VA Ranked Among The Nation's Safest States, New Analysis Says

Virginia is ranked among the safest states in the nation, according to a new study released by finance website WalletHub.

To come up with its list, researchers at WalletHub analyzed all 50 states using several measures that were ultimately grouped into five categories.

The measures ranged from assaults per capita to financial losses from climate disasters per resident, as well as economic factors like unemployment, job security and the poverty rate.

“The safest states in America protect their residents from harm in a multitude of different ways, from keeping crime rates low and maintaining safe roadways to having strong economies and job markets that prevent people from falling into dangerous financial situations," WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said in a statement.

He continued, "They 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."

Maryland ranked No. 14 on WalletHub's list of safest U.S. states and received a total score of 57.13.

The state was also ranked in the following individual categories:

• Personal & Residential Safety: 30th
• Financial Safety: 10th
• Road Safety: 25th
• Workplace Safety: 1st
• Emergency Preparedness: 29th

Overall, Vermont was ranked the nation's safest state, followed by Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine and Utah.

The least safe states were Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Florida and Arkansas.

Check out the full study here.