When people picture a “safe” place to live, small towns and quiet suburbs often come to mind. It’s true — many of California’s safest communities fit that description. But for those who love the energy of big-city life, there’s good news: you don’t have to leave the city to find safety.

A new study from SmartAsset analyzed the 50 largest cities in the United States, evaluating factors such as violent and property crime rates, vehicle-related deaths, and drug overdose mortality rates. The results were surprising — Los Angeles claimed the No. 2 spot overall.

According to Jaclyn DeJohn, SmartAsset’s Director of Economic Analysis, Los Angeles ranked ninth-lowest among major cities for both violent and property crimes when adjusted for population. The report also revealed that, for every 100,000 residents, Los Angeles recorded 9.5 fatal car crashes and 23 drug overdose deaths — ranking 17th lowest and 14th lowest in those categories, respectively.

At the very top of the list was another California city — San Jose. It performed exceptionally well across all metrics, earning the third-lowest violent crime rate and fifth-lowest property crime rate nationwide.

Photo: unsplash.com/@juancarlosbcr

Here’s the complete list of the ten safest large cities in America, according to SmartAsset:

1. San Jose, CA
2. Los Angeles, CA
3. Fort Worth, TX
4. Omaha, NE
5. Virginia Beach, VA
6. Las Vegas, NV
7. Arlington, TX
8. El Paso, TX
9. Charlotte, NC
10. Raleigh, NC

So if you’re looking for a big city that balances excitement and safety, Los Angeles just proved it’s one of the best places to be.

Full Study Here