Newark, NJ Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Newark, NJ

Is Newark, NJ safe in 2026?

Newark's safety picture is genuinely mixed. Across the 24 neighborhoods analyzed for 2026, 46% earn a combined Grade A or B, meaning nearly half the city falls into the safer tier. Another 33.3% of neighborhoods sit at a mid-range Grade C, while 21% — roughly one in five neighborhoods — carry a Grade D or F, indicating elevated risk. The city-wide safety rating lands at a moderate Grade C, though the overall crime grade for Newark is a D-, reflecting meaningful disparities between its best and worst areas. Neighborhoods like Ironbound (A-) — home to over 42,000 residents — and Five Corners (A-) demonstrate that safe, stable communities do exist within city limits. At the same time, areas such as Dayton (F+) and Springfield / Belmont (D-) require a higher degree of caution. Knowing which neighborhood you're in makes an enormous practical difference.

What is the crime rate in Newark, NJ?

Newark's crime rate is best understood through its neighborhood-level grade distribution rather than a single city-wide number. Of the 24 neighborhoods studied: 4 neighborhoods (16.7%) earned an A, 7 neighborhoods (29.2%) earned a B, 8 neighborhoods (33.3%) earned a C, 4 neighborhoods (16.7%) earned a D, and 1 neighborhood (4.2%) earned an F. That means the majority of Newark — about 79% of neighborhoods — sits at Grade C or better, but the lower-graded areas pull the city's overall score down significantly. Higher-crime concentrations are found in Downtown Newark (D+), Lincoln Park (D-), Clinton Hill (D+), and Springfield / Belmont (D-). These neighborhoods contrast sharply with top-rated areas like Port Newark (A+) and Newark International Airport (A+), illustrating how dramatically crime risk can shift within a few miles.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Newark?

Based on 2026 data, the ten safest neighborhoods in Newark are:

• Port Newark — Grade A+: Population ~6,200; median household income ~$46,953.
• Newark International Airport — Grade A+: Smaller residential footprint (~530 residents); median income ~$48,312.
• Five Corners — Grade A-: Population ~4,777; one of Newark's higher-income pockets at ~$61,355 median household income.
• Ironbound — Grade A-: Newark's largest safe neighborhood at ~42,671 residents and a median income of ~$52,097. Its size makes it particularly significant — more Newarkers live in a Grade A- zone than anywhere else.
• Upper Roseville — Grade B+: ~15,016 residents; median income ~$42,196.
• South Broadway — Grade B+: Smaller community (~2,043 residents) with a relatively strong median income of ~$57,825.
• Ivy Hill — Grade B: ~11,366 residents; highest median income among Grade B neighborhoods at ~$65,269.
• North Broadway — Grade B: ~14,351 residents; median income ~$39,834.
• Lower Vailsburg — Grade B: ~14,002 residents; median income ~$63,832.
• Forest Hill — Grade B-: ~17,056 residents; median income ~$41,889.

Together, these ten neighborhoods represent a substantial share of Newark's ~282,000 residents and span a range of income levels, showing that safety in Newark is not exclusively tied to wealth.

Which neighborhoods in Newark have the highest crime?

Five neighborhoods account for the bulk of Newark's elevated crime concerns in 2026. Dayton is the only area to receive an F+ grade, making it the highest-risk neighborhood in the city. Springfield / Belmont and Lincoln Park both carry a D- grade, placing them in the bottom tier. Clinton Hill and Downtown Newark each earn a D+ grade — still below average but a step above the lowest tier. Collectively, these five neighborhoods represent 21% of Newark's analyzed areas. Residents and visitors in or near these zones are advised to stay aware of their surroundings, secure valuables, and consult the Newark crime map regularly for updated incident data.

Is Newark a good place to live?

Whether Newark is a good place to live depends heavily on the specific neighborhood. The city's median household income is $37,476 — below the state average — with a poverty rate of 26.3% and an unemployment rate of 10.6%, all of which correlate with crime pressure in certain areas. The median home value of $254,695 and median rent of $1,116 make Newark comparatively affordable for the New York metro region. On the positive side, 46% of Newark's neighborhoods earn a Grade A or B for safety. Communities like Ironbound, with over 42,000 residents and a Grade A- rating, and Ivy Hill, with a median income of ~$65,269 and a Grade B, show that family-friendly, stable neighborhoods do exist. Prospective residents should use the Newark crime map to cross-reference specific streets and zip codes, since a D- city-wide grade masks the fact that nearly half the city's neighborhoods are genuinely safe places to put down roots.

How does Newark's crime compare by neighborhood income?

There is a noticeable — though not absolute — relationship between neighborhood income and safety grade in Newark. The four Grade A neighborhoods average a median household income of roughly $52,000, well above the city-wide median of $37,476. Grade B neighborhoods like Ivy Hill (~$65,269) and Lower Vailsburg (~$63,832) actually post some of the highest incomes in the city. By contrast, the higher-crime areas — Springfield / Belmont (D-), Lincoln Park (D-), and Dayton (F+) — tend to fall below the city median. That said, North Broadway earns a Grade B despite a median income of only ~$39,834, demonstrating that strong community engagement and local factors can drive safety outcomes independent of income alone. The crime map remains the most reliable tool for evaluating any specific block or corridor.