Glendale has been ranked the safest city in Missouri, according to a new report published by community research organization SafeWise. The 2025 list is based on the latest FBI crime statistics, combined with resident perceptions of safety collected through a national survey.
The city, located in St. Louis County, moved up two places from last year to claim the top spot, reporting zero incidents of murder, rape, or robbery. Glendale also had no recorded motor vehicle thefts – one of only three cities on the list to achieve that.
The top 10 safest cities in Missouri for 2025, according to SafeWise, are:
- Glendale
- Cottleville
- Greenwood
- Savannah
- Odessa
- Nixa
- Crystal City
- Higginsville
- Eureka
- Lake St. Louis
Several cities – including Glendale, Cottleville, Greenwood, Savannah, Crystal City, Higginsville, and Ashland – reported no violent crimes such as murder, rape, or robbery. Meanwhile, Glendale, Cottleville, and Crystal City stood out further for also recording no motor vehicle thefts.
Property crime rates are also falling across much of the state. SafeWise notes that 16 out of the 20 cities in its ranking saw year-over-year reductions in property crime, while 13 reported fewer violent crimes than the previous year.
Despite these improvements, perceptions of safety remain relatively low in Missouri. The SafeWise State of Safety survey found that only 35 percent of residents feel safe in their state, compared to a national average of 48 percent. This places Missouri among the bottom four U.S. states for perceived safety, alongside Oregon, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
SafeWise analysts emphasized that while crime data is trending in a positive direction in many communities, improving the public’s sense of safety may take longer.
The full SafeWise report includes additional statistics, trends, and methodology and is available at safewise.com.
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