To come up with its list, The National Council for Home Safety and Security reviews the most recent statistics from the FBI Uniform Crime Report (January-June 2016), along with its own population data and internal research.

Cities with populations under 5,000 and those that failed to submit complete crime reports to the FBI were eliminated from consideration. Those remaining municipalities were ranked based on the number of reported violent crimes (aggravated assault, murder, rape and robbery) and property crimes (burglary, arson, larceny-theft and motor vehicle theft) per 100,000 people. These variables were then weighted, with violent crimes accounting for seventy percent of the total (due to their severity) and property crimes accounting for thirty percent. Finally, the Council shifted the decimal point over a few spots to show rates per 1,000 people.

Cities in the Top 20

1. Johns Creek
2. Milton
3. Braselton
4. Perry
5. Tyrone
6. Peachtree City
7. Port Wentworth
8. Flowery Branch
9. Grovetown
10. Holly Springs
11. Roswell
12. Alpharetta
13. Kennesaw
14. Hampton
15. Jefferson
16. Canton
17. Woodstock
18. McRae
19. Richmond Hill
20. Auburn

The National Council for Home Safety and Security is a national trade group that provides education and knowledge about the home safety and security industry to consumers.