WalletHub’s 2026 “Safest States in America” list placed Texas at the bottom of the pack. Here’s what contributed to its low ranking.
Everything might be bigger in Texas, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better. According to a new report released by WalletHub, the Lone Star State is one of the least safe states in the US. It actually ranks toward the bottom as the third least safe, trailed only by Louisiana and Mississippi.
The study, titled, “Safest States in America (2026),” examined numerous factors when making its definitive ranking. These included things like workplace, residential, financial, personal, and road safety, as well as emergency preparedness and crime rates per capita. Additional statistics, such as road quality ratings, how many people in the state are uninsured, and how many workplace injuries take place, were taken into equal consideration.
WalletHub gave Texas particularly low remarks for emergency preparedness, as the state saw a collective $1 billion in damages from climate disasters between 1980 and 2024. The state also failed in other key areas—it ranked 40th in financial, road, personal, and residential safety, and it experienced the most mass shootings in the country between January 2024 and September 2026.
Plus, Texas has a higher number of uninsured residents compared to other states, which similarly contributed to its negative marks. That’s because people experience more issues when they’re unable to seek medical care and will often accumulate financial debt trying to pay for appointments out of pocket.
One of the publication’s analysts, Chip Lupo, who helped comprise the study, said, “[The safest states in America] have high levels of occupational safety and disaster preparedness, too. In addition, states are made safer by efforts that individual residents take, such as forming a neighborhood watch or working in firefighting and EMT jobs at high rates.”
The highest ranking states on the list were all located in New England. Vermont came in at No. 1, followed by Massachusetts at No. 2, Maine at No. 3, New Hampshire at No. 4, and Connecticut at No.5. Lupo explained that those states had better road infrastructure and lower crime rates than others, and they prioritized the overall safety of their residents more than others do.
Plus, each of those states has “strong economies and job markets that prevent people from falling into dangerous financial situations,” which further boosted their rankings.
Here’s how Texas ranked in key areas
Texas landed in 30th for workplace safety, as well as for the number of assaults per capita, on WalletHub’s 2026 “Safest States in America” study. Other rankings included:
- No. 32 for sex offenders per capita
- No. 32 for fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 full-time employees
- No. 35 for non-negligent manslaughters and murders per capita
- No. 36 for fatalities per 100 million miles of vehicle travel
According to tucson.com, Texas did receive some positive marks mixed in with the poorer reviews. The Lone Star State is the fourth best in the nation when it comes to job security, offering residents more peace of mind when it comes to experiencing layoffs. In terms of drug overdose deaths, Texas ranked the seventh lowest, which was another positive boost.
