The split in these numbers matters more than the grade. Property crime, at 1,957 per 100k, sits even with the national 1,954; violent crime, at 581, runs 52% above the 381 average. Newark's gap is concentrated in one category, not spread across everything — and it widened, with violent crime up 18.8% in the 2024 FBI reporting year, a pattern SafeNest classifies as worsening. The city ranks in the 9th percentile of 13,216 graded jurisdictions. Schools invert the usual path: elementary schools average 3.0/10 against 4.7 for high schools, and The Gray Charter School reaches 9.3, so the outcome depends on which school, not which city. Flood context is state-level: New Jersey's 8 FEMA flood declarations and 14 hurricane or tropical-storm declarations say nothing about whether one parcel sits in a flood zone. These are city-wide averages, and the safest and least safe blocks in Newark differ dramatically.
Crime in Newark vs. the national average
Newark reports 581 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 52% above the U.S. average of 381, and 1,957 property crimes per 100k versus a national 1,954 (0% even with). In the most recent FBI reporting year (2024), the violent crime rate rose 18.8% year over year, a pattern SafeNest classifies as worsening.
| Newark | US average | |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crime (per 100k) | 581 | 381 |
| Property crime (per 100k) | 1957 | 1954 |
City-wide averages hide block-by-block variation — the safest and least safe neighborhoods in Newark 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 Newark'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 Newark 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 Newark
Public schools in Newark average 3.4/10 on the SafeNest School Score across 79 rated schools. By level, high schools rate strongest at 4.7/10 on average, while elementary schools average 3.0/10. The highest-scoring is The Gray Charter School at 9.3/10.
Registered offenders
Registered-offender data is meaningful only at the address level, so SafeNest does not publish a city-wide figure for Newark: 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 Newark 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 Newark 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 Newark address free in the iPhone app.
Common questions about safety in Newark
Is Newark, NJ safe?
Newark records 581 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, 52% 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 Newark?
Newark reports approximately 581 violent crimes and 1957 property crimes per 100,000 residents in 2024, the most recent FBI reporting year in our data.
Does Newark have flood risk?
SafeNest reports federal disaster declaration history for the area. For Newark, 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).