Providence, RI Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Providence, RI Crime & Safety

Is Providence, RI safe?

Providence earns a city-wide Safety Rating of Safe (B) based on analysis of 28 neighborhoods. A full 72% of neighborhoods fall into the combined A and B grade range, meaning the majority of the city meets the threshold for a safe designation. Specifically, 8 neighborhoods (28.6%) earned an A grade and 12 neighborhoods (42.9%) earned a B grade. Notably, no neighborhood in Providence received a D or F grade. Blackstone, the top-ranked neighborhood, holds a straight A grade and a median household income of $147,884 — well above the city median of $49,065. Even the lower-rated areas, such as West Broadway and Smith Hill, land at a C grade, indicating moderate rather than severe crime levels. The overall city-wide crime grade is D+, which reflects aggregate city-level data, but neighborhood-level analysis tells a more nuanced story where most residents live in areas graded B or better.

What is the crime rate in Providence?

Providence's 28 analyzed neighborhoods break down as follows: 28.6% hold an A grade, 42.9% hold a B grade, and 28.6% hold a C grade — with zero neighborhoods receiving a D or F. That distribution means nearly three in four Providence neighborhoods are classified as safe. The city carries an overall crime grade of D+, which is influenced by concentrated crime in a smaller subset of areas rather than widespread danger across the city. Higher-concern neighborhoods include West Broadway (C), Smith Hill (C), Olneyville (C+), Elmwood (C+), and Valley (C+). By contrast, the majority of the population lives in neighborhoods graded B or above. Providence's unemployment rate of 7.1% and poverty rate of 23% are contextual factors that correlate with crime concentration in specific pockets of the city.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Providence?

Eight Providence neighborhoods earned an A grade — the highest safety tier — representing 28.6% of all analyzed areas. Here is how the top ten safest neighborhoods stack up:

• Blackstone — Grade: A | Population: 6,038 | Median Income: $147,884
• Elmhurst — Grade: A- | Population: 10,922 | Median Income: $83,178
• Hope — Grade: A- | Population: 2,880 | Median Income: $98,265
• Wayland — Grade: A- | Population: 3,253 | Median Income: $84,575
• College Hill — Grade: A- | Population: 9,418 | Median Income: $89,263
• Edgewood — Grade: A- | Population: 6,893 | Median Income: $78,045
• Washington Park — Grade: A- | Population: 7,062 | Median Income: $44,254
• Reservoir — Grade: A- | Population: 3,184 | Median Income: $65,545
• Mount Pleasant — Grade: B+ | Population: 10,523 | Median Income: $71,614
• Jewelry District — Grade: B+ | Population: 126 | Median Income: $61,667

Blackstone stands out not only for its top A grade but also for its exceptionally high median income of $147,884 — nearly three times the city median. College Hill and Hope also combine strong A- safety grades with median incomes above $89,000, making them among the most desirable areas for safety-conscious residents. Washington Park is a noteworthy outlier: it earns an A- grade despite a median income of just $44,254, close to the city median, demonstrating that safety grades reflect more than just income demographics.

Which neighborhoods in Providence have higher crime?

The five neighborhoods with the highest relative crime levels in Providence are all rated C or C+ — no neighborhood drops to a D or F grade. Those areas are: West Broadway (C), Smith Hill (C), Olneyville (C+), Elmwood (C+), and Valley (C+). A C grade indicates a moderate crime environment — elevated compared to the city's safest neighborhoods but not extreme by national standards. These areas account for 28.6% of analyzed neighborhoods. Residents and visitors in these areas are encouraged to consult the interactive Providence crime map for specific incident patterns and to stay aware of surroundings, particularly after dark.

Is Providence a good place to live in 2026?

Providence presents a mixed but largely livable picture in 2026. On the positive side, 72% of its 28 analyzed neighborhoods earn a safe A or B grade, the city has a median home value of just $226,683 — well below many comparable Northeast cities — and a median rent of $1,015, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $49,065. On the challenging side, the city-wide poverty rate of 23% and unemployment rate of 7.1% are above national averages, and the overall crime grade of D+ signals that certain areas require caution. For families and professionals prioritizing safety, neighborhoods like Blackstone (A, median income $147,884), College Hill (A-, median income $89,263), and Elmhurst (A-, median income $83,178) offer strong safety grades alongside community amenities. For budget-conscious residents, Washington Park earns an A- safety grade at a median income level of $44,254 — comparable to the city median — suggesting good value for safety-minded renters and buyers.

How does Providence's crime compare by neighborhood income?

There is a clear correlation between neighborhood median income and safety grade in Providence, though it is not absolute. The top-graded neighborhood, Blackstone, has a median income of $147,884 — nearly 3x the city median of $49,065. The next tier of A- neighborhoods ranges from $65,545 (Reservoir) to $98,265 (Hope). However, Washington Park earns an A- grade with a median income of just $44,254, demonstrating that community investment and other factors also drive safety outcomes. Among the 12 B-grade neighborhoods (42.9% of the total), Mount Pleasant has a median income of $71,614, while the Jewelry District comes in at $61,667 despite its very small population of 126 residents. The C-grade neighborhoods — West Broadway, Smith Hill, Olneyville, Elmwood, and Valley — tend to align with lower income levels, consistent with the city's overall poverty rate of 23% and unemployment rate of 7.1%.