Survey: Newton/Cambridge 'Most Peaceful' Metro Area

The U.S. Peace Index has ranked the Framingham-Newton-Cambridge area as the most peaceful metropolitan area in the country, according to a report in USA Today.

According to the report, the country as a whole is more peaceful than at anytime in the past 20 years, with Maine finishing first as the "most peaceful" state and Louisiana placing last for the 11th year in a row.

Detroit-Livionia-Dearborn in Michigan was ranked the least peaceful metropolitan area.

The second annual edition of the index, produced by Institute for Economics and Peace, provides a comprehensive analysis of peacefulness at the state and city levels, as well as an analysis of the costs associated with violence and the socio-economic measures associated with peace.

The USPI measures peacefulness according to five indicators: the number of homicides, number of violent crimes, the incarceration rate, number of police employees and the availability of small arms. Peace, in this survey, means "absense of violence."

TThe survey is a statistical analysis of crime, and the cost of crime, in all 50 states and, for the first time this year, the 61 most populous metropolitan areas.

The survey, once again, notes a strong correlation between peace and economic opportunity, health, education and social capital.

The summary of the survey says, "The U.S. is now more peaceful than at any time in the last 20 years. This has been driven by a steady decrease in the homicide and violent crime rates combined with recent modest decreases in the incarceration rate."

New England is very peaceful and tranquil according to the survey. The top three states are Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire.