Lowest average first
Safest states to buy a home
Ranked by average state-level hazard score (1 = very low, 5 = very high) across ten natural hazards. This is a starting point for research — not a guarantee for any address.
| # | State | Average | Highest single hazard |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | 2.00 | Very High |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 2.10 | Moderate |
| 3 | Maine | 2.10 | Very High |
| 4 | Rhode Island | 2.10 | High |
| 5 | Michigan | 2.20 | High |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 2.20 | Very High |
| 7 | Connecticut | 2.30 | High |
| 8 | Delaware | 2.30 | High |
| 9 | Maryland | 2.30 | High |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 2.30 | High |
| 11 | New Jersey | 2.30 | High |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | 2.30 | High |
| 13 | Wisconsin | 2.30 | Very High |
| 14 | Hawaii | 2.40 | High |
| 15 | Minnesota | 2.40 | Very High |
| 16 | West Virginia | 2.40 | High |
| 17 | New York | 2.50 | High |
| 18 | North Dakota | 2.50 | Very High |
| 19 | Ohio | 2.50 | High |
| 20 | Illinois | 2.60 | High |
| 21 | Indiana | 2.60 | High |
| 22 | Iowa | 2.60 | High |
| 23 | Virginia | 2.60 | High |
| 24 | Kentucky | 2.70 | High |
| 25 | Tennessee | 2.70 | High |
| 26 | Alaska | 2.80 | Very High |
| 27 | Idaho | 2.80 | Very High |
| 28 | Montana | 2.80 | Very High |
| 29 | New Mexico | 2.80 | Very High |
| 30 | Oregon | 2.80 | Very High |
| 31 | Washington | 2.80 | Very High |
| 32 | Arizona | 2.90 | Very High |
| 33 | Louisiana | 2.90 | Very High |
| 34 | Missouri | 2.90 | Very High |
| 35 | Nebraska | 2.90 | Very High |
| 36 | Nevada | 2.90 | Very High |
| 37 | South Carolina | 2.90 | High |
| 38 | South Dakota | 2.90 | Very High |
| 39 | Wyoming | 2.90 | Very High |
| 40 | Kansas | 3.00 | Very High |
| 41 | Mississippi | 3.00 | Very High |
| 42 | Utah | 3.00 | Very High |
| 43 | Arkansas | 3.10 | Very High |
| 44 | Florida | 3.10 | Very High |
| 45 | Georgia | 3.10 | High |
| 46 | North Carolina | 3.10 | Very High |
| 47 | Alabama | 3.20 | Very High |
| 48 | Colorado | 3.20 | Very High |
| 49 | Oklahoma | 3.20 | Very High |
| 50 | California | 3.30 | Very High |
| 51 | Texas | 3.70 | Very High |
How to read this ranking
- How is “safest” calculated?
- We average the statewide 1–5 scores across ten hazards. Lower averages rank higher. A low average can still hide one severe local peril, such as a floodplain in an otherwise mild state.
- Is the top of this list a safe place to buy?
- It is a research starting point, not a guarantee. Open the state profile, then verify the address on FEMA, NOAA or USGS maps and with an insurer.
- Who ranks first right now?
- Vermont currently has the lowest average on this table. Click through for the hazard-by-hazard breakdown.
51 states and DC. A low average can still hide one severe local hazard (for example a floodplain in an otherwise mild state). Compare two states next, then verify the address.