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: 38,810 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: 76,587 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 76,587 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: 86,528 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 86,528 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: 149,118 979 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: 24,883 920 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: 72,139 719 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 72,139, 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: 6,022 716 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: 57,400 699 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 57,400 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: 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. 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: 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.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in New Jersey

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Atlantic City	38,810	1,780	8,017
2	Camden	76,587	1,381	4,421
3	Trenton	86,528	1,026	3,314
4	Paterson	149,118	979	3,330
5	Bridgeton	24,883	920	4,427
6	Passaic	72,139	719	2,557
7	Paulsboro	6,022	716	2,178
8	New Brunswick	57,400	699	3,325
9	Newark	290,764	581	2,539
10	Jersey City	268,546	562	2,591
11	East Orange	66,655	486	2,439
12	Millville	28,134	454	4,360
13	Vineland	60,891	437	3,123
14	Plainfield	51,295	411	2,021
15	Elizabeth	131,890	409	3,066
16	Pleasantville	20,927	403	1,877
17	Lindenwold	17,906	401	2,515
18	Perth Amboy	53,480	392	1,760
19	Wildwood	5,110	391	5,276
20	Somers Point	10,574	325	2,551
21	Carteret	24,081	314	1,576
22	West New York	54,664	297	1,760
23	Eatontown	12,568	267	2,108
24	Morristown	19,561	265	1,063
25	Hackensack	46,005	246	2,271
26	Somerdale	5,665	246	5,533
27	Long Branch	31,244	242	1,869
28	Harrison	18,732	234	1,987
29	Clementon	5,064	231	2,327
30	Englewood	29,019	230	1,309
31	Pine Hill	10,701	227	1,578
32	Dover	18,528	223	1,093
33	Elmwood Park	20,654	221	2,467
34	Woodbury	10,086	213	1,997
35	Guttenberg	11,557	210	1,164
36	Red Bank	12,414	204	1,366
37	Garfield	32,363	199	1,950
38	Absecon	8,666	197	2,365
39	Roselle	22,321	193	1,310
40	Hoboken	55,010	189	1,972
41	Keyport	7,209	184	1,782
42	Rahway	30,734	180	990
43	Keansburg	10,050	177	1,456
44	Clifton	87,331	166	2,431
45	Lodi	25,017	160	1,510
46	Spotswood	8,512	158	874
47	Phillipsburg	14,613	156	1,933
48	Bloomingdale	8,275	156	506
49	Glassboro	20,509	153	1,230
50	North Plainfield	22,015	152	1,612

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.