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Safest Cities in New York

Safest Cities in New York

Using reported crime data provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, AdvisorSmith conducted a study of the safest cities in the state of New York. This study examined the reported crime levels in cities across the state and assigned each city a crime score based upon the per capita levels of reported crimes in each city. The composition of crimes also influenced the crime score, with more severe crimes such as murder and rape receiving a higher weight compared with property crimes. The average crime score for cities in New York was 28, and scores ranged from as low as 2 to as high as 405.

Our study examined a total of 373 small, midsize, and large cities in the state of New York. Cities in the state were labeled based upon their population. Cities with under 10,000 residents were labeled small cities. Midsize cities were those with between 10,000 and 50,000 residents, and large cities were those with over 50,000 residents. In total, there were 234 small cities, 119 midsize cities, and 20 large cities included in our study.

The Cost of Crime

For consumers and businesses alike, crime and a lack of safety in a neighborhood can exact a significant toll on daily lives. For the consumer, this can equate to decreases in home values, increases in insurance costs, and more. For businesses, crimes such as shoplifting, robbery, vandalism, theft, and fraud, end up costing U.S. businesses billions of dollars each year. As crime rates increase, so do costs for insurance coverage, including commercial property, commercial crime, and cyber insurance. Studies have shown that the average annual cost of crime prevention for small businesses is over $12,000, while the annual average crime loss is over $14,000.

Safest Large Cities in New York

Among large cities in New York, the average crime score was 55. For cities with over 50,000 residents, crime scores ranged from as low as 12 to as high at 112. 

The safest large city in New York was Ramapo, located in Rockland County near the New York-New Jersey border, about 28 miles northwest of New York City. Ramapo is a diverse, dense suburban area, and it was originally developed as a stop on the stagecoach route from New York City to Albany. 

Buffalo was the large city in New York State with the highest levels of reported crime. Buffalo is located on the eastern shore of Lake Erie, on the international border of the United States and Canada. Buffalo is the second-largest city in the state and was one of the first cities to widely adopt electric lighting. Historically, the city’s economy was dependent upon manufacturing and trade, and the city has experienced declines in population since the 1950s.

RankCityViolent Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsProperty Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsCrime Score
1Ramapo3.34.612.2
2Southampton5.79.320.1
3New Rochelle4.19.720.4
4Clarkstown5.812.222.1
5White Plains4.814.326.5
6Amherst5.615.227.1
7Tonawanda7.512.828.3
8Colonie5.123.533.0
9Yonkers6.89.134.6
10Greece10.219.339.3
11Hempstead10.210.548.8
12New York5.714.650.3
13Cheektowaga10.428.051.5
14Mount Vernon16.512.558.4
15Albany24.430.094.9
16Utica30.433.297.3
17Schenectady33.127.0104.0
18Syracuse29.731.3104.1
19Rochester31.534.7106.3
20Buffalo28.332.5112.9

Safest Midsize Cities in New York

Sleepy Hollow is the safest midsize city in New York, with a crime score of 2. The city is located on the east bank of the Hudson River, about 30 miles north of New York City. The city is known due to The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a short story written by Washington Irving. 

The average crime score for midsize cities in New York State was 33. Crime scores for midsize cities ranged from 2 up to 117. Cities with populations between 10,000 and 50,000 residents were considered midsize cities in this study.

RankCityViolent Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsProperty Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsCrime Score
1Sleepy Hollow2.00.02.0
2Rye0.71.42.6
3Bedford0.33.23.8
4Carmel0.72.24.1
5New Castle0.93.24.4
6Plattekill1.22.44.6
7Eastchester0.53.34.6
8Suffern1.42.54.6
9Floral Park0.71.64.8
10Glen Cove0.93.14.9
11Shawangunk1.03.05.0
12Kent0.62.26.2
13Harrison1.35.36.6
14Hyde Park1.84.06.8
15Long Beach2.22.07.0
16Port Washington1.34.77.6
17Mamaroneck0.76.58.1
18Dobbs Ferry2.54.08.3
19Mount Pleasant1.95.08.4
20East Fishkill2.24.48.6
21Scarsdale0.86.59.0
22East Aurora-Aurora3.54.99.1
23Stony Point1.93.39.5
24Yorktown2.65.99.7
25Tarrytown1.55.19.9
26Blooming Grove2.54.69.9
27Rockville Centre1.57.110.6
28Cicero3.96.111.0
29North Castle3.36.111.0
30Lynbrook2.15.311.5
31Lewiston4.45.511.7
32Fishkill1.08.911.8
33Port Chester1.56.812.3
34Webster2.56.912.9
35Ossining2.46.313.0
36Schodack2.66.914.4
37Garden City0.611.914.5
38Warwick6.94.716.0
39Ogden6.37.016.0
40Mamaroneck4.18.216.6
41Orangetown4.77.116.9
42Lancaster3.710.617.6
43Lloyd4.69.518.2
44Greenburgh3.09.718.2
45East Hampton5.08.218.3
46Peekskill3.48.618.4
47Fallsburg6.18.218.6
48North Greenbush5.012.820.0
49Niskayuna3.613.720.0
50Vestal4.713.120.5
51Kenmore3.812.720.5
52Southold5.910.521.0
53Orchard Park4.411.721.3
54Manlius6.510.521.8
55Camillus5.911.522.0
56Glenville4.114.322.1
57Freeport3.89.922.2
58Geddes4.516.122.6
59Riverhead1.116.923.4
60Bethlehem6.212.423.9
61New Windsor8.69.724.0
62Evans6.610.624.9
63Fredonia4.719.025.4
64Fulton4.819.325.5
65Depew6.812.926.0
66Hamburg5.416.026.2
67Brighton5.617.026.6
68Beacon7.710.327.7
69Saugerties10.58.627.9
70Glens Falls7.57.628.2
71Ulster4.616.529.0
72North Tonawanda10.011.630.4
73Irondequoit6.616.731.0
74West Seneca9.313.231.4
75Geneva2.618.431.4
76Guilderland3.824.632.4
77Wallkill7.819.133.5
78East Greenbush5.824.533.6
79Cohoes11.99.233.8
80Plattsburgh10.212.534.7
81Oneonta9.410.434.9
82Amsterdam11.512.436.1
83Tonawanda8.512.737.1
84New Hartford2.330.437.3
85Dunkirk11.117.938.3
86Rome12.616.438.5
87Dewitt6.624.338.6
88Newburgh7.229.340.2
89Saratoga Springs11.215.941.2
90Middletown11.811.141.3
91Rotterdam11.425.342.5
92Poughkeepsie8.625.544.6
93Spring Valley12.113.145.0
94Woodbury2.041.845.2
95Ithaca11.627.045.9
96Massena18.424.248.0
97Gates14.327.452.9
98Elmira8.130.854.5
99Kingston17.621.856.9
100Olean18.223.060.5
101Corning10.816.261.2
102Ogdensburg19.628.266.2
103Lackawanna19.421.366.2
104Auburn23.029.667.6
105Batavia21.824.269.6
106Oswego23.533.876.0
107Canandaigua28.417.476.4
108Poughkeepsie18.616.977.9
109Endicott15.428.178.2
110Cortland41.117.479.1
111Oneida25.134.283.8
112Troy27.927.787.9
113Gloversville39.327.295.4
114Johnson23.453.9104.4
115Jamestown36.729.7104.8
116Binghamton25.742.9112.4
117Watertown39.035.3114.1
118Niagara Falls30.738.6117.1
119Newburgh34.722.8117.1

Safest Small Cities in New York

The safest small city in New York was Kirkland. Located in Oneida County, Kirkland is host to Hamilton College, a private liberal arts college. The city is located just to the west of the larger city of Utica.

In the table below, rankings and crime scores are listed for 234 small cities with under 10,000 residents in the state of New York. Additionally, the level of violent and property crimes per 1,000 residents is also listed for each city. For small cities in New York, crime scores ranged from 2 to 404, and their average was 24.

RankCityViolent Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsProperty Crimes per 1,000 ResidentsCrime Score
1Kirkland0.91.22.0
2Highlands1.11.22.3
3Elmira2.10.72.9
4Northport1.41.93.3
5Hamilton1.81.83.5
6Mount Hope1.11.43.6
7Malverne0.41.83.9
8Whitestown0.53.74.2
9Briarcliff Manor0.14.44.5
10Durham0.04.54.5
11Cornwall1.31.35.1
12Cayuga Heights0.74.65.2
13Stillwater1.22.65.3
14Shandaken1.63.75.3
15Waterford1.23.15.5
16Tuxedo4.11.45.5
17Montgomery1.34.25.5
18Coxsackie5.20.65.8
19Irvington0.35.55.9
20Somerset5.90.05.9
21Phelps0.06.36.3
22Florida1.15.36.3
23Youngstown0.06.46.4
24Tuckahoe0.85.76.5
25Piermont4.12.76.8
26Norfolk2.71.86.9
27Marcellus0.07.07.0
28Sodus1.45.67.0
29Great Neck Estates0.07.17.1
30Altamont2.44.87.1
31Cairo1.74.77.2
32Bronxville0.27.07.2
33Oyster Bay Cove0.63.97.3
34Sherrill3.34.07.4
35Rye Brook0.27.27.5
36Caledonia7.60.07.6
37Elmsford1.82.57.7
38Goshen3.93.18.1
39Ardsley0.55.68.5
40Carroll2.36.28.5
41Kings Point0.95.48.6
42Canton2.82.88.6
43Nissequogue0.08.78.7
44Chittenango2.74.78.7
45Brewster2.66.49.0
46Croton-On-Hudson1.55.39.0
47Liverpool3.65.49.1
48Akron2.13.59.1
49Chester2.56.79.2
50Moriah1.31.39.2
51Chester2.30.99.2
52Highland Falls2.12.19.4
53Rosendale4.14.59.4
54Hunter1.45.99.6
55Friendship1.18.69.6
56Brant4.94.99.7
57Huntington Bay0.09.89.8
58Maybrook4.53.29.9
59Cornwall-On-Hudson3.15.110.0
60Westfield5.64.410.1
61Lloyd Harbor1.22.910.2
62Homer1.32.610.3
63Millerton2.48.110.5
64Lake Success3.86.810.6
65Eden4.14.710.6
66Fairport3.74.910.6
67Alfred3.06.310.7
68Hastings-On-Hudson2.37.310.9
69Washingtonville5.64.210.9
70Weedsport0.010.910.9
71Chatham0.011.111.1
72Marlborough3.65.711.2
73Pound Ridge2.17.211.2
74Pulaski1.39.911.2
75Baldwinsville5.55.811.3
76Crawford3.97.011.4
77Potsdam2.97.511.6
78West Carthage4.86.811.6
79Franklinville7.44.912.3
80Painted Post0.97.012.3
81Woodstock4.35.512.5
82Pelham3.26.512.6
83Kensington0.012.612.6
84Waverly5.62.412.6
85Old Westbury1.79.912.6
86Pleasantville1.75.212.7
87Oxford4.48.713.1
88Camden1.012.113.1
89Attica0.013.113.1
90Sherburne0.013.313.3
91Bolton0.013.313.3
92Hamburg4.57.813.4
93Sands Point0.310.013.4
94New York Mills0.313.213.6
95Bainbridge0.013.913.9
96Clayton4.19.813.9
97Greenwood Lake7.42.714.1
98Cazenovia2.86.314.1
99Rhinebeck0.511.014.1
100Greenport1.213.114.2
101Geneseo0.910.214.3
102Black River1.612.814.4
103Amityville5.27.214.4
104Webb5.63.414.5
105Montgomery7.25.914.7
106Lowville6.34.215.1
107Frankfort4.75.515.5
108Cuba3.110.515.6
109Hornell1.614.115.7
110Philmont6.39.515.9
111Buchanan2.74.016.0
112Cold Spring2.04.116.4
113Ballston Spa8.05.916.5
114Arcade5.54.116.6
115Whitesboro3.35.016.6
116Macedon4.88.116.7
117Cambridge6.110.616.7
118Southampton0.914.416.8
119Ellicottville0.017.117.1
120Waterloo7.010.417.4
121Skaneateles1.216.217.5
122New Berlin5.611.917.5
123Walden10.85.417.7
124Belmont4.413.317.7
125Nassau8.29.517.7
126Larchmont1.813.817.9
127Oriskany0.018.118.1
128Palmyra4.02.818.1
129Dolgeville7.26.218.5
130Addison4.93.518.7
131Allegany2.310.518.7
132Groton3.115.818.9
133Boonville1.79.518.9
134Granville6.85.418.9
135Fishkill4.611.619.1
136Canajoharie8.07.019.2
137Holley6.46.419.3
138Greenwich7.012.519.5
139Moravia1.718.320.0
140Mohawk3.29.520.1
141Goshen12.95.420.2
142Fort Edward9.02.120.6
143Hoosick Falls7.16.320.8
144South Nyack6.26.520.9
145Tupper Lake3.08.921.3
146Windham3.66.021.5
147Greene0.920.721.7
148South Glens Falls6.89.521.8
149Yorkville4.79.321.8
150Norwood4.46.622.1
151East Rochester6.910.622.1
152Brockport8.07.222.7
153Middleport11.57.622.9
154Vernon7.815.623.4
155Red Hook1.519.423.5
156Westhampton Beach9.414.423.7
157Frankfort4.94.923.8
158Old Brookville1.420.424.1
159Horseheads4.515.824.1
160Mechanicville8.37.624.1
161Saranac Lake7.59.424.5
162Watkins Glen4.216.824.5
163Harriman5.412.524.6
164Phoenix8.37.325.3
165Dansville13.011.826.0
166Carthage9.913.526.1
167Delhi4.87.126.2
168Deerpark11.76.426.2
169Ticonderoga9.86.326.5
170Rensselaer9.09.427.8
171Trumansburg3.119.227.9
172Elmira Heights4.219.128.5
173Monroe10.913.828.9
174Hammondsport0.029.029.0
175Dryden2.612.329.3
176Warsaw6.513.229.8
177Coeymans7.49.729.9
178Perry10.210.529.9
179Lake Placid12.28.030.0
180Le Roy6.614.130.2
181Hudson Falls12.16.430.8
182Penn Yan12.410.431.2
183Canastota13.57.331.2
184Colchester9.77.131.6
185St. Johnsville15.513.131.6
186Wellsville9.27.332.3
187Clyde9.314.232.8
188North Syracuse11.910.533.0
189Green Island12.413.033.2
190Independence8.87.033.4
191Solvay12.210.434.4
192Blasdell10.514.634.5
193Scotia8.114.534.6
194Canisteo5.62.834.7
195Wolcott13.13.735.6
196Menands6.923.735.8
197Bath10.313.436.2
198Niagara7.226.636.3
199Central Square0.636.036.6
200Catskill11.618.738.2
201Ellenville14.312.638.2
202Deposit4.522.538.2
203Medina11.416.039.4
204Pelham Manor6.526.839.5
205Inlet19.919.939.7
206Quogue1.234.341.4
207East Hampton5.336.141.5
208Little Falls15.98.442.2
209Wappingers Falls34.78.743.3
210Cobleskill12.511.843.4
211Seneca Falls13.123.743.4
212Gowanda18.314.543.9
213Johnstown20.216.848.9
214Salamanca18.89.950.7
215Malone15.920.151.1
216Monticello16.617.755.1
217Lakewood-Busti4.446.255.2
218Watervliet12.619.956.6
219Hancock22.09.256.9
220Mount Morris13.721.957.8
221Albion22.825.364.1
222Ilion12.521.265.7
223Newark25.825.968.5
224Port Jervis27.316.168.9
225Woodridge6.929.270.4
226Herkimer9.127.670.8
227Ellicott12.448.175.0
228Fort Plain26.123.877.3
229Owego21.629.381.0
230Sidney23.533.385.9
231Hudson29.617.594.0
232Liberty23.829.195.3
233Norwich42.128.3100.7
234Ocean Beach144.6260.2404.8

Methodology

AdvisorSmith determined the safest cities in New York by analyzing data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics dataset for 2019, which is the most recent data available. This dataset provides reporting on crimes reported to law enforcement agencies in cities across the state of New York. Some of the crimes in the report include rape, robbery, murder, assault, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and burglary. 

In this study, we assigned a weight to each type of crime to reflect the severity of the crime. For example, murder receives a higher weight than larceny. We used the number of reported crimes on a weighted basis to calculate the weighted crime rate in each city. We then adjusted the weighted crime rate by the population of each city to find a crime score for each city in New York.

To complete the analysis, we segmented New York cities into three groups based upon their population. Cities with under 10,000 residents were compared as small cities. Cities with between 10,000 and 50,000 residents were considered midsize cities, and large cities were those with over 50,000 residents. We ranked the cities based upon their crime scores within their city size designations to find the safest small, midsize, and large cities in the state of New York.

Sources

  1. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A, 2019
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