New York City’s Safest Neighborhoods (Updated for 2025)

Estimated reading time: 11 minutes

Safety is among the most important criteria when deciding where to live. There is tons of information available online about crime statistics and safety ratings, but sifting through all that data for every neighborhood in a large city like New York is extremely time-consuming. We’ve done the hard work for you to lead you directly to the safest neighborhoods in New York City.

Disclaimer: Safety is a shared responsibility and the well-being of a community depends on the collective efforts of its residents, local authorities, and visitors. Whether it’s safety at the workplace or in a neighborhood, it is always a combined effort. While we have diligently researched and compiled data to guide you to some of New York City’s safest neighborhoods, it’s important to remember that safety can vary and change over time.

The following list is based on data from the NYC Crime Map, Neighborhood Scout Reports, and Crime Grade, and serves as a general guideline rather than a guarantee of safety. Always stay informed about the latest local safety measures and community initiatives.

Please consider this as a starting point for your own research, and always prioritize personal safety and awareness in any neighborhood.

For real-time statistics and detailed reports, visit the NYPD’s official website and their CompStat 2.0 portal, which provides updated crime analytics and precinct-level insights.

Battery Park City, Manhattan

• Room (shared apartments): ~$2,300–$3,000/month (estimated based on studio pricing trends)
• Studio: $5,375/month
• 1-Bedroom: $6,000/month
  Luxury waterfront location with proximity to FiDi drives premium pricing.

Battery Park City is one of the safest neighborhood in Manhattan that contains a little something for everyone. Residents enjoy lots of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and parks. During the week, you’ll see the many restaurants and coffee shops filled with professionals from the nearby financial district. But on weekends, the neighborhood belongs to the locals. The riverfront park will be full of joggers, picnickers, and families enjoying the outdoor green space. 

Prospect Heights, Brooklyn

• Room (shared apartments): ~$1,800–$2,200/month
• Studio: $3,550/month
• 1-Bedroom: $4,200/month
  Gentrified area with cultural amenities; rents rose 3.7% for studios year-over-year.

Prospect Heights in Brooklyn is rated as one of the safest areas in New York City for raising a family. This is largely because of the low crime rates and solid public schools. Prospect Heights is home to a diverse group of residents with a thriving Caribbean-American community. 

And you’ll find lots to do here! Enjoy a stroll through the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, explore treasures at the Brooklyn Museum, or take in a basketball game at Barclays Center.

Fresh Meadows, Queens

• Room (shared apartments): ~$1,200–$1,500/month
• Studio: Queens averages ~$3,075/month for 1-bedrooms
• 1-Bedroom: ~$2,200–$2,800/month (suburban affordability)

Fresh Meadows in Queens earned notoriety as the New York Post’s choice for the safest neighborhood in all of New York City in 2022. Going well beyond crime stats, the post considered factors like flood zones, proximity to hospitals, emergency response times, evacuation routes, climate, and even rodent levels.  

Well situated between the Long Island Expressway and Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows offers easy access to the rest of the city. But with all the green space, it feels like a world away!

Morningside Heights, Manhattan

• Room: ~$1,600–$2,000/month
• Studio: $3,900/month
• 1-Bedroom: $4,700/month
  High demand due to Columbia University; rents down 9% YoY for studios.

Located on the west side of Upper Manhattan, Morningside Heights is home to Columbia University and the Manhattan School of Music. Morningside Heights is a thriving community, made up of a diverse group of young professionals and families. The population is exceptionally well educated, with the most common education level being a Master’s Degree. The public school system in Morningside Heights is above average, and property values are high.

While Address Reports’ crime data is unavailable for this neighborhood, data from Niche shows that the risk of robbery, theft, burglary, and murder is all far lower in Morningside Heights than the national average. 

Inwood, Manhattan

• Room: ~$1,100––$1,400/month
• Studio: ~$2,800/month
• 1-Bedroom: ~$2,500–$3,000/month
  Affordable northern Manhattan neighborhood with Dominican cultural roots.

At the Northernmost tip of Manhattan, you’ll find Inwood, the traditionally Dominican neighborhood that’s growing in diversity while retaining its mom-and-pop vibe. Chain stores haven’t taken over the area, which is still home to lots of local small businesses, which line Dyckman and West 207th streets and keep the neighborhood feeling like a community.   

Locals love the good schools and green space, which includes the popular Inwood Hill Park. Plus, with Broadway running directly through Inwood, you have easy access to some of the best culture and nightlife in the world!

Roosevelt Island, Manhattan

• Room: ~1,900–$2,400/month
• Studio: $4,079/month
• 1-Bedroom: ~4,500–4,500–5,000/month (isolated island location)

If you’re looking for a safe neighborhood with a killer view of the Manhattan skyline, check out Roosevelt Island. Still considered part of the Manhattan borough, Roosevelt Island is a small island in the East River.

Locals and tourists alike enjoy the tree-lined Four Freedoms Park at the southern tip of the island where you can find the FDR Hope Memorial. Residents appreciate the safety of living in this island neighborhood while still being conveniently located to access the rest of the city.

Nolita, Manhattan

• Room: ~$2,500–$3,200/month
• Studio: $3,950/month
• 1-Bedroom: $5,495/month
  Boutique charm near SoHo; studios rose 1.9% YoY.

Nolita, Manhattan – Nestled between the hustle of SoHo and the bustle of the Lower East Side, Nolita offers a charming escape with its boutique shops and quaint dining spots. The neighborhood is small and personable, often considered a hidden gem with lower crime rates contributing to its appeal.

Bellerose, Queens

• Room: ~$1,100–$1,400/month
• Studio: Limited data; Queens studios average ~$3,075/month
• 1-Bedroom: ~$1,800–$2,300/month
  Working-class neighborhood with suburban affordability.

Bellerose is a working and middle-class neighborhood in Queens. It may be a bit of a trek from the city, but it’s still accessible by train or bus. This bit of distance comes with the benefit of making Bellerose more affordable than many of the other safest neighborhoods in New York City.

You can get more information on the current crime data at Crimegrade.org, which shows more reassuring crime statistics for Bellerose.

Upper East Side, Manhattan

• Room: ~$2,200–$2,800/month
• Studio: $3,930/month
• 1-Bedroom: $5,148/month
  Historic prestige; non-doorman 1-bedrooms rose 15% YoY.

If you can afford it, Manhattan’s Upper East Side is a safe haven in the heart of New York City. Nestled between Central Park and the East River, the Upper East Side is home to 5th Avenue’s Museum Mile, which contains cultural gems like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and El Museo del Barrio.  

Chelsea, Manhattan

• Room: ~$2,400––$3,000/month
• Studio: $4,535/month
• 1-Bedroom: $5,860/month
  Artsy vibe with High Line access; 1-bedrooms up 14% YoY.

Chelsea is a bustling neighborhood located on the West Side of Manhattan, known for its vibrant arts scene, high-end shopping, and the popular High Line park. Its crime rates are considerably low compared to the city average, particularly for a neighborhood with such a vibrant night-life.

Greenwich Village, Manhattan

• Room: ~$2,600–$3,400/month
• Studio: $3,750/month
• 1-Bedroom: $4,360/month
  Bohemian history and NYU presence; studios down 31% YoY.

Greenwich Village, known for its bohemian vibe and rich history, is a beloved neighborhood in Lower Manhattan. With its quaint tree-lined streets, world-class restaurants, and renowned performance venues like the Comedy Cellar and Blue Note, Greenwich Village maintains a neighborhood-like feel in the heart of the city. The area is also home to New York University, which means there is an increased police presence, and crime rates are lower than the city average.

Financial District, Manhattan

• Room: ~$2,100–$2,600/month
• Studio: $4,060/month
• 1-Bedroom: $5,160/month
  Business-centric area with weekend quietude; studios up 2.6% MoM.

The Financial District, located at the southern tip of Manhattan, is a bustling hub of business activity on weekdays, transforming into a calm, quiet neighborhood in the evenings and on weekends. The neighborhood is also home to several popular tourist attractions, like the New York Stock Exchange, the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, and One World Observatory. Despite its business focus, the crime rates here are among the lowest in the city.

What About the Safety of NYC in General?

As of 2025, New York City has maintained a general decline in major crime categories compared to January 2024, though trends vary across offense types. According to the NYPD’s preliminary reports:

• Murders decreased by 15% (slowing from the sharper 2024 decline but continuing a multiyear downward trend).
• Rapes fell by 18.2%, reflecting sustained focus on sexual assault prevention.
• Burglaries dropped by 12.3%, attributed to improved neighborhood surveillance and community reporting.
• Felony assaults saw a marginal reduction of 2.1%, stabilizing after years of fluctuation.
• Grand larceny auto declined by 6.5%, aided by GPS tracking and recovery initiatives.

Shooting incidents decreased by 8.2%, with shooting victims down 9.3%. The NYPD’s anti-gun efforts remain robust, with 532 guns seized in January 2025 alone. Since the current administration began three years ago, over 21,500 illegal firearms have been removed from circulation.

However, challenges persist:

• Robberies rose by 3.8%, driven by thefts in transit hubs and commercial areas.
• Grand larceny (non-auto) increased by 1.2%, linked to retail theft and package crimes.
• The Hate Crime Task Force reported 18 more bias incidents than in January 2024, with notable rises in anti-Asian and anti-LGBTQ+ harassment.

Overall, index crime decreased by 3.2% in January 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, underscoring the NYPD’s emphasis on data-driven policing and community engagement.

For real-time statistics and detailed reports, visit the NYPD’s official website and their CompStat 2.0 portal, which provides updated crime analytics and precinct-level insights.

Which borough in NYC is the safest?

Staten Island, the least populated of New York City’s five boroughs, continues to maintain its reputation as one of the safest areas in the city. Its relative seclusion, suburban feel, and lower population density often translate to fewer reported crimes compared to other boroughs, lending to its perception as a safe haven within the bustling metropolis. The borough is also known for its strong sense of community, which contributes to its overall safety.

Frequently Asked Questions: NYC Safety & Living (2025)

1. What is the safest area of New York City?

• Battery Park City (Manhattan) and Tribeca (Manhattan) are consistently ranked safest.
• Battery Park City has a violent crime rate 16% below NYC’s average (1.7 incidents per 1,000 residents).
• Roosevelt Island (Manhattan) and Brooklyn Heights (Brooklyn) also rank highly for safety.

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2. Where is the cheapest and safest place to live in NYC?

• Fresh Meadows (Queens) and Bellerose (Queens) are affordable and safe.
• Fresh Meadows offers 1-bedrooms for 2,200–$2,800/month with low violent crime rates.
• Bellerose has shared rooms as low as 1,100–$1,400/month.

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3. Is Manhattan safer than Brooklyn?

• Yes, on average. Manhattan’s violent crime rate is 5.7 per 1,000 residents, compared to Brooklyn’s 6.48 per 1,000.
• Exceptions include Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope (Brooklyn), which are very safe.

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4. Is NYC safe in 2025?

• Overall, yes. Violent crime has declined (e.g., murders down 15% YoY).
• Property crimes like grand larceny have risen slightly (1.2–3.8%).

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5. Which side of New York is safer?

• Staten Island is statistically the safest borough.
• In Manhattan, the Upper East Side and Battery Park City are safest. Avoid parts of the Bronx (e.g., Hunts Point).

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6. Is Central Park safe at night?

• Generally yes, but stick to well-lit, populated areas like the Great Lawn.
• Crime rates in the park are 60% below NYC’s average, but stay alert in secluded areas.

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7. Which part of NYC is best to live in?

• Families: Battery Park City (parks, schools) or Fresh Meadows (affordable).
• Young Professionals: Chelsea (arts scene) or Greenwich Village (nightlife).
• Luxury Seekers: Tribeca or Upper East Side.

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8. What salary do you need to live in NYC?

• Luxury Areas (e.g., Tribeca): $200,000+ annually.
• Mid-Range (e.g., Chelsea): $120,000+.
• Budget Areas (e.g., Bellerose): $60,000+.

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9. Is Brooklyn cheaper than Manhattan?

• Yes.
• Example: A 1-bedroom in Prospect Heights (Brooklyn) averages $4,345/month,vs. $4,345/month,vs. $5,997/month in Battery Park City (Manhattan).