Holly V. Hays

holly.hays@indystar.com

SafeWise, a home security and safety brand, put Carmel and Fishers in the top two spots on its "30 Safest Cities to Raise a Child" list.

Carmel took the top spot, while Fishers placed second.

SafeWise cited the “World’s Smallest Children’s Art Gallery” in its listing, as well as the city’s emphasis on quality life and infrastructure and its nearly 90 percent high school graduation rate.

What stood out about Fishers was the community’s low crime statistics, according to the report. Fishers had only 18 violent crime reports in 2014.

Carmel Police Chief Tim Green said in a news release that officers’ dedication to protecting residents makes the community special.

“We are dedicated to this profession and take ownership in our assignments and responsibilities,” Green said. “When people care about what they are doing it makes a difference.”

Carmel and Fishers are the only two Indiana cities on the list, and two of the three Midwestern communities on the list. Naperville, Ill., which often is ranked on similar lists, came in at No. 19.

To complete the rankings, SafeWise analyzed violent crime data from the FBI Crime Report, as well as sex offender populations, state graduation rates and school rankings, according to the report. Additionally, SafeWise looked for kid-friendly programs in the area.

All cities included in the list have populations greater than 10,000.

Call IndyStar reporter Holly Hays at (317) 444-6156. Follow her on Twitter: @hollyvhays.

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