Public safety is a multifaceted term that many people equate only to violence and police protection. But safety can be taken into a much broader context. A new study from WalletHub, for example, has aggregated several categories of safety and, in doing so, has determined that there’s no place  in the country you’ll feel more secure than Massachusetts.

Often overlooked when taking safety into consideration are the likes of financial stability, driving, workplace, natural disasters and home and community. WalletHub, though, commissioned its report as something of a reminder for people to keep their eyes open and heads on a swivel for more than just street-level happenings. Because, let’s face it: the aforementioned criteria are all intertwined and render our general ideas and notions of what it means to be secure.

Writes WalletHub, “Using 26 key metrics, we’ve sorted the states according to different safety standards that take into account data related to crime, traffic accidents, employer insurance coverage, climate disasters, consumer bank accounts and more.”

For its part, the Bay State took top honors in terms of financial and driving safety; finished fifth overall for safety in the workplace; and finished second a number for home and community; but dropped to 25th for natural disasters – we’re looking at you, winter weather.

Massachusetts was followed up by New England brethren and northerly neighbor New Hampshire, as well as Minnesota, Hawaii and Washington D.C.

Rhode Island helped round out the top ten, coming in at sixth, trailed by Iowa, Illinois, Connecticut and New York.

Given the Commonwealth’s expanding startup and innovation economy, its next-generation offices, its surprisingly high acumen behind the wheel, lack of inclement weather (take a look at the hurricanes to the south, and tornados and earthquakes to the west. It ain’t so bad here after all.), we’re not surprised to come out as the top dog.

Community safety issues such as bullying have been cracked down on by Beacon Hill. And all levels of government are endeavoring to curtail gun violence.

Let’s keep up the good work everybody. Now that summer has rolled around, let’s just all kick back, relax, beer in hand, and enjoy each other’s company.

Hakuna matata, Massachusetts.

Featured image via Shutterstock, graphic via WalletHub