The two crime numbers pull in different directions. Property crime, at 2,029 per 100k, sits 4% above the national 1,954, close to typical. Violent crime is the outlier: 562 per 100k, 48% above the U.S. average, and up 97.4% in 2024, which SafeNest classifies as worsening. That combination places Jersey City in the 9th percentile of the 13,216 jurisdictions SafeNest grades. Schools show the same spread. The 4.9/10 average across 52 rated schools contains Dr Ronald McNair High School at 9.5/10, and high schools at 5.8/10 against elementary schools at 4.7/10. For a buyer, the practical reading is that the city average settles very little. It describes reported crime across all of Jersey City, not the street you are considering, and the flood declarations, eight for New Jersey between 1962 and 1992, are state-level, not a parcel determination.
Crime in Jersey City vs. the national average
Jersey City reports 562 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 48% above the U.S. average of 381, and 2,029 property crimes per 100k versus a national 1,954 (4% above). In the most recent FBI reporting year (2024), the violent crime rate rose 97.4% year over year, a pattern SafeNest classifies as worsening. Single-year swings of this size can also reflect changes in how agencies report crime data, not only changes on the ground.
| Jersey City | US average | |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crime (per 100k) | 562 | 381 |
| Property crime (per 100k) | 2029 | 1954 |
City-wide averages hide block-by-block variation — the safest and least safe neighborhoods in Jersey City can differ dramatically. For a specific address, a SafeNest report covers it directly — or search free in the iPhone app.
Flood & natural hazard risk
Federal disaster records for New Jersey — the state SafeNest uses for Jersey City's flood context — list 8 FEMA flood disaster declarations between 1962 and 1992, most recently "Coastal Storm, High Tides, Heavy Rain, & Flooding". New Jersey has also seen 14 hurricane or tropical-storm declarations, events that frequently drive flooding. These are state-level federal declarations, not a parcel-level flood-zone determination — a specific Jersey City address may sit inside or well outside a FEMA flood zone, which SafeNest does not determine; check FEMA's flood maps and flood-insurance requirements for that address.
Schools in Jersey City
Public schools in Jersey City average 4.9/10 on the SafeNest School Score across 52 rated schools. By level, high schools rate strongest at 5.8/10 on average, while elementary schools average 4.7/10. The highest-scoring is Dr Ronald McNair High School at 9.5/10.
Registered offenders
Registered-offender data is meaningful only at the address level, so SafeNest does not publish a city-wide figure for Jersey City: a single citywide number would blend blocks with very different profiles and mislead more than it informs. Registered offender counts by distance band for any specific Jersey City address are included in a SafeNest report, drawn directly from the state's public registry. The iPhone app shows that count free for any address, and maps each registrant with Premium.
Check a specific Jersey City address
City averages are a starting point. A SafeNest report covers one specific address — crime, registered offender counts, flood and disaster history, schools, air quality, taxes — delivered by email as a PDF for $6.99.
Or search any Jersey City address free in the iPhone app.
Common questions about safety in Jersey City
Is Jersey City, NJ safe?
Jersey City records 562 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 48% above the US national average of 381. Overall SafeNest grade: C, a city-wide average of reported crime. It does not describe a specific street or address.
What is the crime rate in Jersey City?
Jersey City reports approximately 562 violent crimes and 2029 property crimes per 100,000 residents in 2024, the most recent FBI reporting year in our data.
Does Jersey City have flood risk?
SafeNest reports federal disaster declaration history for the area. For Jersey City, federal records show 8 FEMA flood disaster declarations for New Jersey, most recently in 1992; a specific address may still sit inside or outside a FEMA flood zone, which SafeNest does not determine — check FEMA's flood maps for that address.
How this page was built
Every figure here comes from the same public records behind SafeNest's grading. We published the full method and what it does and doesn't support in We graded 13,216 American cities with FBI data — including where a letter grade means almost nothing. City comparisons: safest cities in New Jersey.
Other city safety reports
Data compiled from public sources including FBI crime statistics, FEMA disaster declarations and the FEMA National Risk Index, NCES education data, and state registries. Last updated 2026-08-17. Figures are city-level estimates; verify with primary sources before making decisions. SafeNest is not a consumer reporting agency (see Terms).