Farmers Insurance Ranks Billings Among The Most Secure Places To Live in the U.S.

LOS ANGELES — Billings, Mont., is the eighth most secure place to live in the United States among small towns, according to the Seventh Annual Farmers Insurance Group of Companies study.

The rankings, compiled by database experts at www.bestplaces.net, took into consideration crime statistics, extreme weather, risk of natural disasters, housing depreciation, foreclosures, terrorist threats, environmental hazards, air quality, life expectancy and job loss numbers in 138 U.S. towns with populations under 150,000.

“Farmers congratulates all of the communities recognized in the 2010 annual Farmers Most Secure Places to Live survey. In today’s challenging economy, citizens look to their local governments to keep their communities secure and economically strong,” noted Robert Woudstra, Farmers CEO.

 “In the 82 years since its founding, Farmers has been committed to improving the communities where its customers, agents and employees live and work,” Mr. Woudstra added.  “Farmers is committed to improving safety, expanding educational opportunities, enhancing health and human services, encouraging civic participation and supporting charitable organizations in every community.”

This marks the fourth time that Billings has appeared among the top 20 in the annual Farmers study.

The Lewiston, Idaho–Clarkston, Wash., area is the most secure small town in the U.S., according to the 2010 Farmers Insurance study. Madison, Wis., is the most secure large metropolitan area (population 500,000 or more), while Olympia, Wash., is the most secure mid-size city (population between 150,000–500,000).

Here is the list of the top 20 small towns, in order, of Farmers Insurance’s 2010 Most Secure Places to Live in the United States:

Small Towns (Fewer than 150,000 residents)
  1.    Lewiston, Idaho–Clarkston, Wash.
  2.    State College, Pa.
  3.    Ithaca, N.Y.
  4.    Bismarck, N.D.
  5.    Logan, Utah
  6.    Wenatchee, Wash.
  7.    Morgantown, W.Va.
  8.    Billings, Mont.
  9.    Corvallis, Ore.
10.    Midland, Texas
11.    Sioux City, Iowa
12.    La Crosse, Wis.–Winona, Minn.
13.    Elmira, N.Y.
14.    Rapid City, S.D.
15.    Oshkosh–Neenah, Wis.
16.    Eau Claire, Wis.
17.    Mount Vernon–Anacortes, Wash.
18.    Fond du Lac, Wis.
19.    Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford, Va.
20.    Grand Forks, N.D.–Crookston, Minn.

Farmers is a trade name and may refer to Farmers Group, Inc., or the Farmers Exchanges, as the case may be. Farmers Group, Inc., a management and holding company, along with its subsidiaries, is wholly owned by the Zurich Financial Services Group. The Farmers Exchanges are three reciprocal insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange), including their subsidiaries and affiliates, owned by their policyholders, and managed by Farmers Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information about Farmers, visit our Web site at www.farmers.com or www.Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance.