Hanover, New Hampshire, did not record a single homicide between 2020 and 2024.
A pattern similar to this is evident in several small towns nationwide, according to FBI data from the last five years, where homicide and aggravated assault rates remained significantly lower than both national and state averages. While a few areas saw brief spikes, none came close to the averages of their surrounding regions.
Hanover and Lake Forest Report Low Crime Rates
During this five-year interval, Hanover saw zero homicides, and its rate of aggravated assault was much lower than that of New Hampshire, which already ranks among the lowest in the nation. The town centers around Dartmouth College, founded in 1769 as one of the nine colonial colleges, with the Appalachian Trail running right through downtown.
Further west, Lake Forest, Illinois, sits on wooded bluffs above Lake Michigan. Its police department reported no homicides over the same five-year period, with aggravated assaults a small fraction of the Illinois rate. Established in 1916, Market Square remains a downtown anchor and was among the first planned shopping centers in the country.
Zionsville and Brookings Maintain Low Homicide Rates
Zionsville, Indiana, recorded a single homicide in the five-year period, while its aggravated assault rate stayed a small fraction of Indiana’s and the nation’s. While traveling to his inauguration in February 1861, Abraham Lincoln made a stop in Zionsville and addressed a crowd from the back of his train.
Brookings, South Dakota, home to South Dakota State University, recorded no homicides from 2020 through 2024. Its aggravated assault rate ran well below both South Dakota’s and the nation’s.
Peachtree City, Georgia, founded as a planned community in the late 1950s, also kept its aggravated assault rate far below Georgia’s and the nation’s, with homicides rare across the five years. Residents commonly use a network of roughly 100 miles of paths shared by walkers, cyclists, and golf carts.
Los Gatos Stability
Situated in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Los Gatos, California, maintained an aggravated assault rate that was well below both the national and California averages. The town experienced a single-year rise in homicides in 2023, with none in the other four years.
Beyond low crime figures, these six towns share access to extensive green spaces and local community areas. It is also worth checking the latest FBI data for any changes since 2024 before deciding to settle.
