Madison, NJ Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Madison, NJ

Is Madison, NJ safe?

Madison, NJ earns an overall crime grade of A-, placing it among the safest communities in New Jersey. With a population of approximately 16,647 residents spread across a modest 1,490 people per square mile, the borough maintains a tight-knit atmosphere that supports active community policing. The overwhelming majority of incidents reported on the Madison crime map are property-related rather than violent, and serious crimes remain statistically rare. Madison's low poverty rate of 4.4% and a median household income of $157,188 correlate strongly with reduced crime risk — research consistently shows that economically stable communities experience lower rates of both property and violent crime. For context, Madison's safety profile comfortably outperforms state and national averages, making it a sound choice for families, retirees, and professionals.

What is the crime rate in Madison, NJ?

Madison's crime performance earns it an A- overall grade — a distinction that reflects both its low incident frequency and the effectiveness of its local law enforcement. The borough's unemployment rate of 6.5% is the one socioeconomic indicator that sits slightly above ideal, and it is worth noting that unemployment can be a leading indicator for opportunistic property crime. However, Madison's median home value of $750,865 and median rent of $1,908 signal a community where residents are heavily invested in maintaining neighborhood quality. Property crimes such as vehicle break-ins and package theft in commercial corridors represent the most commonly mapped incident types, while violent crime rates remain well below state averages. The A- grade reflects a community where crime exists but is infrequent and largely non-violent.

Which neighborhoods in Madison are the safest?

Madison is a relatively compact borough, and crime risk is distributed fairly evenly across its neighborhoods. Areas surrounding the Madison Historic District and the residential streets near Giralda Farms consistently reflect the borough's A- safety profile, benefiting from strong homeownership rates and active neighborhood watch participation. The blocks adjacent to Drew University and Fairleigh Dickinson University's Florham Campus see occasional minor incidents typical of college-adjacent areas — primarily low-level property concerns — but nothing that materially changes the safety picture. The Downtown Madison corridor along Main Street sees the highest foot traffic and, correspondingly, the greatest share of reported incidents on the crime map, though these are overwhelmingly minor in nature. Across all areas, Madison's 4.4% poverty rate — one of the lowest in Morris County — helps sustain a broadly safe environment borough-wide.

How does Madison's crime rate compare to other NJ cities?

Madison's A- crime grade places it in the top tier of New Jersey municipalities for public safety. To put this in perspective using letter-grade benchmarks: many urban centers in New Jersey score in the C to D range, while Madison sits comfortably near the top of the scale. Its population density of 1,490 people per square mile is low enough to avoid the congestion-related crime pressure seen in denser cities, yet high enough to support an active, walkable downtown. The combination of a $157,188 median household income, a 4.4% poverty rate, and strong civic engagement means Madison consistently outperforms the state average across nearly every crime category tracked on the crime map.

Is Madison, NJ a good place to live based on crime and safety data?

From a data-driven perspective, Madison scores exceptionally well as a place to live. The borough's A- overall crime grade is supported by a strong socioeconomic foundation: a median household income of $157,188, a poverty rate of just 4.4%, and a median home value of $750,865 all point to a community with the resources and stability to maintain public safety. The 6.5% unemployment rate is the one metric worth monitoring, as it runs slightly higher than the borough's otherwise elite profile would suggest — but it has not translated into elevated crime figures. With a population of 16,647 and a density of 1,490 per square mile, Madison offers the walkability of a small city without the crime exposure. For families, professionals commuting to New York City, and retirees alike, the safety data strongly supports Madison as a high-quality residential choice.