Safest Places to Live in New Jersey
While New Jersey's violent crime rate is 2.64 incidents per 1,000 people, 63% of Garden State residents worry about violent crime daily. Whether it's a brownstone in Princeton or a beachfront house in Long Branch, New Jerseyans are spending more on home alarms than boardwalk fries. If you want all the boardwalk fun without watching over your shoulder, check out Houzeo's safest cities in New Jersey.
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FAQsRankings: 9 Safest Places in New Jersey
Vernon Township reports near-zero violent crime. Property crime sits at 1.5 per 1,000 residents, one of the lowest rates in New Jersey. A rural layout, limited commercial zones, and consistent police presence keep the entire township stable year-round. No high-incident pockets exist here. Retirees and families who are exploring the safest places to live in New Jersey with low population density and quiet neighborhoods can consider Vernon as one of the options.
Vernon Township reports near-zero violent crime. Property crime sits at 1.5 per 1,000 residents, one of the lowest rates in New Jersey. A rural layout, limited commercial zones, and consistent police presence keep the entire towns...
Personal Safety : 99
Property Safety : 98
Community Safety : 94
Median Home Price
$229,000
Median Home Rent
$2,400
Sparta Township is one of the safest places to live in NJ. It has a violent crime rate of 0.2 per 1,000 residents. Property crime stands at 4.4 per 1,000 people. Higher household incomes and community policing sustain stability across all neighborhoods. Families and professionals who want scenic lake-centered living without compromising on safety will find a strong match here.
Sparta Township is one of the safest places to live in NJ. It has a violent crime rate of 0.2 per 1,000 residents. Property crime stands at 4.4 per 1,000 people. Higher household incomes and community policing sustain stability ac...
Personal Safety : 94
Property Safety : 90
Community Safety : 94
Median Home Price
$875,000
Median Home Rent
$3,500
Middlesex Borough, a small residential community in Middlesex County's Raritan Valley region, reports a violent crime rate near zero per 1,000 residents. The borough's compact 3.5-square-mile footprint and low-density residential streets support consistent police coverage across the whole town. Middlesex offers a quieter, small-town setting with easy access to Route 28 and nearby Bound Brook. Its low crime profile and manageable size make it a practical choice for families and first-time buyers looking for stability outside the state's larger metro areas.
Middlesex Borough, a small residential community in Middlesex County's Raritan Valley region, reports a violent crime rate near zero per 1,000 residents. The borough's compact 3.5-square-mile footprint and low-density residential ...
Personal Safety : 98
Property Safety : 70
Community Safety : 90
$566,000
Median Home Rent
$2,500
Total crime runs nearly 64% below the national average, with violent crime 86.5% lower. Princeton University supports a stable, well-resourced community with strong institutional infrastructure. Most property crime occurs in the busy downtown area; while residential areas away from Nassau Street stay calmer. Academics, professionals, and families find a compelling mix of intellectual culture and genuine public safety here.
Total crime runs nearly 64% below the national average, with violent crime 86.5% lower. Princeton University supports a stable, well-resourced community with strong institutional infrastructure. Most property crime occurs in the b...
Personal Safety : 88
Property Safety : 88
Community Safety : 90
$1,080,000
Median Home Rent
$3,445
Hopatcong reports a total crime rate of 251 per 100,000 residents, which is about 85% lower than the U.S. average. Violent crime remains low, and residential areas around Lake Hopatcong see stable conditions with no major high-crime pockets. The borough offers a quieter, low-density setting with relatively affordable housing, making it a practical choice for buyers prioritizing consistent safety.
Hopatcong reports a total crime rate of 251 per 100,000 residents, which is about 85% lower than the U.S. average. Violent crime remains low, and residential areas around Lake Hopatcong see stable conditions with no major high-cri...
Personal Safety : 80
Property Safety : 94
Community Safety : 90
$480,000
Median Home Rent
$2,500
Fort Lee logs total crime 35% below the national average, with violent crime 58% lower than national levels. The city sits directly at the George Washington Bridge, giving residents unmatched access to NYC. Police maintain consistent patrols across high-density residential towers and commercial corridors. Low violent crime across all neighborhoods makes it a reliable choice for professionals and commuters who want urban convenience close to the city.
Fort Lee logs total crime 35% below the national average, with violent crime 58% lower than national levels. The city sits directly at the George Washington Bridge, giving residents unmatched access to NYC. Police maintain consist...
Personal Safety : 87
Property Safety : 77
Community Safety : 88
$390,000
Median Home Rent
$2,795
Freehold records violent crime roughly 30% below the national average, with overall crime trending in a positive direction. Police run active patrols across downtown and residential corridors. Neighborhoods away from Route 9 report lower incident rates. The town offers a walkable downtown, strong community character, and housing costs well below the state median. Families and first-time buyers get genuine affordability backed by an improving safety record.
Freehold records violent crime roughly 30% below the national average, with overall crime trending in a positive direction. Police run active patrols across downtown and residential corridors. Neighborhoods away from Route 9 repor...
Personal Safety : 67
Property Safety : 80
Community Safety : 63
$489,000
Median Home Rent
$2,750
Hoboken's total crime rate runs 27% below the national average, with violent crime 58% lower than national levels. The city's walkable layout and active police presence support consistent safety across all neighborhoods. Uptown residential areas report particularly low incident rates year-round. Direct rail access puts Manhattan minutes away. Young professionals get a genuine urban lifestyle with safety numbers that hold up against most comparable metro cities.
Hoboken's total crime rate runs 27% below the national average, with violent crime 58% lower than national levels. The city's walkable layout and active police presence support consistent safety across all neighborhoods. Uptown re...
Personal Safety : 76
Property Safety : 70
Community Safety : 74
$895,000
Median Home Rent
$3,975
Long Branch runs total crime about 33% below the national average, with violent crime nearly 50% lower. Coastal redevelopment has improved visibility along the beachfront and commercial corridors. West End and northern neighborhoods consistently log the fewest incidents. Downtown and beach-zone areas see slightly more property crime. Renters and young professionals get shore access backed by crime numbers better-than-average safety for a coastal city.
Long Branch runs total crime about 33% below the national average, with violent crime nearly 50% lower. Coastal redevelopment has improved visibility along the beachfront and commercial corridors. West End and northern neighborhoo...
Personal Safety : N/A
Property Safety : N/A
Community Safety : N/A
$850,000
Median Home Rent
$3,750
Transparent & data-driven
How We Ranked the Safest Cities
Each city is scored against the national average across three weighted categories, built entirely from FBI NIBRS crime data spanning 18 offense categories. Every metric is converted to a per-capita rate and a common 0–100 scale, so no single offense can dominate — and a city served by a non-reporting agency is never treated as crime-free.
Scoring weights
- Personal Safety50%
Homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, kidnapping & human trafficking vs. the national rate.
- Property Security30%
Burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson & theft from buildings or vehicles vs. the national rate.
- Community Order20%
Simple assault, sex offenses, stolen property, vandalism, weapon & drug violations — the tiebreaker.
Our data source
Recalculated as each new annual NIBRS reporting year is released · agency-to-city mappings refresh quarterly.
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Top 3 Safest Places to Retire in New Jersey
Top 3 Safest Places to Live in New Jersey for Families
Top 3 Safest Places to Live in New Jersey for Young Adults
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