Top 10 most dangerous cities in New Jersey

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New Jersey, known for its diverse culture and rich history, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Newark to the scenic beauty of the Jersey Shore, New Jersey provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, New Jersey faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in New Jersey are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between New Jersey's cultural vibrancy and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in New Jersey involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in New Jersey. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. New Jersey's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural richness, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Atlantic City Population: 37,793 1,780 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.88 chance of being a victim: 1 in 56 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,017

Atlantic City, NJ holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New Jersey with 1,780 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,123), robbery (465), rape (174) and homicide (18) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 718% higher than the New Jersey average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Camden Population: 73,742 1,381 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.78 chance of being a victim: 1 in 72 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,421

The second most dangerous city is Camden. With a population of 73,742 and a violent crime rate that is 534% higher than the New Jersey average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Camden are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,381 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 72 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Trenton Population: 83,387 1,026 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 97 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,314

Home to 83,387 residents, Trenton, NJ ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in New Jersey. Unfortunately for residents of Trenton, crime is widespread, with more than 1,026 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.81 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 371% higher than the New Jersey violent crime rate.

Paterson Population: 145,484 979 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 102 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,330

With a violent crime rate that is 350% higher than the New Jersey average, it's not hard to see why Paterson made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (247), assault (688), rape (37) and homicide (6). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Paterson more vulnerable to high crime.

Bridgeton Population: 24,264 920 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 109 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,427

The ongoing battle with crime in Bridgeton, NJ, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 920 and a 1 in 109 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Bridgeton has a violent crime rate that is 323% higher than the New Jersey average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Bridgeton.

Passaic Population: 69,789 719 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 139 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,557

Passaic, NJ comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 719 per 100,000 people, which is 230% higher than the New Jersey average. Passaic has a population of 69,789, which translates to 1.97 crimes per day and 1 in 139 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Passaic which are much safer than others.

Paulsboro Population: 5,881 716 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 140 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,178

A 1 in 140 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.96 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Paulsboro makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 716 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 229% higher than the New Jersey average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (607), robbery (78), rape (31) and homicide (0).

New Brunswick Population: 55,992 699 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 143 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,325

New Brunswick, NJ is another one of the most dangerous cities in New Jersey and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 55,992 and a violent crime rate of 699 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 360 counts of assault, 278 counts of robbery, 45 counts of rape and 16 counts of homicide. All told, the New Brunswick violent crime rate is 221% higher than the New Jersey average.

Newark Population: 281,917 581 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. If we break that down, the city sees 1.59 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 172 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Jersey City Population: 262,652 562 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 262,652 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.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in New Jersey

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Atlantic City	37,793	1,780	8,017
2	Camden	73,742	1,381	4,421
3	Trenton	83,387	1,026	3,314
4	Paterson	145,484	979	3,330
5	Bridgeton	24,264	920	4,427
6	Passaic	69,789	719	2,557
7	Paulsboro	5,881	716	2,178
8	New Brunswick	55,992	699	3,325
9	Newark	281,917	581	2,539
10	Jersey City	262,652	562	2,591
11	East Orange	64,650	486	2,439
12	Millville	27,485	454	4,360
13	Vineland	59,405	437	3,123
14	Plainfield	50,252	411	2,021
15	Elizabeth	128,484	409	3,066
16	Pleasantville	20,226	403	1,877
17	Lindenwold	17,288	401	2,515
18	Perth Amboy	51,589	392	1,760
19	Somers Point	10,250	325	2,551
20	Carteret	23,501	314	1,576
21	West New York	52,778	297	1,760
22	Eatontown	12,195	267	2,108
23	Morristown	19,065	265	1,063
24	Hackensack	44,266	246	2,271
25	Somerdale	5,479	246	5,533
26	Long Branch	30,424	242	1,869
27	Harrison	18,313	234	1,987
28	Englewood	28,390	230	1,309
29	Pine Hill	10,418	227	1,578
30	Dover	17,866	223	1,093
31	Elmwood Park	20,019	221	2,467
32	Woodbury	9,839	213	1,997
33	Guttenberg	11,284	210	1,164
34	Red Bank	12,039	204	1,366
35	Garfield	31,722	199	1,950
36	Absecon	8,471	197	2,365
37	Roselle	21,699	193	1,310
38	Hoboken	53,283	189	1,972
39	Keyport	7,005	184	1,782
40	Rahway	29,691	180	990
41	Keansburg	9,697	177	1,456
42	Clifton	85,201	166	2,431
43	Lodi	24,389	160	1,510
44	Spotswood	8,255	158	874
45	Phillipsburg	14,303	156	1,933
46	Bloomingdale	8,080	156	506
47	Glassboro	20,069	153	1,230
48	North Plainfield	21,445	152	1,612
49	Secaucus	20,667	152	3,788
50	Highland Park	13,803	151	1,370

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in New Jersey is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included New Jersey cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.