Riverhead, NY Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Riverhead, NY

Is Riverhead, NY safe?

Yes — Riverhead earns an overall city-wide safety rating of Safe (B), and the data behind that grade is striking: every single one of the seven neighborhoods analyzed received either an A or a B, meaning 100% of Riverhead's neighborhoods fall into the safe tier. More specifically, 57.1% of neighborhoods (4 out of 7) earned an A-range grade, while the remaining 42.9% (3 out of 7) landed in the B range. Not one neighborhood received a C, D, or F. The overall city-level crime grade is C-, which reflects aggregate reported incidents across the full town footprint — but at the neighborhood level, the picture is considerably brighter. Communities like Jamesport (A+), Northville (A), and Aquebogue (A) anchor the safety profile, while even the lowest-graded neighborhood, Riverhead proper, holds a B-, indicating manageable rather than alarming crime levels.

What is the crime rate in Riverhead, NY?

Riverhead carries an overall crime grade of C- at the city level, but neighborhood-level analysis tells a more nuanced story. Across the seven neighborhoods studied, the grade distribution breaks down as follows: 57.1% earned an A grade (Jamesport at A+, Northville and Aquebogue both at A, and Riverside at A-) and 42.9% earned a B grade (Flanders and Northampton at B+, Riverhead at B-). Zero neighborhoods fell below a B. The town's population of 33,524 is spread across a low-density landscape of 192 residents per square mile, which tends to correlate with lower crime concentration. The unemployment rate of 5.2% and a poverty rate of 8.9% are moderate figures that align with Riverhead's relatively stable crime environment. In short, while the headline city grade reflects some reported crime, residents living in specific neighborhoods experience safety conditions that outperform that aggregate figure.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Riverhead, NY?

Based on 2026 crime data, the five safest neighborhoods in Riverhead are:

1. Jamesport — A+: The top-ranked neighborhood with a population of 1,203 and a median household income of $68,780. Jamesport's small size and tight-knit community contribute to its outstanding safety record.
2. Northville — A: Home to 1,096 residents and a median income of $102,430 — the highest of any analyzed neighborhood — Northville pairs affluence with strong safety outcomes.
3. Aquebogue — A: With 2,133 residents and a median income of $111,331, Aquebogue ranks among the safest and most prosperous communities in the Riverhead area.
4. Riverside — A-: Despite a lower median income of $47,998, Riverside's 2,285 residents enjoy an A- safety grade, demonstrating that strong community safety is not solely income-dependent.
5. Flanders — B+: The largest of the top-five safest neighborhoods at 3,683 residents, Flanders maintains a B+ grade alongside a median income of $104,712.

Even Northampton (B+, pop. 1,154) and the Riverhead hamlet itself (B-, pop. 12,429) remain well within the safe range, giving prospective residents a broad range of neighborhoods to consider.

Is Riverhead a good place to live in 2026?

By the numbers, Riverhead presents a compelling case. The median household income of $75,625 sits above the national median, and the median home value of $378,061 reflects a real estate market that has appreciated while remaining accessible relative to much of Long Island. Median rent of $1,547 offers an alternative for those not yet ready to buy. The unemployment rate of 5.2% is modest, and the poverty rate of 8.9% is below the national average, signaling a reasonably healthy local economy. On the safety side, 100% of analyzed neighborhoods grade A or B — a statistic few communities of comparable size can match. Families drawn to quieter surroundings may gravitate toward Jamesport (A+) or Aquebogue (A), while those seeking more amenities near the downtown core can still count on the Riverhead hamlet's B- grade as a livable baseline. Taken together, the economic stability, low population density of 192 people per square mile, and across-the-board neighborhood safety grades make Riverhead a well-rounded choice for Long Island living in 2026.

Which Riverhead neighborhoods have the highest crime?

It is worth emphasizing that no Riverhead neighborhood grades below a B- — so "higher crime" is relative here. The three neighborhoods at the lower end of the safety spectrum are Riverhead (B-), Northampton (B+), and Flanders (B+). Riverhead's B- reflects its status as the most populous area analyzed (12,429 residents), which naturally produces more reported incidents in absolute terms even when the per-capita rate remains manageable. Northampton (pop. 1,154, median income $52,796) and Flanders (pop. 3,683, median income $104,712) both hold B+ grades — a strong result by any standard. Prospective residents should interpret these grades in context: a B- in Riverhead still places the neighborhood firmly in the "safe" tier, and all three areas score considerably better than the national average for communities of similar size and density.