A+
57%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
64%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
56%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleHighland Park/100k peopleNew Jersey/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime149n/a (estimate)9991,6202,324
Murder0n/a0.03.16.3
Rape2n/a13.416.840.0
Robbery5n/a33.547.666.1
Assault13n/a87.2135.4268.2
Violent crime20n/a (estimate)134203370
Burglary10n/a67.1148.0269.8
Theft105n/a704.01,109.11,401.9
Vehicle theft14n/a93.9159.6282.7
Property crime129n/a (estimate)8651,4171,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Highland Park, NJ

The Highland Park crime rates are 57% lower than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 20 violent crimes in Highland Park (134 per 100,000 people), which is 63.7% lower than the national average and there were a total of 129 property crimes (865 per 100,000 residents) which is 55.7% lower than average.

In a remarkable testament to the city's commitment to safety, Highland Park reported a murder rate of 0. This could indicate that it is a very safe place to live, but also serves as an inspiration to other urban areas striving for safer communities. Examining the full crime report will provide a complete overview of all crimes - violent and property.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Highland Park?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Highland Park. Based on the results of the surveys (8 responses), 75% of people felt that there was very little crime in Highland Park and felt safe walking alone at night. While 25% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Highland Park a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Highland Park is a safe place to live, let's take a look at the overall crime rate of the area, as well as the number of daily crimes. Highland Park has a total crime rate that is 57% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 0.41 daily crimes (0.05 violent daily crimes and 0.35 daily property crimes) in Highland Park.

Has Crime in Highland Park Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Highland Park. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Highland Park has decreased by 3.3%. Violent crimes have increased by 300%, while property crimes have decreased by 13.4%. 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.

Potential Causes for Crime in Highland Park

In Highland Park, the poverty rate currently stands at 8.1%, which contrasts with the national average of 15.1%. It's essential to recognize that the economic status of a city's inhabitants could be a pivotal factor influencing crime stats. Communities grappling with high poverty rates and income inequality are often susceptible to elevated crime levels, as some individuals may turn to unlawful activities to fulfill their essential needs. While lower poverty rates could lead to a reduction in Highland Park crime rates.

In areas where employment options are limited or where a significant proportion of jobs offer meager wages, the likelihood of heightened unemployment and homelessness increases. Regions facing challenges related to unemployment or inadequate income may become more vulnerable to a surge in crime stemming from economic instability. While low unemployment rates tend to lead to reduced crime in most areas. Highland Park currently has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. This could be one of many factors that could contribute to a higher or lower crime rate.

High rent costs can create economic stress for individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. When a significant portion of one's income is spent on housing, there may be less money available for other essential needs such as food, healthcare and education. Economic stress can contribute to desperation and potentially lead individuals to engage in criminal activities, such as theft or fraud, as a means of financial survival. Average rent rates in Highland Park are $1,465, compared to a national average of $949 per month.

Highland Park crime map



The Highland Park crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Highland Park as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Highland Park crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Highland Park crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Highland Park, NJ Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Highland Park crime rates are 57% lower than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Highland Park are 64% lower than the national average
      • In Highland Park you have a 1 in 101 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Highland Park is safer than 69% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Highland Park has decreased by 11%

      Highland Park, NJ Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Highland Park

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        How would you rate the amount of crime in Highland Park?
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        Do you feel safe walking alone at night in Highland Park?
        Write a review to give others more information about this area.
        See all Highland Park poll results

        Daily Crime In Highland Park (per 100,000 people)

        The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Highland Park, NJ per 100,000 people. In Highland Park, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 1.62 times less than the New Jersey average and 2.33 times less than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Highland Park is 1.51 times less than the New Jersey average and 2.76 times less than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Highland Park has a daily crime rate that is 1.64 times less than the New Jersey average and 2.26 times less than the overall daily national average.

        How Safe is Highland Park (higher is better)

        How safe is Highland Park, New Jersey compared to other cities in New Jersey and the rest of the cities across the United States? The graphs above show that Highland Park is safer than 43% of the cities in New Jersey and 69% of the cities in the United States. These results are calculated by analyzing all cities in New Jersey and across the US as a whole and determining how many areas have a lower crime rate than Highland Park. Overall, Highland Park is ranked above average compared to all other cities across the United States.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Highland Park

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Highland Park is 1 in 746
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Highland Park is 1 in 116
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Highland Park is 1 in 101
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In Highland Park, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 746. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 116 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as vehicle theft, personal property theft, and burglary. Your overall risk of becoming a crime victim in Highland Park is 1 in 101.

        Year Over Year Crime In Highland Park (per 100,000 people)

        An ideal indicator of whether Highland Park is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in Highland Park has increased by 262% and the rate of property crime in Highland Park has decreased by 21%. The total crime rate in Highland Park has decreased by 11% year to year.

        Highland Park police department

        Item Highland Park New Jersey National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)3314,540558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.35.73.3
        There are a total of 33 Highland Park police officers. This results in 2.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 58.7% less than the New Jersey average and 28.2% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in New Jersey

        State Total offenders New Jersey /100K National /100K
        New Jersey4,53954266
        There are a total of 4,539 sex offenders in New Jersey. This yields a total of 54 sex offenders in New Jersey per 100,000 residents which is 80% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Matawan, NJ8,69604141
        Helmetta, NJ2,23204141
        Union Beach, NJ5,36235140174
        Ten Mile Run, NJ1,80128199227
        Jamesburg, NJ5,87688140228
        Peapack and Gladstone, NJ2,58232222254
        Cranbury, NJ2,21332222254
        Highland Park, NJ13,803134865999

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Ewa Beach, HI13,8033112,9103,221
        Bexley, OH13,805112679791
        Havre de Grace, MD13,8081281,3981,525
        Forest Park, IL13,8084733,5594,032
        Andrews, TX13,7974911,4511,942
        Highland Park, NJ13,803134865999
        Source: The Highland Park, NJ crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.