Passaic, NJ Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Passaic, NJ

Is Passaic, NJ safe in 2026?

Passaic earns an overall city-wide Safety Rating of B (Safe) when neighborhood-level data is aggregated — even though the city's overall Crime Grade is D+, which reflects citywide crime volume relative to national benchmarks. Drilling into the five analyzed neighborhoods tells a more nuanced story: 80% of neighborhoods score A or B, meaning 4 out of 5 areas qualify as safe by letter-grade standards. Only one neighborhood — Broadway — falls below a B, earning a C+. Passaic Park stands out as the safest pocket of the city with an A+ grade and a median household income of $119,567, far above the citywide median of $44,779. In short, safety in Passaic is highly dependent on which neighborhood you are in, and the majority of the city's roughly 69,789 residents live in areas graded B or better.

What is the crime rate in Passaic, NJ?

Passaic's overall Crime Grade for 2026 is D+, indicating that citywide crime rates are elevated compared to state and national averages. The city's socioeconomic profile provides important context: a 27.1% poverty rate, a 10.1% unemployment rate, and a median household income of just $44,779 are all factors correlated with higher crime in urban research. However, neighborhood-level grades range widely — from A+ in Passaic Park all the way down to C+ in Broadway — meaning the D+ overall grade is pulled upward by high-density, lower-income corridors rather than representing every corner of the city equally. Among the five neighborhoods studied, 20% earned an A grade, 60% earned a B grade, and 20% earned a C grade. No neighborhood received a D or F.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Passaic?

Based on 2026 crime data across five Passaic neighborhoods, here is how safety breaks down by grade:

• Passaic Park — A+: The safest neighborhood in the city. Home to about 4,782 residents with a median household income of $119,567 — nearly 2.7 times the citywide median. This area consistently outperforms every other part of Passaic on safety metrics.
• Main Avenue — B+: A population of 8,248 and a median income of $56,869 make this one of Passaic's more stable corridors. Its B+ grade puts it firmly in the "safe" tier.
• Downtown Passaic — B: Despite a lower median income of $32,063 and a larger population of 13,808, Downtown Passaic still earns a solid B, reflecting meaningful safety relative to its density and economic profile.
• Monroe Street — B-: The most populous neighborhood studied, with 33,548 residents and a median income of $31,783. A B- grade is notable given its size and economic pressures — it represents the largest share of Passaic residents living in a relatively safe area.
• Broadway — C+: With 10,022 residents and a median income of $48,140, Broadway is the only neighborhood below a B. A C+ indicates above-average crime risk and warrants more awareness when traveling through this corridor.

Altogether, 80% of analyzed neighborhoods (Passaic Park, Main Avenue, Downtown Passaic, and Monroe Street) fall in the A or B range, making them the recommended areas for residents prioritizing safety.

Which neighborhoods in Passaic have the most crime?

Among the five neighborhoods analyzed, Broadway earned the lowest safety grade at C+, making it the highest-crime area in this dataset. Broadway's population of 10,022 and median income of $48,140 place it in a middle economic tier for Passaic, but its crime grade suggests incident rates that outpace the safer parts of the city. Monroe Street (B-) is the second-lowest-rated neighborhood, and its sheer population size — 33,548 residents, or nearly half the entire city — means that even a B- grade represents a significant number of people living in an area with some elevated risk. Notably, no neighborhood in Passaic earned a D or F grade, which distinguishes it from higher-crime cities where the lowest-rated areas are significantly more dangerous.

Is Passaic a good place to live in 2026?

Passaic presents a mixed but honest picture for prospective residents. On the positive side, 80% of its neighborhoods grade out at B or higher for safety, median home values sit at $349,940, and median rent of $1,189 is relatively modest given its proximity to New York City. The city's population density of 8,600 residents per square mile reflects a compact, walkable urban environment with real cultural diversity. The challenges are real too: a 27.1% poverty rate and 10.1% unemployment rate are among the highest in New Jersey, and the overall Crime Grade of D+ signals that citywide crime volume is a concern. For buyers or renters who can target specific neighborhoods — particularly Passaic Park (A+) or Main Avenue (B+) — the value proposition improves considerably. Those with flexibility on location within the city will find that neighborhood selection makes an outsized difference in day-to-day safety experience.

How does Passaic Park compare to the rest of Passaic for safety?

Passaic Park is in a category of its own within Passaic. It is the only neighborhood to earn an A+ safety grade — the highest possible rating — and its median household income of $119,567 is more than 2.5 times the citywide median of $44,779 and nearly 4 times the median income of Monroe Street ($31,783). With a relatively small population of 4,782, Passaic Park functions as a quieter, more affluent enclave within a dense urban city. In contrast, Broadway (C+) and Monroe Street (B-) — which together account for over 43,000 residents — reflect the higher-crime, lower-income dynamics that pull down Passaic's overall D+ grade. The gap between Passaic Park and the rest of the city illustrates how dramatically safety outcomes can differ within a single municipality of fewer than 70,000 people.