your valuables. Nixa ranks as the ninth safest place to live in Missouri for 2026.

It turns out community members faced just 3 burglaries in the last reporting year. The data is even better when it comes to your odds of experiencing property crime at all. The chances of it happening to you are one in 165.

So, you could say the only suckers in this city are the fish at the Nixa Sucker Days Music, Arts and Crafts Festival, because criminals are certainly not pulling a fast one on anyone here.

Holts Summit, a serene city in Missouri's Callaway County, holds the title of the tenth safest city. With no incidents of serious crime in 2026, it has a violent crime rate of 109/100k people and a property crime rate of 18/100k people per capita. Ranking at 25th safest for violent crime and safest for property crime across the state, its safety credentials are solid.

From a general store in 1870, Holts Summit has evolved into a secure enclave near Jefferson City. Its connection to the Missouri Rhineland and its founding legacy enhances its tight community atmosphere.