Top 10 most dangerous cities in New Jersey

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.

Atlantic City Population: 37,793 1,880 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 5.15 chance of being a victim: 1 in 53 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,663

Atlantic City, NJ holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New Jersey with 1,880 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,181), robbery (549), rape (132) and homicide (18) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 749% 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 1,690 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.63 chance of being a victim: 1 in 59 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,880

The second most dangerous city is Camden. With a population of 73,742 and a violent crime rate that is 664% 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 1,690 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 59 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Asbury Park Population: 15,536 1,117 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 90 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,332

Home to 15,536 residents, Asbury Park, NJ ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in New Jersey. Unfortunately for residents of Asbury Park, crime is widespread, with more than 1,117 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 3.06 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 405% higher than the New Jersey violent crime rate.

Trenton Population: 83,387 1,040 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 96 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,907

With a violent crime rate that is 370% higher than the New Jersey average, it's not hard to see why Trenton made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (265), assault (677), rape (68) and homicide (30). 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 Trenton more vulnerable to high crime.

New Brunswick Population: 55,992 933 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.56 chance of being a victim: 1 in 107 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,886

The ongoing battle with crime in New Brunswick, 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 933 and a 1 in 107 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), New Brunswick has a violent crime rate that is 322% 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 New Brunswick.

Bridgeton Population: 24,264 910 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 110 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,638

Bridgeton, NJ comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 910 per 100,000 people, which is 311% higher than the New Jersey average. Bridgeton has a population of 24,264, which translates to 2.49 crimes per day and 1 in 110 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 Bridgeton which are much safer than others.

Paterson Population: 145,484 904 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 111 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,350

A 1 in 111 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.48 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Paterson makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 904 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 308% higher than the New Jersey average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (634), robbery (219), rape (41) and homicide (10).

Passaic Population: 69,789 628 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 159 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,836

Passaic, NJ is another one of the most dangerous cities in New Jersey and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 69,789 and a violent crime rate of 628 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 470 counts of assault, 140 counts of robbery, 16 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. All told, the Passaic violent crime rate is 184% higher than the New Jersey average.

Elizabeth Population: 128,484 558 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.53 chance of being a victim: 1 in 179 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,540

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, Elizabeth, NJ comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New Jersey with a violent crime rate of 558 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.53 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 179 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Millville Population: 27,485 554 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.52 chance of being a victim: 1 in 181 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,938

Rounding out our list at #10 is Millville, NJ. With a population of 27,485 and a violent crime rate of 554 per 100,000 people (150% higher than the New Jersey average), some parts of Millville are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 301 counts of assault, 99 counts of robbery, 132 counts of rape and 22 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 181 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	1,880	8,663
2	Camden	73,742	1,690	4,880
3	Asbury Park	15,536	1,117	5,332
4	Trenton	83,387	1,040	2,907
5	New Brunswick	55,992	933	3,886
6	Bridgeton	24,264	910	4,638
7	Paterson	145,484	904	3,350
8	Passaic	69,789	628	2,836
9	Elizabeth	128,484	558	3,540
10	Millville	27,485	554	4,938
11	Plainfield	50,252	526	2,196
12	Newark	281,917	489	2,709
13	East Orange	64,650	484	2,467
14	Vineland	59,405	445	3,078
15	Paulsboro	5,881	445	2,271
16	Englewood	28,390	444	1,801
17	Lindenwold	17,288	443	2,059
18	Somers Point	10,250	438	2,501
19	Woodbury	9,839	434	3,930
20	Linden	42,332	431	4,027
21	Perth Amboy	51,589	367	1,998
22	Guttenberg	11,284	355	1,262
23	Somerdale	5,479	342	5,879
24	Absecon	8,471	327	3,674
25	Union City	68,073	314	2,000
26	Harrison	18,313	304	2,659
27	Pleasantville	20,226	295	1,952
28	Jersey City	262,652	284	1,720
29	Phillipsburg	14,303	280	1,887
30	Bayonne	65,112	266	1,728
31	Elmwood Park	20,019	264	1,977
32	Hackensack	44,266	247	2,617
33	Long Branch	30,424	241	1,578
34	West New York	52,778	239	1,530
35	Hightstown	5,334	239	734
36	Hammonton	14,046	235	933
37	Carteret	23,501	218	1,745
38	North Plainfield	21,445	216	1,944
39	Pine Hill	10,418	214	1,783
40	Gloucester City	11,229	200	2,139
41	Secaucus	20,667	178	3,593
42	Eatontown	12,195	177	2,025
43	Newton	7,935	176	798
44	Palmyra	7,162	174	1,977
45	Dover	17,866	173	606
46	South Amboy	8,868	171	1,339
47	Roselle	21,699	171	1,446
48	Rahway	29,691	168	1,218
49	Red Bank	12,039	164	1,372
50	Kearny	41,190	164	2,733

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.