| Statistic | Reportedincidents | /100k people | Elizabeth/100k people | New Jersey/100k people | National/100k people |
| Total crime | 4,729 | n/a (estimate) | 3,540 | 1,743 | 2,281 |
| Murder | 10 | n/a | 7.5 | 2.8 | 5.7 |
| Rape | 45 | n/a | 33.7 | 17.9 | 38.0 |
| Robbery | 252 | n/a | 188.7 | 49.9 | 66.5 |
| Assault | 438 | n/a | 327.9 | 150.7 | 264.1 |
| Violent crime | 745 | n/a (estimate) | 558 | 221 | 364 |
| Burglary | 267 | n/a | 199.9 | 154.8 | 250.7 |
| Theft | 2,881 | n/a | 2,156.8 | 1,176.1 | 1,347.2 |
| Vehicle theft | 836 | n/a | 625.9 | 190.7 | 318.7 |
| Property crime | 3,984 | n/a (estimate) | 2,983 | 1,522 | 1,917 |
Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Elizabeth is 30.5% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 644 violent crimes reported in Elizabeth, equivalent to 480 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 29.9%. Additionally, Elizabeth recorded 3421 property crimes, amounting to 2552 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 30.6%.
The occurrence of vehicle thefts has been increasing nationwide, and Elizabeth faces one of the highest vehicle theft rates in the United States. In the latest reported crime year, there were a reported 695 vehicle thefts, translating to 518 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. This places Elizabeth in the bottom 10% among all cities, signifying that 90% of cities have less stolen vehicles. The likelihood of experiencing a vehicle theft is 1 in 193.
AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Elizabeth. Based on the results of the surveys (85 responses), 32% of people felt that there was very little crime in Elizabeth and felt safe walking alone at night. While 68% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.
Is Elizabeth a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Elizabeth has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 30%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 11.14 daily incidents, encompassing 1.76 violent crimes and 9.37 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Elizabeth as a potential place to call home.
Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Elizabeth. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Elizabeth has increased by 12.3%. Violent crimes have didn't change by 0%, while property crimes have increased by 15%. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, authorities and communities can identify trends and patterns in criminal activity. This helps in understanding whether crime is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable over time.
The level of education within a community can impact crime rates. Higher educational attainment often correlates with lower crime rates, as it provides individuals with better job opportunities and alternatives to criminal behavior. While lower educational achievement rates tend to lead to higher crime rates. In Elizabeth, 70.1% of people have completed high school, while 83% of people have completed high school nationally.
In cities grappling with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves needing to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, elevating stress levels and potentially fueling domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. Elizabeth has a median home price of $291,300, deviating from the national average of $184,700. Large disparities in housing costs can significantly impact the well-being of residents and the prevalence of crime within the community.
In Elizabeth, the average rental rates are $1,201 per month, compared to the national average of $949. Rapid increases in rental costs can lead to neighborhood instability as residents are forced to move frequently in search of more affordable housing. This transience can weaken community bonds and hinder the establishment of social support networks, which can indirectly contribute to crime. While affordable rent and areas with higher income per capita, allow for long term renters and community bonds to the formed, therefore reducing crime rates on the long term.
| Item | Elizabeth | New Jersey | National |
| Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians) | 423 | 14,540 | 558,732 |
| Police officers & civilians /1000 residents | 3.3 | 5.7 | 3.3 |
| State | Total offenders | New Jersey /100K | National /100K |
| New Jersey | 4,539 | 54 | 266 |
| City | Population | Violent crime/100k people | Property crime/100k people | Total crime/100k people |
| Mountainside, NJ | 6,859 | 14 | 230 | 244 |
| Caldwell, NJ | 7,970 | 68 | 329 | 397 |
| Fanwood, NJ | 7,686 | 13 | 432 | 445 |
| Hasbrouck Heights, NJ | 12,026 | 17 | 474 | 491 |
| Madison, NJ | 16,647 | 12 | 481 | 493 |
| Wood-Ridge, NJ | 9,016 | 40 | 466 | 505 |
| Morristown, NJ | 19,065 | 122 | 434 | 556 |
| Elizabeth, NJ | 128,484 | 558 | 2,983 | 3,540 |
| City | Population | Violent crime/100k people | Property crime/100k people | Total crime/100k people |
| Round Rock, TX | 128,812 | 138 | 2,156 | 2,293 |
| Concord, CA | 129,227 | 512 | 3,173 | 3,685 |
| Thousand Oaks, CA | 127,648 | 109 | 1,117 | 1,226 |
| Kent, WA | 130,038 | 557 | 5,090 | 5,647 |
| Stamford, CT | 130,057 | 171 | 1,162 | 1,333 |
| Elizabeth, NJ | 128,484 | 558 | 2,983 | 3,540 |
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