Let’s face it—towns like Mayberry, where the biggest threat was Otis, the town drunk who locks himself in a jail cell, no longer exist. As technology changes, criminals find more ways to victimize people, but the old common physical crimes like stalking and assault still occur regularly.

You wouldn’t want to walk through some locations in daylight by yourself without your trusty pepper spray, much less after dark. Thankfully, if you’re a woman looking for a safer place to live with your family, there are plenty of great cities to call home and to visit. But how do people determine what makes a city safe?

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What Makes a City Safe?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one in three women are victims of sexual or physical violence. Some key things make one city safer than another. Streetlights can really help. A city that’s well-lit decreases the number of crimes of opportunity that can easily occur in dark areas.

Even something as simple as widening footpaths makes women feel safer because it increases the amount of space between them and other people walking. And not surprisingly, stricter criminal laws for crimes against women and how law enforcement responds make women feel safer. The judicial process is long and complex, making women scared to point out their attackers—especially if they are known to them, such as an intimate partner or colleague.

Suburbs tend to be the safest places for women, based on a survey conducted by ValuePenguin.com. To determine which cities were the safest, ValuePenguin looked at multiple data sources, including:

• Crime statistics
• Workplace policies
• The availability and access to adequate healthcare
• Education levels
• Cancer rates
• Female representation in local government as well as law enforcement
• Income levels
• Conviction rates of criminal offenders

ADT Security also created a list of 25 of the safest cities in the U.S. based on the FBI’s 2013 Uniform Crime Report.

Here are some of the safest cities in America for women based on these lists.

Thousand Oaks, California

Thousand Oaks, CA, is a city in Ventura County and is the safest city on ValuePenguin’s list. Communities here are close and intimate with fun activities for everyone. You’re only an hour’s drive away from Los Angeles, and there are exhibits to visit like The Gardens of the World and hiking at Paradise Falls. The Civics Arts Plaza is another popular place where you can see comedians, music concerts, and plays.

The city is also proud of its efforts to preserve plenty of green space, and it’s also known as one of California’s greenest cities. Thousand Oaks is beautiful and safe for women.

Glen Cove, New York

Glen Cove is the safest city on ADT’s list and is located on the north shore of Long Island, New York. Much of the culture focuses on the waterways in the area. Glen Cove is a beautiful city that has been the backdrop to some TV shows and movies such as Batman Forever.

Glen Cove, NY is a safe city for women. Photo by Tashmin via Shutterstock.com

This city is small, only seven square miles, and is economically and ethnically diverse. With the feel of an urban-suburban location, you have the city environment or you can eat somewhere on the water or go to the beach. Many wealthy people from the past flocked to Glen Cove, such as the Morgans, Pratts, Woolworths, and Whitneys, and you can still see their mansions today.

Stamford, Connecticut

Stamford is the second-largest city in Connecticut, with more than 130,000 people. The FBI has named this city the safest in New England and the 11th safest locality in America. Go to one of the city’s more than 150 restaurants or 40 recreational areas and parks, with many having access to the Long Island Sound.

Mill River Park is the miniature version of Central Park with its beautiful landscaping and nature. Science lovers can visit the Stamford Museum & Nature Center or the Bartlett Arboretum. In the summer, you can take in a concert at the Alive@Five concert series such as Third Eye Blind, Cee Lo Green, and Sugar Ray.

Mill River Park is Stamford, CT’s version of Central Park. Photo by Jose Ambelis on Unsplash

Visit the Palace Theatre or Connecticut Grand Opera to see world-famous performers in off-broadway musicals. Or go to a performance at the state’s professional ballet company, Connecticut Ballet.

Zionsville, Indiana

Zionsville, Indiana is a suburb of Indianapolis and symbolizes all the ideals of a typical Midwestern town. With a broad population of everything from down-to-earth horse farmers to professional athletes, Zionsville is for everyone.

Visit the SullivanMunce Cultural Center, a history museum and genealogy library, to learn more about your family. Or stop by the Zionsville Nature Center to learn how to take an active role in your native environment. You can also register for the Heritage Trail Dog Park so you can take your canine friend to 3.5 acres of walking trails, community gardens, and a playground.

Zionsville, Indiana, really is the picture of small-town America.

Fresno, California

ValuePenguin delineates between big cities and small towns because the more people a location has, the more difficult it is to manage crime and build safe communities. For the study, big cities were considered places with over 500,000 people, and Fresno comes in with approximately 525,010 people.

Fresno CA is one of the safest larger cities for women. Photo by Albert Campbell via Shutterstock.com

One great positive aspect of larger cities is there are more activities. Visit the local Woodward Park and Roeding Park, where you can picnic in shelters or reserve the gazebo shelter for activities.

And just like small communities, there are regular fire department events that help build connections in the community. Firefighters serve as mentors in the Firefighter for a Day and the Girls Empowerment Camp. Every year, the fire departments have the Joyous Christmas Event that helps some of the communities with less fortunate children.

These are just five of the hundreds of safe places for women in the United States. Many cities have one thing in common—a strong sense of community where everyone works together to create a safe place to live.

But even the safest places have crime, so it’s always good to be prepared so you can prevent becoming a victim of violence. Always carry a durable tactical flashlight so you can identify potential threats in the dark. You can even use a flashlight as an impact weapon or blind your attacker.

Today’s tactical flashlights are waterproof, strong, and have bright LED light. Photo by Cavan Images via iStock by Getty Images

Always be aware of your surroundings and listen to your instincts. Carry a self-defense tool (as long as it’s legal in your state and locality) if it helps you feel safer. And don’t be afraid to relocate to a safer city so you always have peace of mind that you’re safe in your community as a woman.