Top 10 most dangerous cities in New York

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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.

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Newburgh Population: 28,811 984 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 102 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,901

Newburgh, NY holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New York with 984 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (684), robbery (200), rape (89) and homicide (11) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 159% 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: 99,012 817 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 122 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,665

The second most dangerous city is Albany. With a population of 99,012 and a violent crime rate that is 115% 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 817 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 122 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Syracuse Population: 146,063 765 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 131 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,999

Home to 146,063 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 765 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.10 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 101% higher than the New York violent crime rate.

Buffalo Population: 262,656 706 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 142 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,516

With a violent crime rate that is 86% higher than the New York average, it's not hard to see why Buffalo made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (158), assault (492), rape (43) and homicide (12). 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 Buffalo more vulnerable to high crime.

New York Population: 8,575,966 671 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.84 chance of being a victim: 1 in 149 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,039

The ongoing battle with crime in New York, 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 671 and a 1 in 149 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), New York has a violent crime rate that is 76% 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 New York.

Schenectady Population: 66,726 646 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 155 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,775

Schenectady, NY comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 646 per 100,000 people, which is 70% higher than the New York average. Schenectady has a population of 66,726, which translates to 1.77 crimes per day and 1 in 155 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 Schenectady which are much safer than others.

Poughkeepsie Population: 31,213 644 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.76 chance of being a victim: 1 in 155 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,280

A 1 in 155 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.76 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Poughkeepsie makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 644 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 69% higher than the New York average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (471), robbery (104), rape (63) and homicide (6).

Jamestown Population: 30,127 620 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.70 chance of being a victim: 1 in 161 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,935

Jamestown, NY is another one of the most dangerous cities in New York and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 30,127 and a violent crime rate of 620 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 436 counts of assault, 87 counts of robbery, 79 counts of rape and 18 counts of homicide. All told, the Jamestown violent crime rate is 63% higher than the New York average.

Watertown Population: 26,084 599 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 167 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,528

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, Watertown, NY comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New York with a violent crime rate of 599 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.64 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 167 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Rochester Population: 211,665 582 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.60 chance of being a victim: 1 in 172 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,872

Rounding out our list at #10 is Rochester, NY. With a population of 211,665 and a violent crime rate of 582 per 100,000 people (53% higher than the New York average), some parts of Rochester are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 397 counts of assault, 153 counts of robbery, 18 counts of rape and 13 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 172 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	28,811	984	2,901
2	Albany	99,012	817	3,665
3	Syracuse	146,063	765	4,999
4	Buffalo	262,656	706	4,516
5	New York	8,575,966	671	3,039
6	Schenectady	66,726	646	3,775
7	Poughkeepsie	31,213	644	2,280
8	Jamestown	30,127	620	2,935
9	Watertown	26,084	599	4,528
10	Rochester	211,665	582	3,872
11	Elmira	27,860	547	4,684
12	Mount Vernon	69,130	544	2,003
13	Binghamton	46,285	533	3,946
14	Utica	61,299	528	3,477
15	Niagara Falls	49,651	501	3,309
16	Troy	50,436	470	3,244
17	Hempstead	56,908	459	1,557
18	Ogdensburg	10,940	438	4,975
19	Port Jervis	8,716	411	1,951
20	Oneida	11,198	399	3,872
21	Lackawanna	18,342	395	1,955
22	Salamanca	5,591	384	1,779
23	Batavia	15,016	377	2,182
24	Watervliet	10,333	356	2,483
25	Kingston	23,708	350	1,995
26	Olean	14,052	347	4,136
27	Hudson	6,240	330	1,896
28	Yonkers	204,945	312	1,327
29	Middletown	29,092	309	1,514
30	Geneva	13,221	301	3,108
31	Dunkirk	12,215	275	2,195
32	Gloversville	15,335	251	1,598
33	Canandaigua	10,611	249	1,740
34	Auburn	27,187	245	1,588
35	Rome	33,399	238	2,293
36	Cortland	19,302	227	3,181
37	Peekskill	25,021	208	1,181
38	Cheektowaga	76,395	205	3,425
39	Ithaca	31,399	196	3,412
40	Cohoes	17,198	186	1,288
41	Saratoga Springs	28,832	186	1,902
42	Tonawanda	15,243	169	1,302
43	Corning	10,900	160	2,542
44	Glens Falls	14,740	160	819
45	North Tonawanda	31,006	154	1,241
46	New Rochelle	81,413	134	1,239
47	Irondequoit	51,610	132	1,869
48	Port Washington	16,824	126	935
49	West Seneca	46,478	124	1,834
50	Glen Cove	28,057	112	580

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.