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 1,691 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.63 chance of being a victim: 1 in 59 Total Crimes / 100k: 9,724

Atlantic City, NJ holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New Jersey with 1,691 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (995), robbery (532), rape (145) and homicide (18) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 733% 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 1,571 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 64 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,322

The second most dangerous city is Camden. With a population of 73,742 and a violent crime rate that is 674% 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 1,571 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 64 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Asbury Park Population: 15,536 1,078 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,701

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 1,078 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.95 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 431% higher than the New Jersey violent crime rate.

Trenton Population: 83,387 1,063 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,934

With a violent crime rate that is 424% 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 (312), assault (652), rape (73) and homicide (25). 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: 55,992 858 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 117 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,021

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 858 and a 1 in 117 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), New Brunswick has a violent crime rate that is 323% 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: 24,264 705 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 142 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,891

Bridgeton, NJ comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 705 per 100,000 people, which is 247% higher than the New Jersey average. Bridgeton has a population of 24,264, which translates to 1.93 crimes per day and 1 in 142 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.

Passaic Population: 69,789 543 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 184 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,552

A 1 in 184 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.49 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Passaic makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 543 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 168% higher than the New Jersey average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (384), robbery (123), rape (33) and homicide (3).

Newark Population: 281,917 520 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.42 chance of being a victim: 1 in 192 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,340

Newark, NJ is another one of the most dangerous cities in New Jersey and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 281,917 and a violent crime rate of 520 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 320 counts of assault, 154 counts of robbery, 28 counts of rape and 17 counts of homicide. All told, the Newark violent crime rate is 156% higher than the New Jersey average.

Millville Population: 27,485 505 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.38 chance of being a victim: 1 in 198 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,363

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, Millville, NJ comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New Jersey with a violent crime rate of 505 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.38 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 198 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Elizabeth Population: 128,484 480 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.32 chance of being a victim: 1 in 208 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,032

Rounding out our list at #10 is Elizabeth, NJ. With a population of 128,484 and a violent crime rate of 480 per 100,000 people (137% higher than the New Jersey average), some parts of Elizabeth are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 272 counts of assault, 170 counts of robbery, 37 counts of rape and 1 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 208 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	1,691	9,724
2	Camden	73,742	1,571	4,322
3	Asbury Park	15,536	1,078	4,701
4	Trenton	83,387	1,063	2,934
5	New Brunswick	55,992	858	3,021
6	Bridgeton	24,264	705	3,891
7	Passaic	69,789	543	2,552
8	Newark	281,917	520	2,340
9	Millville	27,485	505	4,363
10	Elizabeth	128,484	480	3,032
11	Vineland	59,405	458	3,021
12	Plainfield	50,252	452	1,770
13	Lindenwold	17,288	386	2,281
14	Paulsboro	5,881	381	2,066
15	Englewood	28,390	362	1,529
16	Keansburg	9,697	359	1,701
17	Woodbury	9,839	356	3,858
18	Union City	68,073	335	2,074
19	Perth Amboy	51,589	330	1,793
20	Absecon	8,471	328	3,627
21	Linden	42,332	323	3,317
22	Phillipsburg	14,303	306	2,016
23	Bayonne	65,112	300	1,608
24	Harrison	18,313	300	2,379
25	Hammonton	14,046	296	996
26	Somerdale	5,479	271	5,804
27	Somers Point	10,250	258	2,302
28	West New York	52,778	248	1,407
29	Gloucester City	11,229	236	2,835
30	Secaucus	20,667	234	3,158
31	Glassboro	20,069	232	1,738
32	Jersey City	262,652	220	1,605
33	Collingswood	13,882	220	3,246
34	Pleasantville	20,226	218	1,223
35	Hackensack	44,266	207	2,623
36	Eatontown	12,195	206	1,984
37	Palmyra	7,162	202	2,009
38	Morristown	19,065	191	1,146
39	Elmwood Park	20,019	189	1,527
40	Long Branch	30,424	187	1,459
41	Bellmawr	11,375	172	1,984
42	North Plainfield	21,445	161	1,563
43	Red Bank	12,039	155	1,106
44	Hoboken	53,283	155	1,702
45	Fort Lee	37,843	154	1,511
46	Rahway	29,691	139	1,114
47	Highland Park	13,803	134	999
48	Clayton	8,688	133	577
49	Lodi	24,389	132	1,427
50	South Amboy	8,868	129	1,347

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.