F
38%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
302%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
12%
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 peopleSalem/100k peopleNew Jersey/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime170n/a (estimate)3,1961,6202,324
Murder3n/a56.43.16.3
Rape5n/a94.016.840.0
Robbery8n/a150.447.666.1
Assault63n/a1,184.4135.4268.2
Violent crime79n/a (estimate)1,485203370
Burglary18n/a338.4148.0269.8
Theft55n/a1,034.01,109.11,401.9
Vehicle theft18n/a338.4159.6282.7
Property crime91n/a (estimate)1,7111,4171,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Salem, NJ

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Salem is 37.5% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 79 violent crimes reported in Salem, equivalent to 1485 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 301.6%. Additionally, Salem recorded 91 property crimes, amounting to 1711 per 100,000 people, lower than the national average by 12.5%.

Salem is one of the most dangerous cities in America with a violent crime rate of 1485 per 100,000 people - this ranks in the bottom 10% of all U.S. cities that reported crime. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Salem is 1 in 68.

While murder rates in the United States have shown a consistent decline since 1990, recent years have witnessed an increase. Unfortunately, Salem ranks among the cities with the highest murder rates in the nation, when compared to all reporting cities in the U.S. In Salem, there were a total of 3 murders, translating to 56 murders per 100,000 residents. This alarming statistic underscores the need for heightened attention to community safety and crime prevention efforts in the area.

Salem exhibits a property crime rate closely aligned with the national average. There were 1711 reported property crimes, which closely matches the national average of 1954 per 100,000 people. Consequently, the area's safety profile mirrors that of an average city, neither notably safer nor more dangerous than the norm. This balance suggests that Salem maintains a consistent approach to property crime prevention in line with the broader national landscape.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Salem?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Salem. Based on the results of the surveys (29 responses), 38% of people felt that there was very little crime in Salem and felt safe walking alone at night. While 62% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Salem a Safe Place to Live?

Is Salem a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Salem has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 38%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 0.47 daily incidents, encompassing 0.22 violent crimes and 0.25 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Salem as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Salem Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Salem. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Salem has decreased by 33.1%. Violent crimes have decreased by 17.7%, while property crimes have decreased by 42.4%. 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 Salem

Salem has a poverty rate that stands at 44.1, in contrast to the national average of 15.1. Historically, a direct correlation has been observed between poverty rates and crime stats. Higher poverty rates have led to higher crime rates, while lower poverty rates have led to a reduction in Salem crime rates. Income disparities and heightened poverty levels can serve as catalysts for elevated or reduced criminal activity, as individuals may or may not turn to illicit means to fulfill their basic needs. This could be one of many factors that may influence crime.

The educational level within a community can have an influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of education are associated with reduced crime rates, as they offer individuals improved employment prospects and alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, lower educational attainment tends to correspond with higher crime rates. In Salem, 75.3% of residents have achieved at least a high school diploma, which differs from the national average of 83%.

In Salem, the median home price stands at $58,900, diverging from the national average of $184,700. Elevated housing costs often induce financial strain among residents. When individuals grapple with the challenges of affording housing, they may find themselves compelled to resort to criminal activities as a means of addressing their financial hardships, including acts like theft or fraud. This predicament is particularly pronounced in areas where housing affordability poses a persistent issue, giving rise to heightened concerns regarding crime. In such instances, some individuals and families may find themselves constrained to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, exacerbating stress levels and potentially fostering domestic disputes and associated criminal incidents.

Salem crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Salem crime rates are 38% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Salem are 302% higher than the national average
      • In Salem you have a 1 in 32 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Salem is safer than 5% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Salem has decreased by 41%

      Salem, NJ Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Salem

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

        Daily Crime In Salem (per 100,000 people)

        The above illustration depicts the number of crimes committed daily in Salem, per 100,000 residents. In Salem, the total number of daily crimes is 1.97 times more than the New Jersey average and 1.38 times more than the national average. Violent daily crime statistics in Salem are 7.32 times more than the New Jersey average and 4.02 times more than the national average. For property crime, Salem has a daily crime rate that is 1.21 times more than the New Jersey average and 1.14 times less than the daily national average.

        How Safe is Salem (higher is better)

        Is Salem safe in comparison to other cities in the state of New Jersey as well as in comparison to the rest of the areas across the United States. Using the gauges above, which compare crime in Salem to other cities in the state and across the country, Salem is 2% safer than other cities of New Jersey and 5% safer than other cities in the nation. Salem has a ranks below average in comparison to other cities in the country.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Salem

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Salem is 1 in 68
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Salem is 1 in 59
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Salem is 1 in 32
        Interested in knowing the odds that you will be a crime victim in Salem? In Salem, you have a 1 in 68 chance of falling victim to a violent crime, such as rape, robbery, assault, or even murder. In terms of property crime, your chances of being a victim are 1 in 59. These crimes include theft, vehicle theft, and burglary. Your overall chance of being a victim of crime in Salem, NJ is 1 in 32.

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

        A good indicator of whether Salem is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Salem has decreased by 28%, while the property crime rate in Salem has decreased by 50% year over year. The number of total crimes in Salem has decreased by 41% year over year.

        Salem police department

        Item Salem New Jersey National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)2514,540558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents4.85.73.3
        There are a total of 25 Salem police officers. This results in 4.8 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 14.3% less than the New Jersey average and 49.1% 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
        Greenville, DE2,44860308368
        Alloway, NJ1,47485597682
        Woodstown, NJ3,445108596704
        St. Georges, DE1,045119608727
        Bellefonte, DE1,109134688822
        North Star, DE7,546135689824
        Townsend, DE2,546135691827
        Salem, NJ4,7611,4851,7113,196

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Lakeview, GA4,7614141,9072,321
        Royersford, PA4,7601769331,109
        Springdale, MD4,762154633787
        Suncoast Estates, FL4,7592641,5941,857
        Fishhook, AK4,7595991,4122,011
        Salem, NJ4,7611,4851,7113,196
        Source: The Salem, 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.