Pittsburgh rated country's most secure large metropolitan area by Farmers Insurance

What’s even better than being ranked the most secure city is how far we’ve come – Pittsburgh has moved up 10 spots in the list since last year.

Farmers Insurance Group of Companies® annually ranks nearly 400 U.S. communities based on safety and security. In its Eighth Annual Most Secure Places to Live in the U.S. study, Farmers has rated Pittsburgh, Pa., as the most secure U.S. community among large metropolitan areas (population of 500,000 or greater).

The Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, Wash., area is the most secure mid-size U.S. city (population between 150,000 and 500,000), while Ithaca, N.Y., ranks as the most secure small town (population less than 150,000).

The rankings, compiled by database experts at www.bestplaces.net, took into consideration crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, housing depreciation, foreclosures, air quality, terrorist threats, environmental hazards, life expectancy, mortality rates from cancer and motor vehicle accidents, and job loss numbers in 379 U.S. municipalities. The study divided the communities into three groups: large metropolitan areas, mid-size cities and small towns.

"Farmers congratulates all of the communities represented in the Farmers Secure Places to Live Survey," stated Jeff Dailey, President and Chief Operating Officer of Farmers Insurance Group.

"Since its founding in 1928, Farmers has been committed to improving the communities in which customers, agents and employees live and work. We are committed to improving safety, expanding educational opportunities, enhancing health and human services, encouraging civic participation and supporting the arts and culture, all part of the criteria that makes up the Farmers Secure Places to Live survey," Dailey said.

Pittsburgh moved up 10 spots from a year ago to rank No. 1 among large metropolitan areas in the 2011 Farmers study. This is Pittsburgh's fifth appearance in the Top 20, with its previous best ranking ninth in the 2005 study. Its low housing depreciation, personal crime rate and motor vehicle deaths, along with a high stability rate contributed to its top rating.

The Kennewick-Richland-Pasco area reclaimed its spot as the top mid-size city it previously held in 2005, and it marks the sixth time the area has been ranked in the study's Top 20. Its lofty ranking is largely due to a high job growth rate and low housing depreciation and unemployment rate.

Ithaca earned the top rating among small towns in the annual Farmers study for the first time. It has four previous Top 5 rankings, including third place in both 2007 and 2010. Ithaca earned its elite spot thanks to low rates of unemployment, violent crimes, motor vehicle deaths and housing depreciation.

Here are the Farmers Insurance Group's Most Secure U.S. Places to Live for 2011:

Large Metro Areas (500,000 or more residents)

1. Pittsburgh, Pa.
2. Rochester, N.Y.
3. El Paso, Texas
4. Syracuse, N.Y.
5. Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, Md.
6. Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y.
7. Wichita, Kan.
8. Omaha, Neb.-Council Bluffs, Iowa
9. Denver-Aurora, Colo.
10. Austin-Round Rock, Texas
11. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Conn.
12. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, N.Y.
13. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
14. Nassau-Suffolk counties, N.Y.
15. Honolulu, Hawaii
16. Madison, Wis.
17. Colorado Springs, Colo.
18. Oklahoma City, Okla.
19. Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa
20. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, Minn.

Mid-Size Cities (150,000-500,000 residents)

1. Kennewick-Richland-Pasco, Wash.
2. Boulder, Colo.
3. Fargo, N.D.-Moorhead, Minn.
4. Olympia, Wash.
5. Binghamton, N.Y.
6. Sioux Falls, S.D.
7. Bellingham, Wash.
8. Lincoln, Neb.
9. Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo.
10. Rochester, Minn.
11. Duluth, Minn.-Superior, Wis.
12. Utica-Rome, N.Y.
13. Bremerton-Silverdale, Wash.
14. Yakima, Wash.
15. Anchorage, Alaska
16. Burlington-South Burlington, Vt.
17. Las Cruces, N.M.
18. Green Bay, Wis.
19. Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, La.
20. Spokane, Wash.

Small Towns (Fewer than 150,000 residents)

1. Ithaca, N.Y.
2. State College, Pa.
3. Bismarck, N.D.
4. Elmira, N.Y.
5. Corvallis, Ore.
6. Logan, Utah
7. Midland, Texas
8. La Crosse, Wis.-Winona, Minn.
9. Grand Forks, N.D.-Crookston, Minn.
10. Lewiston, Idaho-Clarkston, Wash.
11. Altoona, Pa.
12. Morgantown, W.Va.
13. Rapid City, S.D.
14. Wenatchee, Wash.
15. Eau Claire, Wis.
16. Johnstown, Pa.
17. San Angelo, Texas
18. Fond du Lac, Wis.
19. Iowa City, Iowa
20. Sioux City, Iowa

Read more http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eighth-annual-farmers-insurance-study-ranks-the-most-secure-places-to-live-in-the-us-135661698.html Picture from http://m.wikitravel.org/en/Pittsburgh