Is Melrose, Bronx Safe? Crime Rate & NYPD Data (2026)
Melrose has a lower crime rate per resident than 5% of Bronx neighborhoods, or 152 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Bronx. DwellCheck rates it "High Activity Area" — among the highest activity areas — from 6,482 NYPD complaint records and 7 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are down 13.7% year-over-year. Safety varies block by block, so read this as neighborhood context rather than a verdict on any single street.
Over the same 12 months, 311 logged 7,930 quality-of-life complaints in Melrose. Melrose is considered a high-activity area, with a lower crime rate per resident than 5% of Bronx neighborhoods. Incidents are trending down with 6,482 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
Data covers June 2025 – June 2026 (12 months) · Source: NYPD Complaint, Shooting & Arrest Data and NYC 311 via NYC Open Data · Updated September 14, 2026
What Is the Crime Rate in Melrose?
Melrose recorded 6,482 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (42,651 residents) that is 152 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 5% of Bronx neighborhoods. Of those, 2,021 were felonies and 750 were violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery or felony assault). Crimes are counted where they were reported, so commercial and nightlife blocks push the rate up in districts with few residents.
Melrose Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
6,482
Past 12 months · 152 per 1,000 residents
Shooting Incidents
7
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
750
Murder, rape, robbery, felony assault
Year-over-Year Trend
↓ 13.7%
13.7% fewer incidents
* Borough rate: the borough's count per resident across the neighborhoods we track, applied to this neighborhood's 42,651 residents (2020 Census).
Most Common Crimes in Melrose
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| harrassment 2 | 1,005 | 15.5% |
| petit larceny | 971 | 15.0% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 747 | 11.5% |
| other offenses related to theft | 539 | 8.3% |
| felony assault | 489 | 7.5% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 382 | 5.9% |
| grand larceny | 363 | 5.6% |
| dangerous drugs | 348 | 5.4% |
Severity Distribution
Where Crimes Occur
Quality of Life Indicators
311 complaints reveal patterns about daily quality of life that crime statistics alone do not capture. These are resident-reported issues from the past 12 months. Rates use the 2020 Census population (42,651 residents). Labels compare each rate with the other NYC neighborhoods we track: Low is the bottom quarter, Moderate the middle half, High the next 15%, and Very High the top 10%.
Noise Complaints
4,035
94.6 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Rodent Reports
109
2.6 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
385
9.0 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
3,401
79.7 per 1,000 residents
High
Arrest Activity
Arrest data reflects law enforcement activity in the area. High arrest counts relative to crime can indicate active policing; low counts may reflect under-enforcement or lower crime.
Total Arrests
4,215
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
1,722
41% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
2,478
59% of total
How Safe Is Melrose Compared to Other Bronx Neighborhoods?
Bronx Neighborhood Safety Comparison
| Neighborhood | Crime Incidents | Per 1,000 Residents | Shootings | Verdict | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverdale | 1,491 | 31.1 | 2 | Much Safer Than Average | 100% |
| Parkchester | 1,227 | 36.5 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 95% |
| Pelham Bay | 1,288 | 43.7 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 90% |
| Co-op City | 1,668 | 44.6 | 2 | Much Safer Than Average | 86% |
| Throgs Neck | 2,611 | 54.3 | 3 | Safer Than Average | 81% |
| Castle Hill | 2,630 | 63.5 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 76% |
| Norwood | 2,884 | 66.4 | 4 | Safer Than Average | 71% |
| Soundview | 7,571 | 67.8 | 24 | Higher Than Average | 67% |
| Morris Park | 1,704 | 68 | 2 | Safer Than Average | 62% |
| Kingsbridge | 3,996 | 68.2 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 57% |
| Pelham Parkway | 2,257 | 69.6 | 2 | Average | 52% |
| Eastchester | 3,814 | 73.7 | 7 | Higher Than Average | 48% |
| University Heights | 7,496 | 74.1 | 18 | Higher Than Average | 43% |
| Bedford Park | 4,117 | 74.2 | 3 | Higher Than Average | 38% |
| Highbridge | 2,533 | 78 | 4 | Higher Than Average | 33% |
| Concourse | 6,624 | 95.5 | 16 | Higher Than Average | 29% |
| Belmont | 3,529 | 98.5 | 12 | Much Higher Than Average | 24% |
| Mount Eden | 10,679 | 108.1 | 20 | Much Higher Than Average | 19% |
| Fordham | 3,655 | 113.9 | 5 | Much Higher Than Average | 14% |
| Mott Haven | 7,373 | 127.7 | 16 | Much Higher Than Average | 10% |
| Melrose (this page) | 6,482 | 152 | 7 | High Activity Area | 5% |
| Hunts Point | 3,533 | 233.5 | 3 | High Activity Area | 0% |
Understanding This Data
All crime statistics on this page come from NYPD Complaint Data, Shooting Incident Data and Arrest Data published on NYC Open Data, refreshed periodically. Incidents are mapped to neighborhood boundaries using the NYC Department of City Planning Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (NTAs) — the same geographic units used in official census reporting. Each safety score reflects the cumulative activity within the NTA boundaries assigned to Melrose.
NTA boundaries are drawn to maintain population comparability across census tracts, which means they may not perfectly align with what residents consider their "neighborhood." In some cases, a single NTA spans areas with different character. The percentile ranking compares Melrose's reported crimes per resident (its NTAs' 2020 Census population, 42,651) only against the other neighborhoods we track in Bronx, so it is borough-relative rather than city-wide. Crimes are counted where they were reported, so commercial and nightlife districts with few residents rank high. The borough averages on this page apply the borough's crimes per resident to Melrose's population.
Safety conditions vary significantly block by block. Neighborhood-level statistics provide important context but should not substitute for address-level research. Use DwellCheck to analyze a specific address and understand the precise safety environment within walking distance of where you plan to live.
Frequently Asked Questions about Melrose Safety
Is Melrose safe?
Melrose has a lower crime rate per resident than 5% of Bronx neighborhoods, or 152 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Bronx. DwellCheck rates it "High Activity Area" — among the highest activity areas — from 6,482 NYPD complaint records and 7 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are down 13.7% year-over-year. Safety varies block by block, so read this as neighborhood context rather than a verdict on any single street.
What is the crime rate in Melrose?
Melrose recorded 6,482 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (42,651 residents) that is 152 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 5% of Bronx neighborhoods. Of those, 2,021 were felonies and 750 were violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery or felony assault). Crimes are counted where they were reported, so commercial and nightlife blocks push the rate up in districts with few residents.
What are the most common crimes in Melrose?
The most common crimes in Melrose are: 1. HARRASSMENT 2 (1,005 incidents, 15.5% of total); 2. PETIT LARCENY (971 incidents, 15% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (747 incidents, 11.5% of total).
Is Melrose safer than the Bronx average?
Melrose has a lower crime rate per resident than 5% of Bronx neighborhoods. It had 88% more incidents than the borough average (6,482 vs. a borough average of 3,452 for a neighborhood of the same population, 42,651 residents in the 2020 Census). That is 152 reported crimes per 1,000 residents.
How has crime changed in Melrose?
Crime in Melrose has improved by 13.7% year-over-year, dropping from 7,508 to 6,482 incidents. The trend is classified as "improving."
What do 311 complaints say about Melrose?
Over the past 12 months, 311 recorded 4,035 noise complaints (moderate per resident), 109 rodent complaints (moderate) and 385 sanitation complaints (moderate). Each label compares the rate per resident (2020 Census) with the other NYC neighborhoods we track. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Melrose safe at night?
Night safety in Melrose varies by block. About 27.8% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Melrose recorded 7 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Melrose safe for families?
For families considering Melrose: the neighborhood recorded 4,035 noise complaints (moderate per resident among the NYC neighborhoods we track) and 109 rodent reports. It has a lower crime rate per resident than 5% of Bronx neighborhoods. Family-friendliness also depends on schools, parks, and building quality — use DwellCheck to evaluate a specific address.
What is the safest neighborhood in Bronx?
Safety varies across Bronx neighborhoods. Melrose has a lower crime rate per resident than 5% of Bronx neighborhoods, with 6,482 incidents. Compare all Bronx neighborhoods in the comparison table above to see each one's crimes per 1,000 residents, shootings, and borough percentile. Crime data is NYPD Complaint Data via NYC Open Data.
Can you walk around Melrose at night?
Melrose is classified as "High Activity Area" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 7 shooting incidents and 6,482 total crime incidents — 88% more incidents than the borough average. Walking at night carries the same risk profile as anywhere in NYC: stay on commercial corridors with foot traffic, avoid empty side streets after midnight, and prefer subway lines that run 24/7.
Is Melrose dangerous?
By NYPD data, Melrose is rated "High Activity Area", with a lower crime rate per resident than 5% of Bronx neighborhoods. 6,482 crime incidents over 12 months, improved by 13.7% year-over-year, dropping from 7,508 to 6,482 incidents. Block-level risk varies; check our address-level safety score for any specific street or building, which counts NYPD complaints within a 300-meter radius.
What parts of Melrose should I avoid?
NYPD complaint records carry approximate incident coordinates, but a neighborhood total can't tell you which blocks drive it, so we don't publish an "avoid this street" list. For a specific block, use DwellCheck's address-level safety score, which counts NYPD complaint records within a 300m radius of a specific building. As a general rule across all NYC neighborhoods: industrial blocks with no foot traffic are higher-risk than residential blocks; subway-station-adjacent commercial corridors are lowest-risk.
Is Melrose a good place to live?
Melrose is considered a high-activity area, with a lower crime rate per resident than 5% of Bronx neighborhoods. Incidents are trending down with 6,482 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months. Whether it's a good fit depends on what you weight: families, solo renters, and remote workers prioritize different factors (noise, transit access, parks, building quality). Use DwellCheck's full livability page for Melrose to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Melrose
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Melrose.
Search an Address in MelroseCompare Melrose with Nearby Bronx Crime Rates
The Bronx neighborhoods whose crime rate per resident is closest to Melrose's.