Safest Places to Live in New Jersey in 2026

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Rankings: 10 Safest Places in New Jersey

Matawan

How do you rate Matawan?

Matawan recorded zero violent crimes in the latest reporting year. Total crime is at 20 per 100,000 residents, around 99% lower than the New Jersey average, making it the safest city in New Jersey. Strong local policing and a tigh...

100/100

Safety Score

Why is Matawan safe?

Personal Safety : 100

Personal Safety: 100/100

based on following Violent Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Homicide

Rape

Robbery

Aggravated Assault

Kidnapping / Abduction

Property Safety : 100

Property Safety: 100/100

based on following Property Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Burglary

Larceny

Motor Vehicle Theft

100%

Arson

Theft From Building

Community Safety : 100

Community Safety: 100/100

based on following Other Offenses

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Simple Assault

Stolen Property Offenses

Vandalism

Weapon Law Violations

Drug / Narcotic Violations

Home Prices in Matawan

$488,700

Median Home Rent

$2,622

Homes for Sale in Matawan Link

(View 78 homes)

Long Branch

How do you rate Long Branch?

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...

99/100

Safety Score

Why is Long Branch safe?

Personal Safety : 100

Personal Safety: 100/100

based on following Violent Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Homicide

100%

Rape

100%

Robbery

100%

Aggravated Assault

100%

Kidnapping / Abduction

Property Safety : 97

Property Safety: 97/100

based on following Property Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Burglary

93.85%

Larceny

90.66%

Motor Vehicle Theft

91.43%

Arson

Theft From Building

Community Safety : 100

Community Safety: 100/100

based on following Other Offenses

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Simple Assault

Stolen Property Offenses

Vandalism

Weapon Law Violations

Drug / Narcotic Violations

Home Prices in Long Branch

$850,000

Median Home Rent

$3,750

Homes for Sale in Long Branch Link

(View 240 homes)

Vernon Township

How do you rate Vernon Township?

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...

96/100

Safety Score

Why is Vernon Township safe?

Personal Safety : 98

Personal Safety: 98/100

based on following Violent Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Homicide

Rape

Robbery

Aggravated Assault

Kidnapping / Abduction

Property Safety : 91

Property Safety: 91/100

based on following Property Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Burglary

Larceny

28.57%

Motor Vehicle Theft

66.67%

Arson

Theft From Building

33.33%

Community Safety : 93

Community Safety: 93/100

based on following Other Offenses

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Simple Assault

7.32%

Stolen Property Offenses

Vandalism

Weapon Law Violations

Drug / Narcotic Violations

50%

Home Prices in Vernon Township

$282,000

Median Home Rent

$2,400

Homes for Sale in Vernon Township Link

(View 44 homes)

Sparta Township

How do you rate Sparta Township?

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...

91/100

Safety Score

Why is Sparta Township safe?

Personal Safety : 92

Personal Safety: 92/100

based on following Violent Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Homicide

Rape

Robbery

Aggravated Assault

42.86%

Kidnapping / Abduction

Property Safety : 85

Property Safety: 85/100

based on following Property Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Burglary

50%

Larceny

55.14%

Motor Vehicle Theft

Arson

Theft From Building

100%

Community Safety : 92

Community Safety: 92/100

based on following Other Offenses

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Simple Assault

58.7%

Stolen Property Offenses

Vandalism

44.44%

Weapon Law Violations

50%

Drug / Narcotic Violations

800%

Home Prices in Sparta Township

$947,000

Median Home Rent

$3,500

Homes for Sale in Sparta Township Link

(View 20 homes)

Hopatcong

How do you rate Hopatcong?

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...

85/100

Safety Score

Why is Hopatcong safe?

Personal Safety : 74

Personal Safety: 74/100

based on following Violent Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Homicide

Rape

Robbery

Aggravated Assault

33.33%

Kidnapping / Abduction

100%

Property Safety : 91

Property Safety: 91/100

based on following Property Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Burglary

Larceny

23.81%

Motor Vehicle Theft

Arson

Theft From Building

Community Safety : 88

Community Safety: 88/100

based on following Other Offenses

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Simple Assault

18.75%

Stolen Property Offenses

Vandalism

100%

Weapon Law Violations

200%

Drug / Narcotic Violations

Home Prices in Hopatcong

$480,000

Median Home Rent

$2,500

Homes for Sale in Hopatcong Link

(View 16 homes)

Middlesex

How do you rate Middlesex?

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...

85/100

Safety Score

Why is Middlesex safe?

Personal Safety : 98

Personal Safety: 98/100

based on following Violent Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Homicide

Rape

Robbery

100%

Aggravated Assault

200%

Kidnapping / Abduction

Property Safety : 56

Property Safety: 56/100

based on following Property Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Burglary

16.67%

Larceny

45.95%

Motor Vehicle Theft

60%

Arson

100%

Theft From Building

66.67%

Community Safety : 82

Community Safety: 82/100

based on following Other Offenses

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Simple Assault

Stolen Property Offenses

300%

Vandalism

15%

Weapon Law Violations

100%

Drug / Narcotic Violations

100%

Home Prices in Middlesex

$560,000

Median Home Rent

$2,500

Homes for Sale in Middlesex Link

(View 2,258 homes)

Princeton

How do you rate Princeton?

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...

82/100

Safety Score

Why is Princeton safe?

Personal Safety : 83

Personal Safety: 83/100

based on following Violent Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Homicide

100%

Rape

100%

Robbery

40%

Aggravated Assault

30%

Kidnapping / Abduction

Property Safety : 69

Property Safety: 69/100

based on following Property Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Burglary

52%

Larceny

150

23.08%

Motor Vehicle Theft

500%

Arson

Theft From Building

3.57%

Community Safety : 88

Community Safety: 88/100

based on following Other Offenses

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Simple Assault

7.32%

Stolen Property Offenses

Vandalism

Weapon Law Violations

50%

Drug / Narcotic Violations

66.67%

Home Prices in Princeton

$1,080,000

Median Home Rent

$3,445

Homes for Sale in Princeton Link

(View 377 homes)

Fort Lee

How do you rate Fort Lee?

78/100

Safety Score

Why is Fort Lee safe?

Personal Safety : 83

Personal Safety: 83/100

based on following Violent Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Homicide

Rape

Robbery

50%

Aggravated Assault

6.06%

Kidnapping / Abduction

100%

Property Safety : 59

Property Safety: 59/100

based on following Property Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Burglary

48.39%

Larceny

311

3.72%

Motor Vehicle Theft

32.79%

Arson

100%

Theft From Building

8.42%

Community Safety : 86

Community Safety: 86/100

based on following Other Offenses

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Simple Assault

44.03%

Stolen Property Offenses

60%

Vandalism

65.62%

Weapon Law Violations

42.86%

Drug / Narcotic Violations

Home Prices in Fort Lee

$390,000

Median Home Rent

$2,795

Homes for Sale in Fort Lee Link

(View 255 homes)

Freehold

How do you rate Freehold?

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...

72/100

Safety Score

Why is Freehold safe?

Personal Safety : 64

Personal Safety: 64/100

based on following Violent Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Homicide

100%

Rape

100%

Robbery

55.56%

Aggravated Assault

29.17%

Kidnapping / Abduction

Property Safety : 82

Property Safety: 82/100

based on following Property Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Burglary

31.25%

Larceny

101

21.71%

Motor Vehicle Theft

58.33%

Arson

Theft From Building

Community Safety : 49

Community Safety: 49/100

based on following Other Offenses

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Simple Assault

14.63%

Stolen Property Offenses

14.29%

Vandalism

11.69%

Weapon Law Violations

33.33%

Drug / Narcotic Violations

700%

Home Prices in Freehold

$489,000

Median Home Rent

$2,750

Homes for Sale in Freehold Link

(View 262 homes)

#10

Hoboken

How do you rate Hoboken?

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...

64/100

Safety Score

Why is Hoboken safe?

Personal Safety : 69

Personal Safety: 69/100

based on following Violent Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Homicide

Rape

Robbery

5.56%

Aggravated Assault

15.71%

Kidnapping / Abduction

Property Safety : 46

Property Safety: 46/100

based on following Property Crimes

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Burglary

115

69.12%

Larceny

668

25.28%

Motor Vehicle Theft

38.33%

Arson

100%

Theft From Building

117

41.21%

Community Safety : 70

Community Safety: 70/100

based on following Other Offenses

Crime Type

Incidents

YoY Change (%)

Simple Assault

140

28.21%

Stolen Property Offenses

57.14%

Vandalism

48.21%

Weapon Law Violations

174.07%

Drug / Narcotic Violations

120

79.1%

Home Prices in Hoboken

$895,000

Median Home Rent

$3,975

Homes for Sale in Hoboken Link

(View 259 homes)

Your New Home is Waiting for You in New Jersey

Top 3 Safest Places to Retire in New Jersey

Top 3 Safest Places to Live in New Jersey for Families

Madison - Violent crime runs 17 times below the New Jersey average. Furthermore, the total crime rate in the city has dropped by 25% year over year. The school district has good performance and sits in the top 10% statewide. Meanwhile, Morristown Medical Center covers pediatric and specialist needs eight miles out, close enough that routine appointments don't become half-day drives. The Morris & Essex Line handles the New York City commute. School pickup, groceries, and after-school stops sit within the same walkable radius, working parents here aren't running two separate logistical systems on a weekday. The layout is compact enough that older kids move through it independently; that's a practical reality here, not just a selling point.
Ridgewood - Orchard Elementary ranks 13th out of over 1,300 elementary schools statewide. Ridgewood High graduates 91% of students in four years. Bergen County's extracurricular and youth sports infrastructure extends well beyond what Ridgewood covers on its own. Families relocating from smaller counties notice the difference quickly; the options aren't just local, they're distributed across a dense network of neighboring towns. Van Nest Square Park, a walkable downtown, and a direct NJ Transit rail connection into New York City hold the daily infrastructure together. Lastly, the violent crime rate is at 30 per 100,000 residents, with the total crime rate 65.9% below the national average, making Ridgewood one of the safest towns in New Jersey.
Westfield - Couples with young kids leaving Hoboken, Jersey City, and Manhattan consistently land in Westfield. Mindowaskin Park sits at the center of town, where families actually gather rather than driving to a scheduled activity. High schools are supported by a strong extracurricular structure covering youth sports, arts, and community programs that remain active year-round. Violent crime runs 13 times below the New Jersey average, safer than 80% of cities statewide and 91% across the US. NJ Transit connects directly to New York City, keeping the commute workable for families who moved out but kept their jobs in.

Top 3 Safest Places to Live in New Jersey for Young Adults

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Ranking Methodology

To determine the safest places to live, we applied a structured, data-driven methodology using verified crime and public safety datasets. Our analysis incorporates violent crime rates and property crime rates (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program), local law enforcement staffing levels, community safety investment scores, and resident-reported safety data. Each factor was normalized against the Florida state average to control for population size and regional differences. The combined metrics were then weighted and aggregated to produce a final Safety Score out of 100, highlighting cities where crime rates are significantly below the state baseline and community safety infrastructure is strongest.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the New Jersey crime rate compared to the rest of the country?

Crime statistics in New Jersey show that the Garden State's total crime rate is around 22% lower than the national average. That is 1,645 crimes per 100,000 people compared to the national figure of 2,119 per 100,000. Even violent crimes and property crimes are close to 39% and 19% lower, respectively.

What is the safest area on the Jersey Shore?

Long Branch leads among shore towns, with violent crime nearly 50% below the national average. For other safe neighborhoods in NJ, you can also consider Beachwood as your next secure destination. Meanwhile, the safest place to live in New Jersey is Matawan.

What to consider when choosing a safe place to live in NJ?

Before deciding on a safe place in NJ to live, you need to understand how is safety measured for rankings of the safest cities. Rankings are built on uniform crime reporting data, which tracks violent and property crimes. Year-over-year crime trends are also factored in. Hence, when choosing a city, considering the crime rate is important. However, you also need to consider population size, type of neighborhoods, industry presence, and healthcare facilities.

How is safety measured for rankings of the safest cities in New Jersey?

Rankings are built on uniform crime reporting data. This tracks violent crimes and property crimes. Rates are expressed per 1,000 or per 100,000 residents to allow fair comparison across cities of different sizes. Year-over-year trend direction also factors in; a city with falling crime scores is treated differently than one holding flat.

What are the most dangerous cities in NJ?

Camden, Atlantic City, and Newark post the highest crime rates in the state. Violent crime in Camden runs well above both state and national averages. Atlantic City sees high incident counts driven by year-round visitor volume. Meanwhile, Trenton logs over 10 violent incidents per 1,000 residents, which is why the New Jersey crime rate by city looks so uneven.

How to buy a house in New Jersey in a safe area?

To understand how to buy a house in New Jersey, compare crime rates and home prices in cities like Madison and Ridgewood. Secure financing, select a safe area, and review property details before closing.

Which cities are considered the cheapest in New Jersey?

Popular affordable options often include Camden, Trenton, and Vineland, which offer a balance of budget-friendly living, local amenities, and community appeal. You can explore a full list of cheapest places to live in New Jersey to find the best options that fit your lifestyle and budget.

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