D-
30%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
30%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
31%
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 peopleElizabeth/100k peopleNew Jersey/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime4,065n/a (estimate)3,0321,6202,324
Murder2n/a1.53.16.3
Rape50n/a37.316.840.0
Robbery228n/a170.147.666.1
Assault364n/a271.5135.4268.2
Violent crime644n/a (estimate)480203370
Burglary300n/a223.8148.0269.8
Theft2,426n/a1,809.61,109.11,401.9
Vehicle theft695n/a518.4159.6282.7
Property crime3,421n/a (estimate)2,5521,4171,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth is 30.5% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 644 violent crimes reported in Elizabeth, equivalent to 480 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 29.9%. Additionally, Elizabeth recorded 3421 property crimes, amounting to 2552 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 30.6%.

The occurrence of vehicle thefts has been increasing nationwide, and Elizabeth faces one of the highest vehicle theft rates in the United States. In the latest reported crime year, there were a reported 695 vehicle thefts, translating to 518 stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents. This places Elizabeth in the bottom 10% among all cities, signifying that 90% of cities have less stolen vehicles. The likelihood of experiencing a vehicle theft is 1 in 193.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Elizabeth?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Elizabeth. Based on the results of the surveys (85 responses), 32% of people felt that there was very little crime in Elizabeth and felt safe walking alone at night. While 68% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Elizabeth a Safe Place to Live?

Is Elizabeth 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, Elizabeth has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 30%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 11.14 daily incidents, encompassing 1.76 violent crimes and 9.37 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Elizabeth as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Elizabeth Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in Elizabeth. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in Elizabeth has increased by 12.3%. Violent crimes have didn't change by 0%, while property crimes have increased by 15%. 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 Elizabeth

The level of education within a community can impact crime rates. Higher educational attainment often correlates with lower crime rates, as it provides individuals with better job opportunities and alternatives to criminal behavior. While lower educational achievement rates tend to lead to higher crime rates. In Elizabeth, 70.1% of people have completed high school, while 83% of people have completed high school nationally.

In cities grappling with housing affordability challenges, crime can emerge as a prominent issue. Certain individuals and families may find themselves needing to reside in cramped or subpar housing conditions, elevating stress levels and potentially fueling domestic conflicts and associated criminal incidents. Elizabeth has a median home price of $291,300, deviating from the national average of $184,700. Large disparities in housing costs can significantly impact the well-being of residents and the prevalence of crime within the community.

In Elizabeth, the average rental rates are $1,201 per month, compared to the national average of $949. Rapid increases in rental costs can lead to neighborhood instability as residents are forced to move frequently in search of more affordable housing. This transience can weaken community bonds and hinder the establishment of social support networks, which can indirectly contribute to crime. While affordable rent and areas with higher income per capita, allow for long term renters and community bonds to the formed, therefore reducing crime rates on the long term.

Elizabeth crime map



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

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Elizabeth crime rates are 30% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Elizabeth are 30% higher than the national average
      • In Elizabeth you have a 1 in 33 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Elizabeth is safer than 18% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Elizabeth has increased by 12%

      Elizabeth, NJ Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Elizabeth

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        Daily Crime In Elizabeth (per 100,000 people)

        The graph above looks at the comparison of crimes committed in Elizabeth on a daily basis (per 100,000 people) to crimes committed throughout the state of New Jersey and the USA. According to the latest crime statistics, daily crimes in Elizabeth (which include property crimes as well as violent crimes), when compared to New Jersey, are 1.87 times more than the state average and 1.30 times more than than national average. Violent crimes committed in Elizabeth on a daily basis are 2.37 times more than than New Jersey average and 1.30 times more than the average nationwide. Daily property crime rates in Elizabeth are 1.80 times more than the daily state average and 1.31 times more than the daily national numbers.

        How Safe is Elizabeth (higher is better)

        What are the odds that you'll be safer in Elizabeth, New Jersey compared to other areas of New Jersey, as well as the rest of America? When it comes down to it, is Elizabeth safe? In the graphs above, it shows that Elizabeth is safer than 7% of New Jersey cities, and 18% compared to all other cities across America. These statistics are calculated by taking a closer look at each city's crime rate in New Jersey, as well as the rest of the US. It is then determined which cities see less crime than Elizabeth. At this time, Elizabeth sees a below average rate of crime in comparison to other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Elizabeth

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Elizabeth is 1 in 209
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Elizabeth is 1 in 40
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Elizabeth is 1 in 33
        Wondering what the chances are that you fall victim to a crime in Elizabeth? In Elizabeth, NJ you have a 1 in 209 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 40 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and motor vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 33 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Elizabeth.

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

        An ideal indicator of whether Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth has not changed and the rate of property crime in Elizabeth has increased by 15%. The total crime rate in Elizabeth has increased by 12% year to year.

        Elizabeth police department

        Item Elizabeth New Jersey National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)42314,540558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents3.35.73.3
        There are a total of 423 Elizabeth police officers. This results in 3.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 40.7% less than the New Jersey average and 3% 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
        Florham Park, NJ11,71929387417
        New Providence, NJ13,3827421428
        Cliffside Park, NJ25,41027419447
        Caldwell, NJ7,97046424469
        Garwood, NJ4,34146436482
        Mountainside, NJ6,85966461527
        North Caldwell, NJ6,64066461527
        Elizabeth, NJ128,4844802,5523,032

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Round Rock, TX128,8121692,3042,473
        Concord, CA129,2276442,8003,444
        Thousand Oaks, CA127,648581,1061,164
        Kent, WA130,0384595,5285,987
        Stamford, CT130,0571931,1691,362
        Elizabeth, NJ128,4844802,5523,032
        Source: The Elizabeth, 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.