Is New York Dangerous? 10 Most Dangerous Cities in New York (2025 Guide)

Beneath New York's dazzling lights and iconic skyline is a different world where shadowed streets seemingly tell stories of struggle and survival. While much of the state pulses with energy and promise, there are places where danger quietly lingers, and the weight of hardship is felt in every alley and avenue.

Is New York City Dangerous?

The reality is promising for the New York City's crime rate is relatively low as against other major U.S. cities. To put this into perspective, while homicides rose by 3% in the first half of 2025 compared to 2019, the city’s rate of 1.6 per 100,000 residents is much lower than cities like St. Louis, which has a rate of 22 per 100,000. Similarly, the robbery rate of 82.3 per 100,000 is far below cities like Baltimore, where the rate is 274 per 100,000. Even motor vehicle theft, which has surged by 191% since 2019, remains lower in New York City than in cities like Dallas.

While certain crimes like sexual assault and larceny have risen, New York City’s crime rate is still relatively low overall. The sexual assault rate is stable compared to 2019, and the larceny rate is much lower than cities like Memphis. Despite some increases, New York City remains one of the safer large cities in the U.S.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in New York

New York State is home to some vibrant cities, but crime challenges still plauges certain areas. Which is particularly true with smaller cities across the state. Based on the FBI’s new york crime rate data, here,we list the top 10 most dangerous cities in the state of New York:

Newburgh
Newburgh, with a population of just over 28,000, ranks as the most dangerous city in New York. The violent crime rate of 1,129.3 per 100,000 is particularly alarming, and property crimes follow closely with a rate of 2,280.0 per 100,000. The city's high crime rates stem from long-standing economic struggles and high levels of poverty. The city has experienced a lack of investment, leaving certain areas under-policed and underserved, which increases opportunities for crime to thrive.

Buffalo
Buffalo, New York's second-largest city, has a significant population of over 255,000. Despite its size, it faces a violent crime rate of 990.7 per 100,000 and a staggering property crime rate of 3,245.4 per 100,000. Buffalo's crime issues are linked to the decline of its once-booming industrial sector, resulting in economic hardships and rising unemployment. As a result, theft, robbery, and other property crimes are common as people struggle with fewer job opportunities and greater financial stress.

Niagara Falls
Famous for its natural beauty, Niagara Falls may seem like a peaceful tourist destination, but it has a violent crime rate of 899.8 per 100,000. With a population of just under 48,000, property crime is even more prevalent with a rate of 3,858.0 per 100,000. The city’s economic challenges, combined with high poverty levels, contribute to its crime rates. The influx of tourists can also make the area a target for opportunistic crimes like theft and burglary, particularly in less-policed areas.

Schenectady
Schenectady, with a population of about 65,500, has a violent crime rate of 806.1 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,702.1 per 100,000. As with many cities on this list, Schenectady struggles with economic decline, which fosters an environment where crime can flourish. Unemployment, poverty, and a lack of resources contribute to the higher rates of violent crime and property theft, particularly in neighborhoods with limited access to education and job opportunities.

Binghamton
With a population of 44,475, Binghamton has a violent crime rate of 798.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 4,287.8 per 100,000. The city's small size means that even a modest number of crimes can push its crime rates into the higher percentiles. Binghamton’s economic struggles, combined with limited social services, have led to an increase in crimes like burglary, larceny, and assault, particularly in areas with high poverty and low economic mobility.

Syracuse

Syracuse, which has more than 142,000 people living there, has a violent crime rate of 792.6 per 100,000 people and a property crime rate of 3,134.0 per 100,000 people. Unemployment, poverty, and a shrinking population are all problems that the city is still dealing with, and they all make crime rates go up. Syracuse is a city that has had a hard time bouncing back from losing manufacturing jobs. A lot of people there don't have stable jobs, which leads to more property and violent crimes as people try to make ends meet in illegal ways.

Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie, with a population of 30,422, has a violent crime rate of 772.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,686.3 per 100,000. The relatively low population makes every crime stand out more in the statistics, amplifying the city’s crime rate. The economic downturn in Poughkeepsie, along with a lack of job opportunities for its residents, leads to higher crime rates, particularly involving property crimes like larceny and auto theft.

Albany
As the state capital, Albany’s crime rate is somewhat expected to be higher due to its urban nature. With a population of nearly 97,000, Albany’s violent crime rate stands at 757.0 per 100,000, and property crime is also high, with a rate of 3,002.4 per 100,000. The city faces issues like underemployment, poverty, and drug abuse, all contributing to its relatively high crime rates. Additionally, being a state capital, Albany sees a higher concentration of people in the downtown area, which can lead to more opportunities for crime, particularly property crime.

Rochester
Rochester, with a population of over 205,000, has a violent crime rate of 748.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,470.9 per 100,000. Once a major industrial hub, the city has faced significant economic struggles in recent decades. As a result, poverty rates remain high, and crime follows suit, particularly in neighborhoods that have been left behind by the economic transition. The higher-than-average crime rates in Rochester are also exacerbated by gang violence and substance abuse issues that continue to plague the area.

Utica
With a population of 59,842, Utica ranks tenth on the list with a violent crime rate of 625.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,318.7 per 100,000. While not as severe as some of the larger cities on this list, Utica’s crime rate is still a concern. Much like other smaller cities, Utica’s economic challenges, particularly in terms of job opportunities and public investment, play a large role in its crime issues. Property crimes, including theft and burglary, are a frequent occurrence, and the lack of resources to address these issues has led to a cycle of crime in certain neighborhoods.

Factors Contributing to Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in New York

Even within New York City and New York State, there are still cities and neighborhoods where danger is more prevalent, which falls victim to:

• Poverty, economic decline and lack of opportunity. In cities or neighborhoods with concentrated poverty, crime rates tend to stay high. Studies show that violence, property crime, theft, and other offenses strongly correlate with areas suffering long–term economic hardship, joblessness, weak public services, and limited social mobility.
• Social disinvestment and neighborhood decay. When local economies shrink, public and private investment often dry up. That can lead to abandoned or poorly maintained housing, empty lots, inadequate lighting, and deteriorated public infrastructure. Such “built‑environment” decay is frequently tied with higher crime rates, because dilapidated or neglected surroundings reduce informal social control and deter community cohesion.
• Concentrated disadvantage and segregation. In certain areas, poverty and disadvantage are not evenly spread but heavily concentrated. That concentration intensifies risk. When many residents share common stressors — unemployment, lack of access to quality education or health care, social isolation — pressures accumulate, creating conditions that foster crime.
• Feedback loops: crime → stigma → disinvestment → more crime. In many high‑crime places, repeated neglect, stigma, and poor outcomes discourage outside investment and inhibit community revitalization. Reduced investment means fewer jobs, fewer social services, weaker institutions. Over time, that reinforces cycles of crime, poverty, and social breakdown. Urban‑decay research and longitudinal studies find such feedback loops powerful.
• Urban density and social mobility pressures. In more densely populated cities/regions, problems like overcrowded housing, insufficient resources per capita, and constant social stress can amplify crime risks. High density combined with economic stress tends to magnify effects compared to less dense or more affluent areas.
• Unequal law‑enforcement and public‑service coverage. When policing, social services, and community support are unevenly distributed — often linked to funding, local tax base, or political neglect — neighborhoods with fewer resources tend to have weaker informal and formal social control. That makes it harder to deter crime, resolve conflicts, or offer stable community support. Historical examples in certain NYC neighborhoods show how structural neglect amplified crime over decades.

How to Stay Safe in the Worst Places in New York?

Staying safe when you live in or visit high‑crime areas doesn’t rely on just one strategy. A mix of awareness, prevention, good habits and sometimes extra home security tends to work best.

General Practical Advice

• Stay alert to surroundings. Walking at night? Choose well‑lit streets, stay near people, avoid dark alleys or poorly lit public‑transit stops. Walking near traffic, keeping a steady pace, avoiding distractions (phone, headphones) help reduce risk.
• Lock up and secure. Doors and windows should always have working locks. For renters or people in shared buildings, consider reinforcing plain locks or installing additional locks.
• Use visibility and deterrence. Keep outdoor spaces like entryways, stairwells, and hallways well‑lit. Trim bushes/shrubs near entrances so no one can hide. Cameras, visible lights, and good locks often deter burglars.
• Know your neighborhood’s risk profile. In cities or neighborhoods with known frequent burglaries or property crimes, stay cautious about where you store valuables, how you travel, and when you go out — especially late at night.

Smart‑Home / Security Device Support

• Video Smart Lock S330. If you live in an older apartment or building without strong door security, a smart lock with video‑lock capabilities adds an extra layer. With built‑in video doorbell, 2K HD camera, fingerprint and remote unlocking/notification, it helps control who enters and leaves — especially helpful in areas prone to break‑ins.

• eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit. With 4K clarity and MaxColor Vision™, it helps monitor entry points or outdoor spaces, especially effective in areas with high property‑crime rates.
• eufy ExpertSecure System E10 is a full home‑security system with 24/7 expert monitoring, built‑in battery backup, and local video recording. Useful if you live in a high‑risk area or older building, and want protection even during power or internet outages. It offers video verification and alarm center support if a door or window is opened unexpectedly.

Stay Safe and Secure

While certain areas of New York can feel unpredictable, taking a few simple precautions can help you move through them with confidence. Being aware of your surroundings, securing your home, and embracing the right technology can make a world of difference. For those who want extra peace of mind, home security systems like the eufy ExpertSecure System E10 or eufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit offer more than just protection; they provide constant vigilance. With 24/7 monitoring and video verification, these systems stand as quiet guardians, ensuring that your space remains a safe haven, even when the world outside feels uncertain.