Study: Round Rock safest city in Texas
Round Rock continues to make “best city” lists, and is now considered to be the safest city in Texas, according to one recent study.
Niche, a company that researches and collects reviews on cities, recently compiled a list of the safest cities in the country for 2018. Round Rock took the No. 5 spot for safest city in the United States. Plano, which ranked as No. 9, was the only other Texas city to make the top 10.
“It’s one of the things that appeals to people to move to Round Rock,” Mayor Craig Morgan said. “We are always trying to provide necessary resources to law enforcement and public safety officials so they can do the job and keep us safe.”
The ranking involved a comprehensive assessment of overall safety in an area. The grade takes into account violent crime and property crime rates as well as resident reviews to measure an area’s safety and security.
Niche analyzed data sources such as the U.S. Census and the FBI Uniform Crime Report for the study.
Despite a 20 percent uptick in violent crime since 2012, violent crimes in Round Rock decreased by 2 percent in 2017 compared to 2016, according to police data.
Records provided through an open records request show officers handled 169 violent crimes in 2017, including 89 aggravated assaults, 44 robberies, 33 rapes and three homicides. In 2016, the police department recorded 173 violent crimes, including 98 aggravated assaults, 44 robberies and 31 rapes. No homicides were recorded in 2016.
Morgan said the city brings in about $53 million in property taxes, of which about $47 million is dedicated to public safety — something he said will remain a focus for city officials.
“That’s not done by accident,” he said. “It’s expensive but we want to remain safe and feel like the community can go outdoors and walk amongst each other.”
In March, Niche ranked Round Rock among 20 of the best cities in the country to live based on the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment and access to amenities.
Last year, SmartAsset listed the city as the ninth best “boomtown” in the nation and as the second best town that hosts a minor league baseball team.
“We have an engaged community and we try to listen to them,” Morgan said. “When that happens, you see the different ‘best of this’ and ‘best of that’ awards.”