New Jersey is known for its beautiful beaches, diverse communities, historic landmarks, and easy access to major metropolitan areas. From the scenic Jersey Shore to vibrant downtown districts, the Garden State offers residents and visitors a wide variety of places to live, work, and explore.
However, like many states across the U.S., some cities experience higher levels of violent crime than others. Using the latest available reported violent crime statistics, we’ve ranked the cities with the highest violent crime rates in New Jersey. These rankings are based on violent crimes reported per 100,000 residents and are intended to provide readers with statistical information—not to define an entire community.
Quick Guide
- State: New Jersey
- Ranking Based On: Reported violent crime rate per 100,000 residents
- Includes: Assault, robbery, rape, and homicide statistics
- Best For: Residents, travelers, and those researching New Jersey communities
- Key Takeaway: Crime statistics are one factor to consider and should always be viewed alongside local improvements, neighborhood differences, and recent public safety efforts.
- Source: areavibes
It’s also important to remember that crime levels can vary significantly between neighborhoods, and many of these cities continue investing in community programs, economic development, and public safety initiatives designed to improve residents’ quality of life.
10. Jersey City
- Population: 268,546
- 562 violent crimes per 100k
- violent crimes per day: 1.54
- chance of being a victim: 1 in 178
- Total Crimes / 100k: 2,591
Rounding out our list at #10 is Jersey City, NJ. With a population of 268,546 and a violent crime rate of 562 per 100,000 people (158% higher than the New Jersey average), some parts of Jersey City are incredible unsafe.
The violent crime rate consists of 357 counts of assault, 173 counts of robbery, 30 counts of rape and 2 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 178 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.
9. Newark
- Population: 290,764
- 581 violent crimes per 100k
- violent crimes per day: 1.59
- chance of being a victim: 1 in 172
- Total Crimes / 100k: 2,539
Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Newark, NJ comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New Jersey with a violent crime rate of 581 per 100,000 people.…