Business Insider Names Fremont Second Safest City in U.S.

Despite a botched home invasion giving residents a scare Thursday night, Fremont is one of the safest cities in the country. In fact, it’s the second, according to Business Insider.

Based on the FBI’s latest crime data for cities with populations over 200,000, Fremont ranks just behind Irvine in safety nationwide, the business website reports.

According to the data, in 2012, Fremont had a murder rate that was 81 percent below the national average, a rape rate 76 percent below average and a robbery rate 47 percent below average.

It’s one of six California cities and the only Bay Area city on the Business Insider list. 

See Business Insider’s 20 Safest Cities in America list here.

As we previously reported, violent crimes increased in the Bay Area in 2012 — but Fremont bucked the trend.

Violent crimes in Fremont dropped from 384 in 2011 to 306 in 2012 with the murder rate remaining the same with 2 homicides in both years.

The number of rapes dropped by more than half to 14, compared to 35 in 2011. Robberies dropped slightly from 156 to 132 in 2012, as did aggravated assaults from 191 to 158 and burglaries from 1,206 to 1,176.

Fremont, however, did see the number of larceny-theft crimes jump from 2,303 to 2,502 in 2012. Auto thefts also increased from 443 in 2011 to 581 in 2012. 

Do you feel safe in Fremont?