The Highest-Scoring ZIP Codes in America (2026)

The highest-scoring ZIP codes in America pair very low crime relative to their state with strong public schools. Ada, Minnesota (56510) tops the national list at 91, built on a 95 crime score and a perfect 100 school score. A striking pattern emerges across the leaderboard: almost all of the top ZIPs are small towns, not big-city neighborhoods.

The national top tier

Sharing the 91 mark are Ada, MN (56510) and Victoria, VA (23974). Close behind at 90 is Oakland, Maryland (21550), another 95-crime, 100-school ZIP in the Appalachian highlands.

At 89, the cluster widens to Ewing, Nebraska (68735), Accident, Maryland (21520), and Lexington, Mississippi (39095) — each with a perfect school score and minimal crime for its state.

Why small towns dominate

Two forces push rural ZIPs to the top. First, crime is scored against the state average, and sparsely populated areas usually report far fewer incidents per capita than their state's cities. Second, a small town often has just one school system that fully covers its grades, which maxes out the school coverage component. Big-city ZIPs, by contrast, carry higher relative crime and more school-to-school variation that pulls their averages down.

The practical takeaway: a 91 in rural Minnesota and a 75 in a major metro are not the same product. The metro ZIP may offer jobs, transit, and amenities the score does not capture. Read the leaderboard as a measure of safety-and-schools value, not overall desirability.

Frequently asked questions

Why aren't famous wealthy ZIP codes at the top?

Affluent ZIPs often have excellent schools and low crime, but very high prices drag down their value component, which is 25% of the score. Affordable safe towns can edge them out.

Is the crime score national or state-relative?

State-relative — a ZIP is compared with its own state's average. See how NeighborScore works for the full formula. NeighborScore is a research tool; visit any area before deciding to move.