PUTNAM COUNTY, N.Y. — A new analysis by U.S. News & World Report evaluated dozens of factors that shape and indicate the health of nearly 3,000 counties and county-equivalents across the nation and ranked Putnam County the eighth safest community.
According to the magazine, eight New York counties were ranked among the top 25 safest communities, and 10 counties in the entire Northeast were on the list, the most of any region.
Putnam's area of expertise in public safety was violent crime.
Putnam Index New York State Other Urban Areas, High-Performing Counties Violent Crime Rate per 100,000 48.4 255.2 380.6 270.5
“We are pleased to be ranked as the eighth safest county in the United States, but our goal is to be number one! This achievement is the result of the hard work of our deputies, investigators and corrections officers,” said Putnam County Sheriff Kevin McConville. “All employees of the Putnam County Sheriff's Office are well trained and know their role in keeping our residents and community safe. I congratulate them for their efforts and this recognition.”
The 2024 Healthiest Communities rankings look at a wide range of factors, including gun violence, busy roads, clean water violations and access to emergency care. Putnam County is classified as a high-performing urban county, and its overall ranking rose to 85th from 176th in 2022.
“Putnam County is a place where everyone has the opportunity to be healthy and successful, regardless of their background,” said Putnam County Mayor Kevin Byrne.
Located 50 miles north of New York City, Putnam is at the northern edge of the Tri-State metropolitan area, bordered by the Hudson River to the west, Dutchess County to the north, Connecticut to the east, and Westchester County to the south.
