Violent Crime
New Jersey has 69% less violent crime
New Jersey records 188.9 violent incidents per 100k residents versus 319.6 in New York (FBI UCR 2022).
Violent Crime Rate Comparison
Safety
New Jersey vs New York: Violent Crime Rate
New Jersey has a lower violent crime rate than New York.
National Rankings
Where They Rank Nationally
See where both states fall among all 50 states for violent crime rate.
New Jersey
#5 · 188.9
New York
#25 · 319.6
Best
Worst
10 Best States — Violent Crime Rate
Lower is better
#1
Maine
109.8
Maine
#2
New Hampshire
164.4
New Hampshire
#3
Connecticut
178.0
Connecticut
#4
Vermont
187.6
Vermont
#5
New Jersey
188.9
New Jersey
#6
Virginia
195.2
Virginia
#7
Rhode Island
215.5
Rhode Island
#8
Wyoming
216.5
Wyoming
#9
Kentucky
218.6
Kentucky
#10
Idaho
224.7
Idaho
Selected states
#25
New York
319.6
New York
New Jersey ranks 5th and New York ranks 25th nationally for violent crime rate.
Safety Context
Economic and demographic factors behind the violent crime rate difference.
Safety
Poverty
New Jersey has a lower poverty rate
Economic stress and crime are closely tied. New Jersey's poverty rate is 9.7%, compared with 14.2% in New York.
View detailed comparisonIncome
New Jersey has higher household income
States with stronger median incomes tend to have lower crime rates. New Jersey leads at $97,126 vs $78,609 in New York.
View detailed comparisonPopulation Density
New Jersey is more densely populated
Urban density often correlates with higher crime rates. New Jersey is more densely populated at 1,064.9 per sq mi vs 370.3 in New York.
View detailed comparisonSafety Snapshot
New Jersey
Safety
Violent crime rate / 100k
188.9
Contributing factors
Poverty rate
9.7%
Median household income
$97,126
Population density
1,064.9 / sq mi
Unemployment rate
5.4%
New York
Safety
Violent crime rate / 100k
319.6
Contributing factors
Poverty rate
14.2%
Median household income
$78,609
Population density
370.3 / sq mi
Unemployment rate
4.6%
What Stands Out
- New Jersey has the lower violent crime rate at 188.9 per 100k.
- New Jersey has the lower poverty rate.
- New Jersey has the higher median household income.
Related Pages
What This Means
New Jersey vs New York: Violent Crime Rate in context
New Jersey has a violent crime rate of 188.9, compared with 319.6 in New York. Violent crime incidents per 100,000 residents (FBI UCR 2022).
New Jersey
188.9
New York
319.6
Difference
130.7 per 100k
People Also Ask
New Jersey vs New York Violent Crime Rate — Common Questions
Q What is New Jersey's violent crime rate?
New Jersey's violent crime rate is 188.9.
Q What is New York's violent crime rate?
New York's violent crime rate is 319.6.
Q Which state has a lower violent crime rate — New Jersey or New York?
New Jersey has a lower violent crime rate than New York.
More Comparisons: New Jersey vs New York
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Sources: Core demographic data comes from the 2020 U.S. Census, with land area from U.S. Census Bureau TIGER files. Income, housing, affordability, and tax fields are maintained in our comparison dataset; purchasing-power figures use BEA Regional Price Parities. Minimum wage data comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, gas prices from AAA, and electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Political control and election fields use 2024 presidential results together with National Conference of State Legislatures data. Gun-law labels use the Giffords scorecard, alcohol system data comes from NABCA, and marijuana status uses NCSL's state cannabis laws tracker.