#T1Greensburg, PA
Westmoreland County · 14,462 peopleAmong the top in the U.S.·#1 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania
Greensburg, PA, #1 on this list · Photo: David Fulmer · CC BY-SA 2.0United States · Hazard risk
Towns with the lowest natural-hazard risk in America
Greensburg, PA and Richland Township, PA (tied with 2 more) share first place on hazard risk among 5,239 U.S. towns and cities of 10,000+ residents.
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). The state rank sits beside each letter. How grades work
#T1A+
#T1Richland Township, PA
Cambria County · 11,936 peopleAmong the top in the U.S.·#4 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania
#T1State College, PA
Centre County · 40,844 peopleAmong the top in the U.S.·#5 of 1,037 in Pennsylvania
The top 100
Of 5,239 towns and cities of 10,000+ graded on hazard risk. Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied). Each state rank links to that state’s full list.
100 towns. Every graded town is on its state’s list.
#TownGrade · state rankCompared with U.S. towns
T1State College, PA College campusCentre County · 40,844 peopleA+#5 of 1,037 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T5Elkridge, MDunincorporated, Howard County · 26,283 peopleA+#7 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T5Fort Meade, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 11,225 peopleA+#4 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T5Parole, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 17,229 peopleA+#5 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T8Blacksburg, VA College campusMontgomery County · 45,104 peopleA+#2 of 253 in VAamong the top in the U.S.
T8Linthicum, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 11,313 peopleA+#11 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T16Maryland City, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 19,186 peopleA+#12 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T16North Laurel, MDunincorporated, Howard County · 25,563 peopleA+#13 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T24Arnold, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 24,303 peopleA+#21 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T24Forestville, MDunincorporated, Prince George's County · 10,495 peopleA+#22 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T24Glen Burnie, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 72,590 peopleA+#28 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T24Pasadena, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 34,309 peopleA+#19 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T24Riviera Beach, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 12,192 peopleA+#23 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T24Rossville, MDunincorporated, Baltimore County · 16,059 peopleA+#20 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T24Summerfield, MDunincorporated, Prince George's County · 15,065 peopleA+#26 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T34Ferndale, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 17,529 peopleA+#32 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T34Hempfield Township, PAWestmoreland County · 41,421 peopleA+#22 of 1,037 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T34McCandless Township, PAAllegheny County · 28,439 peopleA+#20 of 1,037 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T34South Laurel, MDunincorporated, Prince George's County · 29,272 peopleA+#30 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T34Urbana, MDunincorporated, Frederick County · 14,260 peopleA+#29 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T41Columbia, MDunincorporated, Howard County · 104,338 peopleA+#38 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T41Garfield Township, MIGrand Traverse County · 19,698 peopleA+#9 of 701 in MIamong the top in the U.S.
T41Timonium, MDunincorporated, Baltimore County · 10,304 peopleA+#35 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T41Walker Mill, MDunincorporated, Prince George's County · 10,931 peopleA+#33 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T49Burtonsville, MDunincorporated, Montgomery County · 10,203 peopleA+#43 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T49Odenton, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 45,002 peopleA+#42 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T49Severn, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 58,402 peopleA+#41 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T55Catonsville, MDunincorporated, Baltimore County · 43,368 peopleA+#44 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T55Damascus, MDunincorporated, Montgomery County · 17,640 peopleA+#46 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T55Glassmanor, MDunincorporated, Prince George's County · 16,981 peopleA+#47 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T55Ilchester, MDunincorporated, Howard County · 28,364 peopleA+#45 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T61Ballenger Creek, MDunincorporated, Frederick County · 26,390 peopleA+#50 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T61Beltsville, MDunincorporated, Prince George's County · 19,176 peopleA+#49 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T61College Park, MD College campusPrince George's County · 35,418 peopleA+#52 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T61Ellicott City, MDunincorporated, Howard County · 75,257 peopleA+#51 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T61North Bethesda, MDunincorporated, Montgomery County · 49,677 peopleA+#54 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T70Germantown, MDunincorporated, Montgomery County · 90,719 peopleA+#61 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T70Honeygo, MDunincorporated, Baltimore County · 12,250 peopleA+#56 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T70Lake Shore, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 18,249 peopleA+#55 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T70Middle River, MDunincorporated, Baltimore County · 31,712 peopleA+#60 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T74Carney, MDunincorporated, Baltimore County · 28,343 peopleA+#69 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T74Redland, MDunincorporated, Montgomery County · 18,665 peopleA+#65 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T74White Marsh, MDunincorporated, Baltimore County · 10,932 peopleA+#66 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T79Brandywine, MDunincorporated, Prince George's County · 12,160 peopleA+#75 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T79Clarksburg, MDunincorporated, Montgomery County · 30,487 peopleA+#72 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T79Crofton, MDunincorporated, Anne Arundel County · 29,549 peopleA+#71 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T79Fairland, MDunincorporated, Montgomery County · 26,231 peopleA+#73 of 261 in MDamong the top in the U.S.
T79Richland Township, PAAllegheny County · 11,840 peopleA+#43 of 1,037 in PAamong the top in the U.S.
T88Montgomery Village, MDunincorporated, Montgomery County · 34,110 peopleA+#77 of 261 in MDbetter than 98% of U.S. towns
T88Olney, MDunincorporated, Montgomery County · 35,797 peopleA+#76 of 261 in MDbetter than 98% of U.S. towns
T92Dundalk, MDunincorporated, Baltimore County · 65,969 peopleA+#78 of 261 in MDbetter than 98% of U.S. towns
T92East Whiteland Township, PAChester County · 14,983 peopleA+#51 of 1,037 in PAbetter than 98% of U.S. towns
T92Easttown Township, PAChester County · 11,090 peopleA+#49 of 1,037 in PAbetter than 98% of U.S. towns
T92Hampton Township, PAAllegheny County · 17,808 peopleA+#48 of 1,037 in PAbetter than 98% of U.S. towns
T92Lake Arbor, MDunincorporated, Prince George's County · 14,335 peopleA+#79 of 261 in MDbetter than 98% of U.S. towns
T92Perry Township, OHColumbiana County · 15,929 peopleA+#14 of 993 in OHbetter than 98% of U.S. towns
T92Unity Township, PAWestmoreland County · 21,196 peopleA+#46 of 1,037 in PAbetter than 98% of U.S. towns
Quick answers
Questions people ask
How are these towns ranked?
The Hazard risk grade: FEMA’s expected yearly loss to buildings from natural hazards, where residents live (National Risk Index). The national list starts at 10,000 residents; state lists start at 2,500. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
This page shows the top 100 of 5,239 towns of 10,000+ with a hazard risk grade. Every town of 2,500+ is ranked on its state’s list, and smaller towns show the grade on their own page.
Other states