Jersey City is located between the Hudson and Hackensack rivers and has a population of 283,927. Known as the “Wall Street of the West,” Jersey City brings in thousands of banking and finance jobs every year. Because of the endless opportunity this city offers, many people consider moving to Jersey City.
But is Jersey City a safe place to live? If you are considering moving to Jersey City, you will be happy to know that the city is very safe. Here’s what you need to know about the crime rate in Jersey City and the safest and most dangerous neighborhoods in the area.
If you are wondering whether or not moving to Jersey City is right for you, then you may be curious about the crime rates. Crime rates can be useful information, but it is important to know exactly what they are (and aren’t) telling you.
Crime rates are based on FBI crime data collected from law enforcement agencies. These rates include both violent and property crimes. To find the rates, the FBI takes the total number of crimes committed in an area and divides it by the total population of that area. Those numbers are then multiplied by 100,000. The crime rates are then reported as “X” number of crimes per 100,000 people and are often compared to the state and national average.
This information can be useful to get an overall view of how safe a city is and can also provide law enforcement with helpful data to help improve their operations. However, there are also many flaws in this system. Crime rates are very general and do not take into consideration that some areas of a city may be more dangerous than others. For example, much of Jersey City’s crime is localized in certain areas where there may be gang activity or increased drug and alcohol use.
Also, data reporting is voluntary, so some areas may have more agencies reporting than others. It is important to keep this in mind when comparing the crime rate between the two areas.
To understand the Jersey City crime rate, you may want to compare it to both the state and the national averages.
The national crime rate is:
The New Jersey crime rate is lower than the national average with 1,354 crime rates per 100,000 people. How does Jersey City compare to this?
The New Jersey crime rate is:
The Jersey City crime rate is 17.3% below the national average, making Jersey City a very safe place to live. Jersey City’s crime rate is 43.3% higher than the state of New Jersey. While this may seem alarming initially, it is important to keep in mind that most areas of Jersey City are very safe.
This Jersey City crime map gives you a better idea of where most crimes are concentrated.
As you can see, then more dangerous areas tend to be concentrated in a specific area. The darker areas generally have both higher poverty rates and a more active nightlife scene.
Another way to get a good idea of crime in the city is to check out the police reports. This can give you more detailed information on the types of crimes committed in each area. You can access Jersey City crime reports on the New Jersey State Police website.
Violent crimes include murder, homicide, assault and battery, manslaughter, rape, sexual assault, robbery, and kidnapping.
Jersey City Violent Crime Statistics:
The violent crime rate in Jersey City is 126.7% higher than the state’s average and 14.2% higher than the national average.
Although these percentages are high, the FBI does not count shootings as an offense and therefore has not tracked the amazing process Jersey City has made in the past few years. According to the Jersey City Police Department’s website, Jersey City homicides and shootings are at an all-time low. The number of shooting incidents, shooting victims, and homicides in Jersey City are lower than they have been in 3 years.
Property crimes include theft, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson, shoplifting, and vandalism.
Jersey City Property Crime Statistics:
The property crime in Jersey City is 29.3% higher than the state’s average and 23.6 lower than the national average.
3,004 of the 3,940 property crimes in Jersey City in 2020 were categorized as theft. Although theft should be taken seriously, many thefts are minor and do not pose any harm or threat to the safety of the citizens. If you are living in Jersey City, you should do what you can to protect your belongings, just like you would do in any other area.
Although Jersey City Crime is trending downward, some neighborhoods have a higher crime rate than others. Here are a few of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Jersey City.
Greenville is one of Jersey City’s most dangerous neighborhoods. The crime rate in Greenville is nearly 32% higher than Jersey City’s average. This neighborhood does not have any tourist attractions or things to do, so staying out of this area is not hard to do.
Bergen-Lafayette is located in southwestern Jersey City and has a crime rate that is 26% over the Jersey City average. Bergen-Lafayette is generally safe during the day and many nice parks in the area stay quite busy. Although the crime rates are higher than average, the city is doing a lot to revitalize the area.
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McGinley Square is located in central Jersey City. The crime rate in McGinley Square is 22% higher than the Jersey City average. Just like Bergen-Lafayette, the area is considered safe to visit during the day. There are many pubs and restaurants in the area that both residents and tourists enjoy all year round. If you are in McGinley Square at night, it is just important to stay aware of your surroundings, travel in groups, and exercise caution.
There are many incredible places to live in Jersey City, where the crime rate is well below average. Here are just a few of the safest neighborhoods in the area.
The Waterfront is one of the best places to live in Jersey City. The crime rate in The Waterfront is 60% lower than Jersey City’s average and 67% lower than the national average. The Waterfront offers many amazing apartments and condos with incredible views of Manhattan.
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Just opposite the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, Liberty Park is one of the safest neighborhoods in Jersey City with a crime rate that is 60% lower than Jersey City’s average. This area is popular for tourists and residents to walk around in both day and night.
Hackensack Riverfront is a quiet neighborhood on the west side of Jersey City. This area has a crime rate that is 19% lower than the national average and 1% lower than Jersey City’s average. Hackensack Riverfront is not as popular among tourists, making it great for those who want a peaceful and secluded living experience.
When living in Jersey City, you will be served by the Jersey City Police Department, which is overseen by police chief Tawana Moody. The creation of the JCPD dates all the way back to 1829, with the first appointment of watchmen. Today, there are 1,005 officers on the force. This are four police officers for every 1,000 citizens.
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The Jersey City police reports are public information and can be accessed on the New Jersey State Police website.
There are four different Jersey City police stations: North, South, East, and West.
The Jersey City murder rate is 6 per 100,000 people, which is lower than the national average.
Jersey City is safe. Just like any other city, there are areas of higher crime to avoid, but Jersey City has a much lower crime rate than the national average, making it a safe place to live.
Downtown Jersey City is one of the safest parts of the city, both day and night. There are always many people around, and it has a very strong police presence.
Jersey City has a low crime rate and many safe neighborhoods to choose from, making it a great place to live. If you are considering moving to Jersey City, contact Catlow Movers today at (201) 653-1808 for a free moving estimate.
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