Top 10 most dangerous cities in New York

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

Efforts to improve safety in New York 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 York. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. New York'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.

Newburgh Population: 28,146 1,079 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,824

Newburgh, NY holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New York with 1,079 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (783), robbery (208), rape (74) and homicide (14) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 177% higher than the New York 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.

Albany Population: 96,860 989 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.71 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,411

The second most dangerous city is Albany. With a population of 96,860 and a violent crime rate that is 154% higher than the New York average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Albany are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 989 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 101 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Syracuse Population: 142,553 816 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,652

Home to 142,553 residents, Syracuse, NY ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in New York. Unfortunately for residents of Syracuse, crime is widespread, with more than 816 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.24 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 109% higher than the New York violent crime rate.

Jamestown Population: 29,290 803 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.20 chance of being a victim: 1 in 125 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,528

With a violent crime rate that is 106% higher than the New York average, it's not hard to see why Jamestown made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (75), assault (606), rape (118) and homicide (4). 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 Jamestown more vulnerable to high crime.

Buffalo Population: 255,805 754 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 133 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,938

The ongoing battle with crime in Buffalo, NY, 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 754 and a 1 in 133 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Buffalo has a violent crime rate that is 93% higher than the New York 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 Buffalo.

Rochester Population: 206,357 728 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.00 chance of being a victim: 1 in 137 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,776

Rochester, NY comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 728 per 100,000 people, which is 87% higher than the New York average. Rochester has a population of 206,357, which translates to 2.00 crimes per day and 1 in 137 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 Rochester which are much safer than others.

Schenectady Population: 65,336 708 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.94 chance of being a victim: 1 in 141 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,855

A 1 in 141 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.94 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Schenectady makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 708 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 82% higher than the New York average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (493), robbery (162), rape (49) and homicide (4).

Niagara Falls Population: 47,978 679 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.86 chance of being a victim: 1 in 147 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,442

Niagara Falls, NY is another one of the most dangerous cities in New York and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 47,978 and a violent crime rate of 679 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 526 counts of assault, 98 counts of robbery, 44 counts of rape and 10 counts of homicide. All told, the Niagara Falls violent crime rate is 74% higher than the New York average.

Binghamton Population: 44,819 669 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.83 chance of being a victim: 1 in 149 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,211

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, Binghamton, NY comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New York with a violent crime rate of 669 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.83 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 149 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

New York Population: 8,379,552 668 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.83 chance of being a victim: 1 in 150 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,066

Rounding out our list at #10 is New York, NY. With a population of 8,379,552 and a violent crime rate of 668 per 100,000 people (71% higher than the New York average), some parts of New York are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 439 counts of assault, 200 counts of robbery, 25 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 150 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in New York

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Newburgh	28,146	1,079	3,824
2	Albany	96,860	989	4,411
3	Syracuse	142,553	816	4,652
4	Jamestown	29,290	803	3,528
5	Buffalo	255,805	754	4,938
6	Rochester	206,357	728	5,776
7	Schenectady	65,336	708	3,855
8	Niagara Falls	47,978	679	3,442
9	Binghamton	44,819	669	4,211
10	New York	8,379,552	668	3,066
11	Poughkeepsie	30,341	636	2,451
12	Troy	49,253	566	3,511
13	Port Jervis	8,541	537	2,264
14	Hempstead	55,153	520	1,586
15	Mount Vernon	67,623	518	2,145
16	Watertown	25,224	504	4,591
17	Oneida	10,918	487	6,655
18	Utica	59,984	471	3,443
19	Middletown	28,018	454	2,227
20	Mechanicville	5,077	429	1,346
21	Geneva	12,720	427	2,789
22	Batavia	14,490	370	2,719
23	Ogdensburg	10,559	367	4,633
24	Lackawanna	17,751	367	2,157
25	Canandaigua	10,241	361	1,898
26	Cortland	18,633	349	3,323
27	Yonkers	200,183	346	1,603
28	Auburn	26,383	330	2,488
29	Olean	13,580	329	3,681
30	Elmira	27,236	321	1,771
31	Gloversville	14,771	303	1,251
32	Salamanca	5,466	291	1,573
33	Watervliet	9,976	286	2,107
34	Corning	10,642	279	3,009
35	Cheektowaga	73,457	263	3,972
36	Tonawanda	14,790	261	1,508
37	Hudson	6,103	259	2,051
38	Peekskill	24,111	254	1,163
39	Cohoes	16,708	253	1,824
40	Kingston	22,954	239	1,773
41	Saratoga Springs	28,056	238	1,988
42	Rome	32,217	219	2,268
43	Johnstown	8,236	185	1,663
44	New Rochelle	79,367	164	1,519
45	Dunkirk	11,812	160	1,515
46	Ithaca	30,715	154	3,757
47	Irondequoit	50,141	153	2,280
48	White Plains	58,171	147	1,865
49	North Tonawanda	30,338	143	1,185
50	West Seneca	45,272	140	1,566

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in New York 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 York 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.