Upper Midwest cities fare well in 'Most Secure' ranking

Star Tribune

Last update: December 17, 2007 - 2:31 PM

A leading insurance company has ranked the nation's cities when it comes to health, prosperity, safety and security - and several cities in Minnesota and neighboring states fared well.

A total of 379 metropolitan areas were ranked by Farmers Insurance this month in three categories: populations of 500,000 or more; 150,000 to 500,000; and fewer than 150,000.

Minnesota put two cities in the top 20 in the mid-sized category: Rochester, at 14th, and St. Cloud, at 19th. Sioux Falls, S.D., landed in fourth, while Fargo, N.D., came in sixth.

Among the smaller cities, Bismarck, N.D., was seventh; Ames, Iowa, was 13th; Iowa City, Iowa, 16th; and Grand Forks, N.D., 20th.

Among the biggest metro areas, the only Upper Midwest metro area to earn a mention in the top 20 was Madison, Wis., at 16th.

When mixing all the size categories together, Bismarck was eighth and Sioux Falls 14th.

The rankings were determined based on crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, environmental hazards, terrorism threats, air quality, life expectancy and job loss numbers.

For more on the ratings, visit www.startribune.com/a3785.

PAUL WALSH

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