HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — Safety is often the number one priority when searching for a new home.

Whether it be feeling safe from crime, natural disasters or financial crises, everyone seeks security and comfort in their environments.

Based on these factors, WalletHub has created a ranking comparing 180 U.S. cities based on how safe they are.

Six North Carolina cities, including two in the Piedmont Triad, made appearances on the list.

The results for those cities varied widely with some being among the safest in the country, others in the middle and one towards the lower tier of the list.

The cities are ranked based on these three weighted factors:

Home & Community Safety: 50 points
- Factors include the number of violent crimes, amount of first responders, traffic fatalities, drug-poisoning deaths and road quality
Natural Disaster Risk: 30 points
- Factors include the risk of earthquakes, flooding, hail, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires
Financial Safety: 20 points
- Factors include unemployment rates, the share of uninsured people, debt-to-income ratios, poverty rates, job security and employment growth

Without further ado, here’s how North Carolina cities were ranked on the list of 182 U.S. cities with #1 being the safest and #180 being the least safe.

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Fayetteville, North Carolina: #138

Home & Community Safety	Natural Disaster Risk	Financial Safety
140	51	151

Fayetteville’s rankings in the three weighted factors

The home of Fort Bragg and award-winning artist J. Cole is ranked as the least safe NC city on the list.

Factors holding down Fayetteville include its ranking in the bottom 40 of the list for both Home & Community Safety as well as Financial Safety.

Fayetteville does rank as an above-average city in terms of safety from Natural Disaster Risk.

Greensboro, North Carolina: #69

Home & Community Safety	Natural Disaster Risk	Financial Safety
102	33	67

Greensboro’s rankings in the three weighted factors

More specifically to the Piedmont Triad, Greensboro comes in as an above-average city in terms of overall safety.

The number one factor holding down Greensboro is its slightly below-average ranking in terms of Home & Community Safety which is the largest weighted factor in the rankings.

Greensboro ranks as a solidly above-average city in terms of Financial Safety.

Greensboro’s most positive factor is safety from Natural Disaster Risk where it ranks near the top 30 nationally due to its position in Central NC.

Durham, North Carolina: #53

Home & Community Safety	Natural Disaster Risk	Financial Safety
82	42	34

Durham’s rankings in the three weighted factors

Next up on the list is Durham which comes in with a solidly above-average ranking nationally despite being fourth out of six ranked NC cities.

The main factor dragging down Durham’s ranking is its barely above-average rankings for Home & Community Safety.

Working in Durham’s favor is the fact that it ranks in the top 45 for both safety from Natural Disaster Risk and Financial Safety.

Charlotte, North Carolina: #43

Home & Community Safety	Natural Disaster Risk	Financial Safety
69	57	36

Charlotte’s rankings in the three weighted factors

Coming in at number three for safest cities in NC is its most populous city, Charlotte.

In the case of Charlotte, we see the impact that Home & Community Safety has on the rankings as it vaulted The Queen City 10 spots ahead of Durham despite Charlotte ranking lower in all other factors.

Charlotte’s best factor is its ranking in the top 40 for financial safety, which is not surprising given its status as a banking center.

Charlotte also makes a strong case for its spot in the rankings by ranking well above the average in all three factors.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina: #12

Home & Community Safety	Natural Disaster Risk	Financial Safety
26	40	59

Winston-Salem’s rankings in the three weighted factors

The second safest city in North Carolina hails from the Piedmont Triad in Winston-Salem.

Winston-Salem is in the upper tier of safest cities in the entire nation with its ranking in the top 15 nationally.

While Winston-Salem ranks lower than Charlotte and Durham in terms of Financial Safety, it vaults into the upper tier of the national rankings thanks to its top 30 ranking in Home & Community Safety.

Also, much like its Piedmont Triad neighbor, Winston-Salem offers great protection from Natural Disaster Risk.

Raleigh, North Carolina: #9

Home & Community Safety	Natural Disaster Risk	Financial Safety
19	55	24

Raleigh’s rankings in the three weighted factors

The safest city in North Carolina is its capital, Raleigh.

Not only is Raleigh ranked as the safest city in the Tar Heel State but it also ranks among the top 10 in the nation and number one in the Southeastern U.S.

The top factor for Raleigh is its Home & Community Safety ranking which is the best in the state and top 20 nationally.

Not far behind for reasons that Raleigh is so highly ranked is its Financial Safety Ranking which is also the best in the state and top 25 nationally.

While its safety from Natural Disaster Risk is the second worst in NC, that ranking still places it well above average nationally.

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The full 180-city list can be viewed below.

Overall Rank	City	Total Score	Home & Community Safety	Natural Disaster Risk	Financial Safety
1	Columbia, MD	85.99	1	63	92
2	Nashua, NH	84.44	11	27	2
3	Laredo, TX	83.96	4	24	107
4	Portland, ME	83.49	16	11	8
5	Warwick, RI	83.19	5	22	98
6	Yonkers, NY	83.19	3	39	113
7	Gilbert, AZ	82.04	12	14	60
8	Burlington, VT	81.90	27	37	11
9	Raleigh, NC	81.46	19	55	24
10	Lewiston, ME	81.40	33	12	21
11	Juneau, AK	81.39	60	50	1
12	Winston-Salem, NC	81.03	26	40	59
13	Madison, WI	80.92	15	89	49
14	Bismarck, ND	80.51	37	64	18
15	South Burlington, VT	80.25	59	36	3
16	Chandler, AZ	80.11	41	8	38
17	Fremont, CA	79.98	10	157	5
18	Virginia Beach, VA	79.85	20	44	100
19	Scottsdale, AZ	79.75	35	53	41
20	Brownsville, TX	79.70	22	2	153
21	Boise, ID	79.56	38	71	23
22	Cedar Rapids, IA	79.53	28	101	32
23	Manchester, NH	79.51	53	30	16
24	Pearl City, HI	79.48	2	N/A	10
25	Pembroke Pines, FL	79.45	14	48	152
26	Irvine, CA	79.25	6	150	61
27	Cape Coral, FL	79.19	13	111	115
28	Worcester, MA	79.01	43	17	69
29	Peoria, AZ	78.87	48	26	65
30	Casper, WY	78.70	56	20	83
31	Bridgeport, CT	78.33	47	16	108
32	Fargo, ND	77.99	73	77	13
33	Chesapeake, VA	77.97	30	69	130
34	Las Cruces, NM	77.89	51	66	79
35	Salem, OR	77.89	65	70	37
36	Fort Wayne, IN	77.83	54	59	81
37	Aurora, IL	77.77	17	91	155
38	Chula Vista, CA	77.69	18	132	74
39	Santa Rosa, CA	77.66	21	153	14
40	Glendale, CA	77.50	8	151	124
41	Henderson, NV	77.41	25	95	140
42	Tempe, AZ	77.40	77	9	54
43	Charlotte, NC	77.34	69	57	36
44	Providence, RI	77.33	50	10	126
45	Cheyenne, WY	77.25	49	97	82
46	Mesa, AZ	77.24	61	18	80
47	Nampa, ID	77.19	66	49	71
48	San Diego, CA	77.11	36	130	33
49	Irving, TX	77.06	29	125	70
50	Lincoln, NE	77.00	62	105	19
51	Missoula, MT	76.86	58	108	51
52	Rochester, NY	76.82	75	4	101
53	Durham, NC	76.82	82	42	34
54	Santa Clarita, CA	76.77	7	168	147
55	Grand Prairie, TX	76.65	39	112	105
56	Sioux Falls, SD	76.57	67	103	25
57	Hialeah, FL	76.36	9	128	176
58	Vancouver, WA	76.35	81	87	26
59	Grand Rapids, MI	76.31	86	7	53
60	Spokane, WA	76.09	90	19	39
61	Tampa, FL	75.69	68	92	84
62	Omaha, NE	75.61	71	107	45
63	Oxnard, CA	75.55	31	148	89
64	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	75.47	34	159	47
65	Salt Lake City, UT	75.42	80	116	22
66	Oceanside, CA	75.32	42	144	57
67	New Haven, CT	75.13	101	6	73
68	Huntington Beach, CA	74.82	32	170	63
69	Greensboro, NC	74.71	102	33	67
70	North Las Vegas, NV	74.65	40	99	169
71	Tallahassee, FL	74.63	88	28	131
72	Norfolk, VA	74.24	74	81	150
73	San Jose, CA	74.19	72	169	6
74	Newport News, VA	73.84	97	21	146
75	Honolulu, HI	73.83	23	N/A	27
76	Garden Grove, CA	73.78	44	171	88
77	Glendale, AZ	73.58	112	13	106
78	Ontario, CA	73.57	57	156	75
79	Plano, TX	73.50	105	113	42
80	Fontana, CA	73.49	52	163	87
81	Minneapolis, MN	73.40	99	131	17
82	Billings, MT	73.34	134	58	9
83	Moreno Valley, CA	73.28	45	166	119
84	Overland Park, KS	73.23	98	121	48
85	Boston, MA	73.11	129	35	20
86	San Antonio, TX	73.07	94	73	132
87	Jersey City, NJ	73.06	89	84	136
88	Sacramento, CA	72.96	91	119	56
89	Columbia, SC	72.91	87	83	157
90	Newark, NJ	72.90	78	29	179
91	Des Moines, IA	72.72	83	143	50
92	Santa Ana, CA	72.71	55	167	116
93	Mobile, AL	72.57	100	43	164
94	Anaheim, CA	72.55	63	154	99
95	Arlington, TX	72.42	84	122	122
96	Rapid City, SD	72.35	108	129	35
97	El Paso, TX	72.32	109	74	133
98	Huntington, WV	72.31	119	47	104
99	Lubbock, TX	72.29	110	114	64
100	Montgomery, AL	72.20	95	93	165
101	Port St. Lucie, FL	71.92	24	N/A	114
102	Gulfport, MS	71.87	111	56	162
103	Tucson, AZ	71.71	117	65	118
104	Amarillo, TX	71.64	85	162	68
105	Jacksonville, FL	71.61	120	62	128
106	Columbus, GA	71.51	113	38	167
107	West Valley City, UT	71.47	46	N/A	30
108	Anchorage, AK	71.40	92	161	44
109	Miami, FL	71.37	70	118	178
110	Fort Smith, AR	71.23	133	94	46
111	Aurora, CO	71.14	96	133	117
112	Knoxville, TN	70.90	118	78	135
113	Phoenix, AZ	70.82	137	25	94
113	Fresno, CA	70.82	121	117	76
115	St. Paul, MN	70.67	64	N/A	15
116	Augusta, GA	70.64	136	61	171
117	Huntsville, AL	70.58	107	142	97
118	Modesto, CA	70.52	124	135	31
119	Toledo, OH	70.48	128	60	141
120	Pittsburgh, PA	70.44	138	72	58
121	Nashville, TN	70.41	122	115	77
121	Tulsa, OK	70.41	116	120	102
123	Dover, DE	70.39	131	1	173
124	Louisville, KY	70.37	127	106	78
125	Austin, TX	70.23	143	98	29
126	Riverside, CA	70.21	93	164	95
127	New York, NY	70.13	132	34	138
128	Charleston, WV	69.99	150	45	28
129	Fort Worth, TX	69.88	104	134	144
130	Buffalo, NY	69.72	152	5	40
131	Akron, OH	69.64	126	68	163
132	Garland, TX	69.64	130	110	111
133	Chicago, IL	69.64	115	79	174
134	Atlanta, GA	69.63	123	82	154
135	Reno, NV	69.51	114	158	72
136	San Francisco, CA	69.50	146	123	4
137	Portland, OR	69.48	151	86	12
138	Fayetteville, NC	69.25	140	51	151
139	Long Beach, CA	69.10	103	152	134
140	Wichita, KS	68.66	106	172	110
141	Cincinnati, OH	68.44	145	76	137
142	Albuquerque, NM	68.41	149	88	66
143	Corpus Christi, TX	68.27	160	3	90
144	Bakersfield, CA	68.16	125	146	109
145	Wilmington, DE	68.10	144	23	175
146	Lexington-Fayette, KY	68.09	76	N/A	52
147	Springfield, MO	67.92	142	127	86
148	Seattle, WA	67.92	148	141	7
149	Stockton, CA	67.72	135	140	85
150	St. Petersburg, FL	67.54	79	N/A	55
151	Indianapolis, IN	67.35	138	124	120
152	Shreveport, LA	67.23	147	100	143
153	Houston, TX	67.18	141	102	158
154	Orlando, FL	66.74	163	32	96
155	Milwaukee, WI	66.66	154	52	148
156	Las Vegas, NV	65.35	153	96	161
157	Colorado Springs, CO	64.86	157	126	112
158	Tacoma, WA	64.18	159	145	91
159	Columbus, OH	64.16	169	46	139
160	Charleston, SC	63.94	155	165	93
161	Baltimore, MD	63.28	167	67	159
162	Kansas City, MO	63.00	162	138	129
163	Little Rock, AR	62.94	156	147	145
164	Denver, CO	62.80	166	139	62
165	New Orleans, LA	62.48	170	31	177
166	Dallas, TX	62.19	172	104	121
167	Birmingham, AL	61.90	161	136	170
168	Washington, DC	61.75	177	80	103
169	Cleveland, OH	61.26	171	54	180
170	Philadelphia, PA	61.12	176	15	160
171	Richmond, VA	60.82	178	75	127
172	Los Angeles, CA	60.75	164	149	149
173	Chattanooga, TN	60.54	175	109	125
174	Jackson, MS	60.48	168	137	172
175	Oakland, CA	60.45	174	155	43
176	Oklahoma City, OK	58.49	158	173	123
177	Memphis, TN	58.47	173	85	182
178	Baton Rouge, LA	56.51	182	90	166
179	Detroit, MI	55.58	181	41	181
180	San Bernardino, CA	54.41	180	160	142
181	Fort Lauderdale, FL	48.78	165	N/A	168
182	St. Louis, MO	42.81	179	N/A	156