Top 10 most dangerous cities in New York

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.

Newburgh Population: 28,146 1,103 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 91 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,581

Newburgh, NY holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in New York with 1,103 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (777), robbery (243), rape (73) and homicide (10) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 157% 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: 96,860 930 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 108 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,711

The second most dangerous city is Albany. With a population of 96,860 and a violent crime rate that is 117% 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 930 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 108 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Syracuse Population: 142,553 891 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 112 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,943

Home to 142,553 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 891 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.44 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 108% higher than the New York violent crime rate.

Niagara Falls Population: 47,978 806 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.21 chance of being a victim: 1 in 124 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,661

With a violent crime rate that is 88% higher than the New York average, it's not hard to see why Niagara Falls made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (143), assault (632), rape (21) and homicide (10). 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 Niagara Falls more vulnerable to high crime.

Jamestown Population: 29,290 791 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.17 chance of being a victim: 1 in 126 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,705

The ongoing battle with crime in Jamestown, 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 791 and a 1 in 126 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Jamestown has a violent crime rate that is 84% 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 Jamestown.

Schenectady Population: 65,336 757 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 132 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,179

Schenectady, NY comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 757 per 100,000 people, which is 76% higher than the New York average. Schenectady has a population of 65,336, which translates to 2.07 crimes per day and 1 in 132 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.

New York Population: 8,379,552 744 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 134 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,885

A 1 in 134 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.04 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why New York makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 744 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 73% higher than the New York average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (495), robbery (212), rape (32) and homicide (5).

Buffalo Population: 255,805 736 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 136 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,947

Buffalo, NY is another one of the most dangerous cities in New York and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 255,805 and a violent crime rate of 736 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 479 counts of assault, 193 counts of robbery, 40 counts of rape and 24 counts of homicide. All told, the Buffalo violent crime rate is 72% higher than the New York average.

Rochester Population: 206,357 731 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.00 chance of being a victim: 1 in 137 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,312

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, Rochester, NY comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in New York with a violent crime rate of 731 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.00 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 137 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Binghamton Population: 44,819 673 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.84 chance of being a victim: 1 in 149 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,367

Rounding out our list at #10 is Binghamton, NY. With a population of 44,819 and a violent crime rate of 673 per 100,000 people (57% higher than the New York average), some parts of Binghamton are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 525 counts of assault, 104 counts of robbery, 44 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 149 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	28,146	1,103	3,581
2	Albany	96,860	930	4,711
3	Syracuse	142,553	891	3,943
4	Niagara Falls	47,978	806	3,661
5	Jamestown	29,290	791	3,705
6	Schenectady	65,336	757	4,179
7	New York	8,379,552	744	2,885
8	Buffalo	255,805	736	3,947
9	Rochester	206,357	731	4,312
10	Binghamton	44,819	673	4,367
11	Troy	49,253	673	4,023
12	Watertown	25,224	635	4,744
13	Poughkeepsie	30,341	615	2,459
14	Oneida	10,918	604	4,714
15	Salamanca	5,466	600	2,398
16	Utica	59,984	568	3,976
17	Hempstead	55,153	518	1,594
18	Port Jervis	8,541	515	2,209
19	Corning	10,642	486	3,018
20	Mount Vernon	67,623	462	2,023
21	Geneva	12,720	453	2,548
22	Canandaigua	10,241	439	2,500
23	Mechanicville	5,077	427	1,570
24	Olean	13,580	417	3,570
25	Batavia	14,490	415	2,928
26	Lackawanna	17,751	401	2,148
27	Middletown	28,018	357	1,791
28	Saratoga Springs	28,056	334	2,159
29	Yonkers	200,183	310	1,226
30	Ithaca	30,715	304	4,076
31	Ogdensburg	10,559	302	3,846
32	Cheektowaga	73,457	276	3,555
33	Cohoes	16,708	268	1,744
34	Cortland	18,633	264	3,974
35	Peekskill	24,111	260	1,314
36	Kingston	22,954	256	2,310
37	Auburn	26,383	245	2,378
38	Rome	32,217	242	1,753
39	Tonawanda	14,790	199	1,783
40	Dunkirk	11,812	168	1,828
41	Tonawanda	14,790	167	1,495
42	North Tonawanda	30,338	158	1,222
43	Glens Falls	14,322	150	977
44	West Seneca	45,272	140	1,902
45	Amsterdam	17,823	132	1,533
46	Irondequoit	50,141	128	1,745
47	White Plains	58,171	114	1,387
48	Beacon	13,723	102	1,071
49	Long Beach	33,475	89	234
50	New Rochelle	79,367	76	769

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.