C-
24%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
22%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
33%
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 peoplePlainfield/100k peopleNew Jersey/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime982n/a (estimate)1,7701,6202,324
Murder4n/a7.23.16.3
Rape3n/a5.416.840.0
Robbery104n/a187.447.666.1
Assault140n/a252.3135.4268.2
Violent crime251n/a (estimate)452203370
Burglary110n/a198.2148.0269.8
Theft564n/a1,016.31,109.11,401.9
Vehicle theft57n/a102.7159.6282.7
Property crime731n/a (estimate)1,3171,4171,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Plainfield, NJ

When we analyze the latest crime report, the Plainfield crime rate is 23.9% lower than the national average. These incidents are classified into two primary categories: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes include assault, robbery, rape and murder. Whereas property crimes encompass theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In the case of Plainfield, there were 251 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 452 per 100,000 individuals, 22.3% higher than the national average. Additionally, Plainfield recorded 731 property crimes, amounting to 1317 per 100,000 residents, 32.6% lower than the U.S. average.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Plainfield?

What do the local residents think about crime in Plainfield? Well, based on a recent survey of 22 people (conducted by AreaVibes), 50% of Plainfield residents said that there was virtually no crime and that they felt safe walking at night. Another 50% of respondents said that there was too much crime in the area and they did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Plainfield a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Plainfield is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Plainfield has an overall crime rate that is 24% lower than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 2.69 daily occurrences, comprising 0.69 violent crimes and 2 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Plainfield as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Plainfield Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Plainfield has increased by 2.2%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Plainfield, aiding residents in assessing whether it is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. These crime rates are categorized into two primary groups: violent and property crimes. Year-over-year, violent crime has increased by 10.1%, while property crime has increased by 0.3%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Plainfield is a safe place to live.

Potential Causes for Crime in Plainfield

Plainfield reports an unemployment rate of 5.8%, contrasting with the national average of 4.7%. Constrained employment opportunities or a prevalence of low-paying positions can contribute to elevated rates of unemployment and underemployment. Areas where individuals contend with joblessness or insufficient wages may display heightened susceptibility to an increase in criminal activities attributed to economic insecurity. Conversely, regions characterized by robust employment rates often witness a decrease in overall Plainfield crime rates.

Plainfield has a population density of 8432.6 people per square mile, contrasting with the national average of 90.6 people per square mile. High population density cities are often large urban hubs teeming with diverse economic opportunities. Within these environments, income disparities can become pronounced, leading to higher poverty levels. This economic divide may contribute to an uptick in property crimes and, occasionally, violent crimes. In contrast, areas characterized by low population density typically exhibit lower Plainfield crime rates.

In Plainfield, the ratio of police officers and civilians stands at 3.28 per 1,000 residents, contrasting with the national average of 3.25. This discrepancy highlights the potential impact of law enforcement and community policing on crime rates. The strength of their collaboration can serve as a deterrent to criminal behavior, fostering a safer environment. Effective law enforcement leans heavily on community policing strategies that prioritize the cultivation of trust and cooperation between police and residents. It's essential to recognize that the effectiveness of these efforts isn't solely tied to the quantity of officers but also hinges on the quality of their engagement with the community.

Plainfield crime map



The Plainfield crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Plainfield 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 Plainfield crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Plainfield 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 Plainfield, NJ Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Plainfield crime rates are 24% lower than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Plainfield are 22% higher than the national average
      • In Plainfield you have a 1 in 57 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Plainfield is safer than 28% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Plainfield has decreased by 7%

      Plainfield, NJ Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Plainfield (per 100,000 people)

        The bar chart above reveals the rate of daily crimes in Plainfield for every 100,000 residents. The Plainfield total amount of daily crime is 1.09 times more than the New Jersey average and 1.31 times less than than that of the nation. As for violent crimes, the daily average in Plainfield, is 2.23 times more than the New Jersey average, and it is 1.22 times more than the national average. The statistics for property crimes show that Plainfield has a daily crime average that is 1.08 times less than the New Jersey average and 1.48 times less than the daily national rate.

        How Safe is Plainfield (higher is better)

        Compared to the other cities in New Jersey and all other cities across the US, is Plainfield safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that Plainfield is safer than 13% of other cities in the state of New Jersey. In addition, Plainfield is safer than 28% of cities in the entire United States. To achieve these results, all New Jersey and United States cities were analyzed to determine how many locations had a lower crime rate than Plainfield. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that Plainfield is below average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Plainfield

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Plainfield is 1 in 222
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Plainfield is 1 in 76
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Plainfield is 1 in 57
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In Plainfield, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 222. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 76 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 Plainfield is 1 in 57.

        Year Over Year Crime In Plainfield (per 100,000 people)

        An analysis of year to year crime rates in Plainfield, New Jersey (per 100,000 people) is a useful indicator of whether the area is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live. The amount of violent crime in Plainfield has not changed, the amount of property crime in Plainfield has decreased by 10%, and the total amount of crime in Plainfield has decreased by 7% year over year.

        Plainfield police department

        Item Plainfield New Jersey National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)16514,540558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents3.35.73.3
        There are a total of 165 Plainfield police officers. This results in 3.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 42% less than the New Jersey average and 0.8% greater 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
        Union Beach, NJ5,36235140174
        Ten Mile Run, NJ1,80128199227
        Peapack and Gladstone, NJ2,58232222254
        Mendham, NJ4,8800302302
        Bernardsville, NJ7,6410347347
        Middlebush, NJ2,73745316361
        Plainfield, NJ50,2524521,3171,770

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Galveston, TX50,3074692,9253,394
        Stillwater, OK50,1833101,9182,228
        Maricopa, AZ50,358188762950
        Irondequoit, NY50,1411281,6171,745
        Aliso Viejo, CA50,38585682767
        Plainfield, NJ50,2524521,3171,770
        Source: The Plainfield, 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.