A personal finance company has named Columbia, Maryland, the safest city to live in America.A study by Wallet Hub compared more than 180 cities across 39 key indicators of safety, including things such as assaults per capita, unemployment and road quality.The study looked at three major areas: home and community safety, natural disaster risk and financial safety. Columbia, Maryland, ranked 4th, 63rd and 34th respectively, but ranked No.1 safest overall with a total weighted score of 85.98 out of 100."That's great news. We have always known here in Howard County. We've enjoyed a low crime rate and being located between two major metropolitan areas -- Washington and Baltimore. I think that's fantastic news," said Chief Gary Gardener, of the Howard County Police Department.Wallet Hub said Columbia also has a high perception of safety by residents and one of the lowest uninsured and poverty rates. The head of the Columbia Association said he's not surprised. "When you look at Columbia and the greater Howard County, that's one of the things we're know for. It's the quality of life here and being a safe environment for our residents, our businesses. That's just part of the package of who we are," said Milton Matthews, president of the Columbia Association.Police and the Columbia Association agree that feeling of safety has a lot to do with a strong community-police partnership."We've worked very hard to establish areas throughout Howard County but, in particular, Columbia. We have officers who are neighborhood community police officers. They focus on problem solving within their communities, so they have a responsibility for a geographic area. I think that really correlates to a lot of that success," Gardner said.Baltimore was ranked 156 with an overall score of 65.Click here for the full study.This story will be updated.​

A personal finance company has named Columbia, Maryland, the safest city to live in America.

A study by Wallet Hub compared more than 180 cities across 39 key indicators of safety, including things such as assaults per capita, unemployment and road quality.


The study looked at three major areas: home and community safety, natural disaster risk and financial safety. Columbia, Maryland, ranked 4th, 63rd and 34th respectively, but ranked No.1 safest overall with a total weighted score of 85.98 out of 100.

"That's great news. We have always known here in Howard County. We've enjoyed a low crime rate and being located between two major metropolitan areas -- Washington and Baltimore. I think that's fantastic news," said Chief Gary Gardener, of the Howard County Police Department.



Wallet Hub said Columbia also has a high perception of safety by residents and one of the lowest uninsured and poverty rates. The head of the Columbia Association said he's not surprised.

"When you look at Columbia and the greater Howard County, that's one of the things we're know for. It's the quality of life here and being a safe environment for our residents, our businesses. That's just part of the package of who we are," said Milton Matthews, president of the Columbia Association.

Police and the Columbia Association agree that feeling of safety has a lot to do with a strong community-police partnership.

"We've worked very hard to establish areas throughout Howard County but, in particular, Columbia. We have officers who are neighborhood community police officers. They focus on problem solving within their communities, so they have a responsibility for a geographic area. I think that really correlates to a lot of that success," Gardner said.

Baltimore was ranked 156 with an overall score of 65.



Click here for the full study.

This story will be updated.