Most dangerous cities in New York research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in New York.
We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 188 New York cities. Here are the results of our analysis:
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The most dangerous city in New York is Herkimer based on the most recent FBI crime data.
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The violent crime rate in New York is 1,191 per 100k people.
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The property crime rate in New York is 8,451 per 100k people.
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The safest city in New York is Highlands.
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New York is the 19th most dangerous state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Methodology | FAQs | References
New York has its fair share of dangerous cities.
You might think that most of the problems occur around New York City, but the most dangerous places in New York are spread evenly across the state.
This research aims to help you navigate these dangerous cities when deciding what city to call home. To determine the most dangerous places in New York, we used Saturday Night Science to review the FBI’s latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for the 188 cities with over 5,000 residents.
So grab a bagel, pizza, and a garbage plate, and learn more.
The Most Dangerous Cities In New York For 2025
What’s the most dangerous city in New York? The most dangerous city in New York is Herkimer.
If you want to know where the rest of the most dangerous places in New York are, look at the list below. Or head to the bottom for a complete list of crime everywhere in New York.
For more New York reading, check out:
- Most dangerous cities in the US
- Best Places To Live In New York
- Cheapest Places To Live In New York
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New York
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In New York For 2025
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Population: 7,218
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 1,191 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 8,451 (Most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Herkimer: Data
In the heart of New York, within Herkimer County, sits the small town of Herkimer. Despite its modest 7,218, this village ranks as the most dangerous place to live in the state for the year 2025. It holds the highest position in violent crimes with a staggering 1,191/100k violent crime rate.
With a property crime rate of 8,451/100k, Herkimer tops the charts in New York State.
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Population: 145,175
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 765 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,234 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 22
More on Syracuse: Data
Syracuse is home to The Great New York State Fair, but it’s also home to a whole lot of crime. Syracuse had the fifth highest violent crime rate in New York, with 22 murders in 2024.
On top of that, Syracuse experienced the third highest burglary rate in the state, so property crime is quite prevalent as well.
That being said, Syracuse is one of New York’s biggest cities, so if you stick to one of Syracuse’s safest neighborhoods, you should have nothing to worry about.
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Population: 273,728
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 706 (Sixth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,809 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 34
More on Buffalo: Data
The Bills may have never won a Super Bowl, but at least Buffalo gets the third place medal for…being extremely dangerous. Congratulations?
New York’s second-biggest city is especially bad when it comes to violent crime, with the sixth highest rate statewide. That translates into about 1 in 141 chance of being the victim of violence over the course of a year — not great.
Besides having the sixth highest murder rate in New York, Buffalo also shines in property crime, with the ninth highest burglary rate. It’s going to take a lot of Buffalo wings to get over these numbers.
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Population: 24,029
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 599 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,928 (Sixth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Watertown: Data
Located just 25 miles south of The Thousand Islands in Upstate New York, Watertown ranks as the fourth most dangerous city the state has to offer.
On the bright side, Watertown experienced zero murders in 2024. On the definitely not-bright side, the city also had the highest rate of rape in New York.
Watertown residents also had a 1 in 25 chance of being the victim of a property crime, so you’ll want to watch out for porch pirates here.
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Population: 26,130
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 547 (13th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,137 (Fourth most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Elmira: Data
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Population: 9,125
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 438 (20th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,536 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Ogdensburg: Data
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Population: 68,610
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 645 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,129 (21st most dangerous)
Murders: 7
More on Schenectady: Data
Located in eastern New York, near the Mohawk and Hudson rivers, is the city of Schenectady. Founded by Dutch colonists in the 17th century, it has a population of 68,610. It is currently ranked as the seventh most dangerous place to live in New York for 2025.
The city reported 443 violent crimes, including 7 murders and 69 robberies. Furthermore, there were 2,147 cases of property crime, including 275 burglaries. The high incidence of these crimes makes Schenectady one of the most dangerous places to live in New York.
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Population: 206,093
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 582 (12th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,289 (17th most dangerous)
Murders: 27
More on Rochester: Data
We continue the Upstate New York trend with Rochester, New York’s 4th biggest city. With 6,779 property crimes in 2024, residents of Rochester face a whopping 1 in 6,779 chance of having their stuff stolen or damaged.
On top of that, Rochester averages four violent crimes each day. That includes the state’s fifth highest murder rate.
At least residents can stop and smell the lilacs at Highland Park to, you know, get their minds off all the murder going on.
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Population: 46,378
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 532 (15th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,413 (15th most dangerous)
Murders: 3
More on Binghamton: Data
When people think about the mean streets of New York, they’re usually imagining New York City, not Binghamton. But it turns out there’s nowhere in The Empire State with meaner streets than Binghamton, where the overall crime rate is nearly twice as high as the national average.
How bad is it in Binghamton? Well, the city averages one violent crime each day and had the 11th highest burglary rate in the whole state for 2024. In other words, you can enjoy a day out at
Otsiningo Park, but you’d best be on your way home when the sun starts setting.
Binghamton is located just north of the Pennsylvania border, at the junction of I-81, I-86, and I-88.
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Population: 102,095
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 816 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,848 (27th most dangerous)
Murders: 9
More on Albany: Data
The capital of New York, Albany, ranks as the state’s tenth most dangerous place to live for 2024. Albany experienced 2,908 property crimes over the year, with more than one burglary every day and a car theft every other day, on average.
Additionally, Albany has the third highest violent crime rate in the state,with residents facing a 1 in 122 chance of being attacked in 2024. So make sure you buddy up if you’re going for a jog at Washington Park.
Crime By City In New York
| Rank | City | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herkimer | 7,218 | 9,642 | 1,191 | 8,451 | 1 |
| 2 | Syracuse | 145,175 | 4,999 | 765 | 4,234 | 22 |
| 3 | Buffalo | 273,728 | 4,515 | 706 | 3,809 | 34 |
| 4 | Watertown | 24,029 | 4,527 | 599 | 3,928 | 0 |
| 5 | Elmira | 26,130 | 4,684 | 547 | 4,137 | 1 |
| 6 | Ogdensburg | 9,125 | 4,975 | 438 | 4,536 | 0 |
| 7 | Schenectady | 68,610 | 3,774 | 645 | 3,129 | 7 |
| 8 | Rochester | 206,093 | 3,871 | 582 | 3,289 | 27 |
| 9 | Binghamton | 46,378 | 3,945 | 532 | 3,413 | 3 |
| 10 | Albany | 102,095 | 3,665 | 816 | 2,848 | 9 |
| 11 | Oneida | 10,021 | 3,871 | 399 | 3,472 | 0 |
| 12 | Olean | 13,564 | 4,135 | 346 | 3,789 | 0 |
| 13 | Johnson City | 14,748 | 4,319 | 325 | 3,993 | 0 |
| 14 | Utica | 63,098 | 3,477 | 527 | 2,949 | 5 |
| 15 | Oswego City | 17,058 | 3,892 | 340 | 3,552 | 1 |
| 16 | New York | 8,299,271 | 3,039 | 671 | 2,368 | 325 |
| 17 | Niagara Falls | 47,296 | 3,308 | 501 | 2,807 | 3 |
| 18 | Jamestown | 27,735 | 2,934 | 620 | 2,314 | 5 |
| 19 | Troy | 50,372 | 3,243 | 470 | 2,773 | 1 |
| 20 | Newburgh | 28,061 | 2,900 | 983 | 1,917 | 3 |
| 21 | Liberty | 5,167 | 2,709 | 793 | 1,916 | 0 |
| 22 | Newark | 8,931 | 2,911 | 369 | 2,541 | 1 |
| 23 | DeWitt | 25,054 | 3,759 | 211 | 3,548 | 0 |
| 24 | Spring Valley | 32,973 | 2,532 | 360 | 2,171 | 1 |
| 25 | Endicott | 13,072 | 3,182 | 290 | 2,891 | 0 |
| 26 | Watervliet | 10,108 | 2,483 | 356 | 2,127 | 1 |
| 27 | Geneva | 12,289 | 3,108 | 301 | 2,807 | 0 |
| 28 | Cheektowaga | 78,864 | 3,424 | 205 | 3,219 | 2 |
| 29 | Cortland | 17,197 | 3,180 | 226 | 2,954 | 0 |
| 30 | Poughkeepsie | 31,843 | 2,279 | 643 | 1,636 | 2 |
| 31 | Ithaca | 33,646 | 3,411 | 196 | 3,215 | 1 |
| 32 | Niagara | 7,671 | 3,780 | 156 | 3,624 | 0 |
| 33 | Pelham Manor | 5,482 | 3,903 | 145 | 3,757 | 0 |
| 34 | Batavia | 15,400 | 2,181 | 376 | 1,805 | 0 |
| 35 | Malone | 5,370 | 2,309 | 316 | 1,992 | 0 |
| 36 | Ilion | 7,533 | 2,402 | 292 | 2,110 | 0 |
| 37 | Gates | 28,603 | 3,122 | 157 | 2,964 | 0 |
| 38 | Mount Vernon | 70,390 | 2,003 | 544 | 1,459 | 2 |
| 39 | Port Jervis | 8,508 | 1,951 | 411 | 1,539 | 0 |
| 40 | Lackawanna | 19,484 | 1,955 | 395 | 1,560 | 1 |
| 41 | Kingston | 23,704 | 1,995 | 350 | 1,645 | 1 |
| 42 | Dunkirk | 12,348 | 2,194 | 275 | 1,919 | 0 |
| 43 | Rome | 31,577 | 2,292 | 237 | 2,055 | 0 |
| 44 | Corning | 10,621 | 2,542 | 160 | 2,382 | 0 |
| 45 | Colonie | 81,226 | 3,557 | 113 | 3,444 | 0 |
| 46 | Hudson | 5,750 | 1,895 | 330 | 1,565 | 0 |
| 47 | Salamanca | 5,735 | 1,778 | 383 | 1,394 | 0 |
| 48 | Seneca Falls | 8,788 | 2,958 | 125 | 2,833 | 0 |
| 49 | Massena | 10,028 | 2,303 | 149 | 2,153 | 1 |
| 50 | New Hartford and | 20,546 | 3,514 | 102 | 3,411 | 0 |
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in New York for 2025?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in New York. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in New York, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2024 data, specifically the 2024 Crime In The United States Report for New York.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered New York cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 188 cities in New York.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 188 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in New York — Herkimer. Any ties went to the smaller city.
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in New York and is updated for 2025.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In New York FAQs
No, New York is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #14 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in New York ranks 26th most dangerous in the United States — 1.63% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Empire State ranks 4most dangerous in the United States — 27.82% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
No, New York is not a dangerous city. New York ranks as the #154 safest out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though New York might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, Ardon Heights is the safest in New York, while Midtown is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in New York ranks 82nd highest in America — 34.44% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 204th highest in the United States — 21.53% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In New York
Summary: Locking It All Up In New York
So what is the most dangerous city in New York? After analyzing 188 cities in New York, Herkimer takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in New York based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2024.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Herkimer ranks as the most dangerous city in New York for 2025.
The most dangerous cities in New York are .
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Herkimer and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.
What’s the most dangerous city in New York? The most dangerous city in New York is Herkimer.
If you want to know where the rest of the most dangerous places in New York are, look at the list below. Or head to the bottom for a complete list of crime everywhere in New York.
Learn more about the safest places in New York.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in New York:
- Elmsford (Pop. 5,054)
- Marlborough (Pop. 8,826)
- Chester (Pop. 8,608)
- Kings Point (Pop. 5,626)
- Lewisboro (Pop. 11,836)
- Briarcliff Manor (Pop. 7,249)
- Woodstock (Pop. 6,208)
- Cornwall (Pop. 9,583)
- Shawangunk (Pop. 13,376)
- Highlands (Pop. 9,153)
For more New York reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In New York
- Cheapest Places To Live In New York
- Best Places To Raise A Family In New York
- Safest Places In New York According To Science
- Worst Places To Live In New York State
Herkimer is in HERKIMER County.D
You Messed it up. It says Batavia is 13th on the bottom list but it is not in the big list at all??