Canadian cities dominate North America safety rankings
Quebec City recorded a safety index score of 77.7 to rank first across North America, according to Numbeo’s latest city safety index, which compiles data from the past five years.
The rankings place Canadian municipalities prominently at the top of the list, with five cities in Ontario and Quebec occupying the first five positions and six Canadian cities included in the top 10 overall.
The findings reflect consistent perceptions of safety across several regions of Canada and are based on continuously updated survey responses from residents regarding crime and security.
- Quebec City ranks first in North America with a safety score of 77.7
- Five Canadian cities occupy the top five positions
- Six Canadian cities appear in the top 10 rankings
- Ontario and Quebec account for most top-ranked locations
- 33 Canadian cities are included among 79 ranked across North America
Top-ranked cities across North America
The latest index identifies a strong Canadian presence among the safest urban centres. Quebec City leads the list, followed by Burlington, Ottawa, Montreal, and Guelph, all located in Ontario or Quebec.
Outside Canada, only four American cities appear in the top 10, including Salt Lake City, Madison, Irvine, and Boise. Calgary is the only Canadian city outside Ontario and Quebec to place in the top 10, ranking ninth.
The safety index categorizes all listed Canadian cities within the “high” safety range, corresponding to scores between 60.01 and 80 points. These ratings align with lower perceived levels of crime in those areas.
Distribution of Canadian cities in rankings
Beyond the top 10, Canada continues to show a widespread presence in the broader ranking. A total of 33 Canadian cities are included among the 79 locations evaluated across North America.
Ontario accounts for the largest share of highly ranked cities, followed by Quebec. Other provinces, including Alberta, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia, are also represented, indicating regional variation in safety perceptions.
Calgary stands out as Alberta’s only city in the top 10, while cities such as Halifax and Victoria appear just outside that group. Vancouver is also included but ranks lower due to comparatively higher crime perception scores.
Safest cities within Canada
Within Canada, the ranking spans five provinces. Quebec City maintains the highest national ranking, followed by Burlington and Ottawa.
Montreal and Guelph complete the top five domestically, while Calgary, Halifax, Victoria, Kingston, and Vancouver round out the top 10 Canadian cities.
Most Canadian cities fall into the “low” crime category based on the index. Vancouver is the exception, classified within the “moderate” crime range with a score above 40.
Regional patterns in safety rankings
Ontario leads national representation with four cities among the top 10 safest in Canada. Quebec and British Columbia each contribute two cities, while Alberta and Nova Scotia each have one.
This distribution highlights a concentration of high-ranking cities in central Canada, particularly in Ontario and Quebec, while still reflecting representation from western and Atlantic provinces.
The variation in rankings corresponds to differences in survey responses related to safety perceptions, rather than official crime statistics.
Methodology behind the safety index
Numbeo’s Current Safety Index is based on user-submitted survey data collected over a five-year period. The index is updated regularly as new responses are added.
Participants are asked to evaluate their perception of safety in their city, including experiences during daytime and nighttime, as well as concerns about specific types of crime.
Scores are calculated on a scale from 0 to 100, with higher values indicating a greater sense of safety. The Safety Index is inversely related to the Crime Index, which measures perceived levels of criminal activity.
Factors included in the index
The survey considers multiple aspects of daily life and public safety. These include general perceptions of crime levels and personal feelings of security in different situations.
Respondents also report concerns related to incidents such as theft, vandalism, robbery, and violent offences. Additional factors include public harassment and bias-motivated incidents.
Data is included in the rankings only when a city has received a sufficient number of responses to meet minimum statistical thresholds.
Public relevance for immigration and settlement trends
Safety indicators are frequently referenced in discussions about urban living conditions and long-term settlement patterns. Canadian cities consistently ranking highly in safety assessments contribute to broader perceptions of livability.
Programs such as the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) and other provincial nominee streams factor regional characteristics into immigration distribution, although safety rankings themselves are not used as selection criteria.
Safety perception data remains one of several factors influencing where newcomers choose to live, alongside employment opportunities, housing availability, and access to services.
With 33 Canadian cities included in the 2026 index and Quebec City leading the ranking with a score of 77.7, the findings highlight continued national representation in North America-wide safety comparisons.
Further updates to the index are expected as new survey data is collected and incorporated into the rankings.