With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked 50 of the largest U.S. cities to determine the safest based on violent crime, property crime, vehicular deaths, drug overdose deaths and excessive drinking. The nation’s capital had the second-highest rate of drug overdose deaths of major cities at 64 per 100,000 residents. The nation’s capital had the second-highest rate of drug overdose deaths of major cities at 64 per 100,000 residents. Across the 50 largest cities, Chicago had the fourth-worst violent crime rate, with an estimated 3.2 people per 100 experiencing a violent crime each year (86,506 total crimes reported). SmartAssetSafest Cities in the United States50 of the largest U.S. cities were ranked on five safety metrics on a per-capita basis: violent crime, property crime, fatal car accidents, drug overdose deaths, and excessive drinking.