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Fort Lauderdale, FL - Fort Lauderdale has been identified as one of the least safe cities in the United States.
According to WalletHub’s 2025 report, the analysis evaluated more than 180 U.S. cities across three main categories: home and community safety, natural disaster risk, and financial security.
Fort Lauderdale ranked 177th overall, placing it near the bottom nationwide.
In the home and community safety category, the city ranked 166th, reflecting elevated concerns related to crime and public safety.
For natural disaster risk, it was ranked 174th, indicating a high vulnerability to storms, flooding, and other environmental hazards.
Financial safety was another area of concern, with Fort Lauderdale ranking 178th, highlighting challenges for households in maintaining economic stability and emergency savings.
By comparison, Port St. Lucie was ranked as the safest city in Florida and 30th overall nationally.
The city scored 10th in home and community safety, 56th in natural disaster risk, and 167th in financial security, making it the most secure location for residents in the state according to the same report.
Other Florida cities ranked in WalletHub’s report include Cape Coral (55th overall), Hialeah (57th), Pembroke Pines (85th), St. Petersburg (99th), Tampa (102nd), Miami (113th), Tallahassee (120th), Orlando (160th), and Jacksonville (165th).
WalletHub also identified the five safest cities in the United States as Warwick, Rhode Island; Overland Park, Kansas; Burlington, Vermont; Juneau, Alaska; and Yonkers, New York.