The “Garden State” moniker is one that many people use to describe New Jersey because of the state’s stunning natural scenery, rich cultural heritage, and multicultural population. According to U.S. News & World Report, when it comes to public safety, New Jersey is ranked #3 in the nation. The rates of violent and property crimes per 100,000 people were used to arrive at this figure. The worst parts of New Jersey may be downright scary, even yet others of the state’s cities are quite safe. Despite the country’s severe criminal laws, this state does not use the death penalty. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to reinstate the death sentence, NJ was the pioneering state to do away with it.
Also Read: Top 10 Richest Cities in New Jersey
Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in NJ:
The below list comprises the top 10 most dangerous cities in NJ, based on the crime rate per 1000 residents.
- Atlantic City
- Wildwood
- Asbury Park
- Camden
- Bridgeton
- Salem
- Trenton
- Paterson
- Irvington
- Newark
1. Atlantic City
Atlantic City, known as the East Coast’s gambling center, has a thriving tourist business. But there’s good reason to be worried about public safety there—the crime rate is 97.09 per 1000 people. Problems with prostitution, drug dealing, and other gambling-related activities plague the city. Because of these problems, the city has a higher crime rate and is therefore one of the riskiest in all of New Jersey.
This city’s crime rate is rather high, and it’s not hard to figure out why: gangs, individuals in dire need of gaming money, etc. Robberies, small-time theft, drug selling, and property crimes rank high among AC’s most prevalent criminal offenses.
Although some have shied away from Atlantic City due to its crime rate, the city’s cheap property costs have made it one of the most budget-friendly beach towns in New Jersey.
See Also: Most Dangerous Cities of the United States
2. Wildwood
Among the several communities found on this barrier island is Wildwood, which is part of the larger Wildwoods area that also includes North Wildwood, Wildwood Crest, and West Wildwood. While Wildwood isn’t necessarily the most dangerous city in New Jersey, it certainly poses a threat to the owner’s property.
An alarming 76.40 crimes per 1000 inhabitants are recorded in the city. In terms of property crime, it is without peer in the Garden State. At 1,054 per 100,000 people, the violent crime rate is likewise rather high.
The appeal of tourist money has contributed to a wide range of criminal incidents, from break-ins to petty theft. The reason that it’s entertaining to visit does not indicate it is a decent spot to spend the night.
Wildwood is unfortunately rife with rental scams. As a result, locals should either utilize a rental agency that is strongly encouraged by the Chamber of Commerce or insist on rental permission before renting from anybody. Scammers will take advantage of the numerous vulnerable spots here, so individuals should be alert all the time. When new frauds emerge, the local police force will announce them on social media.
3. Asbury Park
Asbury Park is where one can find Tillie, the Convention Hall, and the Wonder Bar. Although locals like going to the boardwalk, the reality is that the city is still recovering from the economic crisis that occurred a couple of years back.
Approximately as hazardous as Wildwood, with 1,226 violent crimes recorded here from 2023 to mid-2024 per 100,000 people. Although this region has seen some gentrification in the last several years, gang violence is still a major problem.
Among NJ’s cities, Asbury Park has the third-highest crime rate. Both residents’ impressions and geo-located crime statistics indicate that the West Side is far riskier than the other parts of the city. Among the most pressing concerns voiced by West Side residents is the need to improve public safety and reduce crime.
Along with its efforts to build more amicable and productive connections with West Side communities, the Asbury Park Police Department has been using new and better tactics.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Australia
4. Camden
While Camden’s violent crime rate has decreased significantly in recent years, it was formerly known as the top-rated crime city around the NJ state. Camden has weathered many demographic shifts, shifting from a prosperous industrial city to one where most people have fled to the suburbs.
The reorganization of the police department in 2013 is said to have reduced the occurrence of violent crimes, which the area was previously notorious for. Compared to its peak in the 1990s, violent crime has decreased by 46% and is at its lowest level since the 1960s as of January 2021. When comparing 2020 with 1974, the first year of consistent data, the city’s overall crime rate dropped by 74%.
Although there were 29 homicides and a 29% rise in non-violent crime in 2024—with a particularly alarming jump in crimes involving motor vehicles—the overall rate of violent crime in the city fell.
5. Bridgeton
Bridgeton is a small town in southern NJ that is on the banks of the Cohansey River, not far from Delaware Bay. Its population is 22,771. Bridgeton is one of the most hazardous little communities in the US and has a high poverty rate, considering its size. A troubling overall crime rate of 39.0 offenses per 1,000 people necessitates preventative measures from law enforcement agencies.
At 36% poverty rate, it’s the state’s second poorest city. It also ranks third highest for crime, third lowest for average real estate value ($106,000), and lowest for schooling rate by a wide margin; fewer than 70% of adults in Bridgeton have a high school diploma, and only 7% have a bachelor’s or higher. The data presented here are so depressing that they rank Bridgeton among the worst places to live in the country, specifically in New Jersey. Amazingly, there are no cells for prisoners inside the municipal borders.
While it may come as a surprise, the population of Bridgeton has grown significantly in recent decades, mostly due to immigration from Central America.
Also Check: Top 8 Law Firms in New Jersey
6. Salem
With houses going for as little as $115,000, Salem is both the most affordable and one of the most hazardous communities in New Jersey. Nevertheless, inhabitants should not make a hasty decision without first doing a thorough study of the city. Due to the very high crime rate, the housing prices are much lower.
A high crime rate is likely to accompany poverty. For a long time, Salem City had the nation’s highest rates of vehicle theft.
Salem is home to a mere 5,000 people. The fact that there are more recorded offenses than inhabitants is concerning. That, together with the city’s 41% poverty rate, makes Salem’s precarious financial situation seem even worse.
Also Read: Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Mexico
7. Trenton
At this time, Trenton is the seventh most dangerous city in the Garden State. Other forms of crime have also been on the rise. Cities with high murder rates tend to have higher crime rates overall, according to research.
Murder rates have risen throughout the United States, and Trenton, NJ, is no exception. As of right now, Trenton’s murder rate is higher in the country as compared to other cities in NJ.
40 killings have been reported in the city thus far in 2023. The national average is 6.5 murders per 100,000 people, hence this amounts to 48.2 murders per 100,000 people.
Crime has essentially taken control, and the city attorney is uninformed, making for terrible politics. To bring the city back to its previous glory, its residents are pressuring major corporations to establish local branches in the hopes of attracting white-collar workers and increasing property taxes. A few years ago, Trenton was home to many brilliant minds, but the city’s persistent problems are likely to cause a decline in population during the next half-century. Anyone in Trenton who is serious about improving their life is leaving the city and relocating to the North or the South of the USA.
8. Paterson
The FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system provides figures that show a crime rate of 25.92 per 1,000 people in Paterson, NJ.
The many issues that stem from Paterson’s severe drug dealer infestation are unfortunate.
Even if the residents stay away from the established drug markets, it doesn’t make Paterson particularly unsafe.
However, a large portion of tax dollars go into maintaining police and EMS presence, which in turn reduces funding for other services, such as public schools, and ultimately makes the area less appealing as a place to reside.
An unprecedented surge in violent crime occurred in Paterson from 2020 to 2022. The murder to gunshot ratio fell by about 10% the next year, from 113 shootings and 30 killings in 2020 to 101 shootings and 28 homicides in 2021. A record number of gunshots occurred in 2020, while a record number of killings occurred in 2021.
However, weekly crime data were released by the Paterson Police Department using the “CompStat Crime Data system” beginning in 2023. To aid police in their efforts to decrease crime and achieve departmental objectives, the performance improvement system has been developed.
See Also: Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in the World
9. Irvington
Irvington’s role in the 1980s crack epidemic is well-known, but the town has apparently been plagued by high crime rates ever since, especially violent crime. Irvington ranks ninth in New Jersey for violent crime rates, with a population of 54,246.
Looking at Irvington through the prism of recent crime statistics, certain areas stand out as having a much higher crime rate than others. Law enforcement is targeting some areas—those dealing with socio-economic issues—for increased monitoring and action. An increase in events has been seen in the eastern sectors near the township’s boundary, prompting the community to rally their resources.
Nevertheless, as of 6th September 2024, the unfaltering resolve of Irvington Township to ensure the safety and welfare of its population has once again shown positive results. The summer of 2024 was characterized by decreased crime rates and few noteworthy events.
Since the mayor’s initiatives began in 2016 and continued through 2023, the Township of Irvington Township has gone from having double-digit murder rates to having crime rates below twelve. The remarkable transformation can be attributed in large part to the tireless work of Irvington Township Police and the Honorable Mayor Tony Vauss.
10. Newark
The crime rate in Newark has been trending up and down recently. Despite the city’s well-deserved reputation for its lively center and welcoming parks, crime remains a major issue for the general population.
The police and the people of Newark have been concentrating on the problem of violent crimes in particular.
The housing crisis, especially in areas like the Forest Hills district, has been a major factor. An increase in crime has hit Newark’s real estate market hard, calling for immediate action to overhaul housing and social assistance.
With particularly high rates of both violent and property crimes, Newark is one of the most crime-ridden cities in New Jersey. Community safety programs and better police tactics, however, have contributed to falling crime rates.
The American city of Newark was among the most violent in history. It now aims to change public safety by setting an example. Making Newark among the safest cities in New Jersey is an ongoing goal for both residents and government officials. The city set aside $19 million in November 2021 to fund initiatives aimed at reducing violence over the next three decades. The city also established a fully funded Office of “Trauma Recovery and Violence Prevention” with an annual budget reallocation of around $12 million.
Conclusion
New Jersey is known for many safe and vibrant neighborhoods, but few of its cities have crime and public safety issues. Due to economic inequality, drug trafficking, and insufficient law enforcement resources, Atlantic City, Wildwood, and Asbury Park are among the most dangerous cities in NJ. To decrease crime and make communities safer, municipalities are working on safety and regeneration projects. Future investments in society and community growth and combating crime will shape the forthcoming years of the state.
| Top 10 Dangerous Cities in NJ | Crime Rate (Per 1000 Residents) |
| Atlantic City | 97.09 |
| Wildwood | 76.40 |
| Asbury Park | 47.21 |
| Camden | 43.71 |
| Bridgeton | 39.08 |
| Salem | 31.93 |
| Trenton | 29.97 |
| Paterson | 25.92 |
| Irvington | 25.46 |
| Newark | 24.41 |
FAQs
Which State of the USA Has the Highest Crime Rate?
New Mexico is considered the most dangerous state in the USA with the highest crime rate with incidents including rape, robbery, murder, and violence. The crime rate is 780 per 100,000 residents (data as of 28th June 2024).
Which City in the USA Has the Highest Crime Rate?
Detroit, Michigan has the highest crime rate among all cities in the USA with a crime rate of 2,007.8 per 100,000 residents.
Which Is the Safest US State to Live In?
Vermont is considered the safest US state to live in with a score of 68.79 out of 100, which is the highest among all other US states.
