Which suburbs rank among the nation's safest towns?

Lake in the Hills, Bartlett and Buffalo Grove are among the 20 safest cities in the United States, according to a recent report from the website Neighborhood Scout.

The ratings are created using from data provided by 18,000 law enforcement agencies around the country, and take into account the population of the community and the rate of a variety of crimes per 1,000 residents. The types of crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, murder, rape, armed robbery and aggravated assault.

The report ranks Lake in the Hills as the sixth safest community in the country, with just .59 violent crimes reported per 1,000 residents and 4.85 property crimes per 1,000. The national median is 3.8 violent and 26 property crimes per 1,000 residents, according to Neighborhood Scout. Bartlett is ranked as the eighth safest city, with 6.05 crimes per 1,000 citizens, and Buffalo Grove places 18th, with 7.24 crimes per 1,000 residents.

"We are very fortunate that Buffalo Grove has consistently been rated as one of the safest communities to live in - not only throughout the state but across the country as well," Village Manager Dane Bragg said in a news release. "This recognition is a testament to the cooperative efforts of law enforcement, our strong educational system and our community as a whole."

Other suburbs to rank in the top 50 include Wheaton (21st), Huntley (35th) and Mundelein (38th). Placing in the top 100 are Hanover Park (56th), Palatine (59th), Arlington Heights (66th), Carol Stream (69th), Mount Prospect (84th) and Hoffman Estates (90th).

To read the full report and its methodology, visit NeighborhoodScout.com.