Is Crown Heights, Brooklyn Safe? Crime Rate & NYPD Data (2026)
Crown Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 22% of Brooklyn neighborhoods, or 72.9 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Brooklyn. DwellCheck rates it "Much Higher Than Average" — significantly above average — from 9,905 NYPD complaint records and 22 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are up 6% 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 27,515 quality-of-life complaints in Crown Heights. Crown Heights is considered much higher than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 22% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Incidents are trending up with 9,905 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 Crown Heights?
Crown Heights recorded 9,905 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (135,865 residents) that is 72.9 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 22% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Of those, 2,955 were felonies and 952 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.
Crown Heights Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
9,905
Past 12 months · 72.9 per 1,000 residents
Shooting Incidents
22
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
952
Murder, rape, robbery, felony assault
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 6%
6% more incidents
* Borough rate: the borough's count per resident across the neighborhoods we track, applied to this neighborhood's 135,865 residents (2020 Census).
Most Common Crimes in Crown Heights
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| harrassment 2 | 1,703 | 17.2% |
| petit larceny | 1,284 | 13.0% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 1,053 | 10.6% |
| felony assault | 670 | 6.8% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 564 | 5.7% |
| grand larceny | 548 | 5.5% |
| miscellaneous penal law | 396 | 4.0% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 366 | 3.7% |
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 (135,865 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
14,391
105.9 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Rodent Reports
944
6.9 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Sanitation Issues
1,632
12.0 per 1,000 residents
High
Heat/Hot Water
10,548
77.6 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
5,420
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
2,191
40% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
2,917
54% of total
How Safe Is Crown Heights Compared to Other Brooklyn Neighborhoods?
Brooklyn Neighborhood Safety Comparison
| Neighborhood | Crime Incidents | Per 1,000 Residents | Shootings | Verdict | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Borough Park | 1,399 | 14.9 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 100% |
| Windsor Terrace | 384 | 16.3 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 97% |
| Kensington | 1,048 | 25.1 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 94% |
| Dyker Heights | 1,206 | 25.8 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 92% |
| Midwood | 1,489 | 28.2 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 89% |
| Bensonhurst | 3,309 | 31.5 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 86% |
| Gravesend | 4,874 | 33.9 | 6 | Higher Than Average | 83% |
| Prospect Heights | 816 | 34.7 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 81% |
| Sheepshead Bay | 2,435 | 35.2 | 7 | Higher Than Average | 78% |
| Brooklyn Heights | 909 | 36.2 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 75% |
| Bay Ridge | 3,279 | 37.8 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 72% |
| Ditmas Park | 1,633 | 38 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 69% |
| Marine Park | 1,875 | 39.9 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 67% |
| Clinton Hill | 1,149 | 40.1 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 64% |
| Brighton Beach | 1,400 | 41.7 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 61% |
| Greenpoint | 1,714 | 44 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 58% |
| Bath Beach | 1,598 | 48.3 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 56% |
| Canarsie | 4,361 | 48.5 | 4 | Average | 53% |
| Flatlands | 3,268 | 48.7 | 3 | Average | 50% |
| Park Slope | 2,806 | 48.9 | 2 | Average | 47% |
| Cypress Hills | 2,378 | 55 | 9 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Williamsburg | 3,619 | 56.2 | 2 | Higher Than Average | 42% |
| Prospect Lefferts Gardens | 3,093 | 62.5 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 39% |
| Flatbush | 4,256 | 64 | 7 | Higher Than Average | 36% |
| Carroll Gardens | 3,893 | 65.8 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 33% |
| Sunset Park | 3,719 | 68.3 | 8 | Higher Than Average | 31% |
| Bushwick | 8,494 | 70.3 | 6 | Higher Than Average | 28% |
| East Flatbush | 11,757 | 71.7 | 19 | Higher Than Average | 25% |
| Crown Heights (this page) | 9,905 | 72.9 | 22 | Much Higher Than Average | 22% |
| Bed-Stuy | 13,309 | 76.6 | 24 | Much Higher Than Average | 19% |
| Fort Greene | 3,170 | 96.2 | 3 | Much Higher Than Average | 17% |
| East New York | 14,110 | 99.8 | 28 | Much Higher Than Average | 14% |
| Starrett City | 1,749 | 102.7 | 3 | Much Higher Than Average | 11% |
| Coney Island | 5,510 | 111.3 | 9 | High Activity Area | 8% |
| Brownsville | 7,041 | 116.4 | 17 | High Activity Area | 6% |
| Ocean Hill | 4,506 | 118.7 | 10 | High Activity Area | 3% |
| Downtown Brooklyn | 6,502 | 158.7 | 4 | 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 Crown Heights.
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 Crown Heights's reported crimes per resident (its NTAs' 2020 Census population, 135,865) only against the other neighborhoods we track in Brooklyn, 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 Crown Heights'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 Crown Heights Safety
Is Crown Heights safe?
Crown Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 22% of Brooklyn neighborhoods, or 72.9 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Brooklyn. DwellCheck rates it "Much Higher Than Average" — significantly above average — from 9,905 NYPD complaint records and 22 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are up 6% 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 Crown Heights?
Crown Heights recorded 9,905 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (135,865 residents) that is 72.9 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 22% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Of those, 2,955 were felonies and 952 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 Crown Heights?
The most common crimes in Crown Heights are: 1. HARRASSMENT 2 (1,703 incidents, 17.2% of total); 2. PETIT LARCENY (1,284 incidents, 13% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (1,053 incidents, 10.6% of total).
Is Crown Heights safer than the Brooklyn average?
Crown Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 22% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. It had 21% more incidents than the borough average (9,905 vs. a borough average of 8,163 for a neighborhood of the same population, 135,865 residents in the 2020 Census). That is 72.9 reported crimes per 1,000 residents.
How has crime changed in Crown Heights?
Crime in Crown Heights has worsened by 6% year-over-year, rising from 9,341 to 9,905 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Crown Heights?
Over the past 12 months, 311 recorded 14,391 noise complaints (moderate per resident), 944 rodent complaints (very high) and 1,632 sanitation complaints (high). 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 Crown Heights safe at night?
Night safety in Crown Heights varies by block. About 25.3% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Crown Heights recorded 22 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Crown Heights safe for families?
For families considering Crown Heights: the neighborhood recorded 14,391 noise complaints (moderate per resident among the NYC neighborhoods we track) and 944 rodent reports. It has a lower crime rate per resident than 22% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Family-friendliness also depends on schools, parks, and building quality — use DwellCheck to evaluate a specific address.
What is the safest neighborhood in Brooklyn?
Safety varies across Brooklyn neighborhoods. Crown Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 22% of Brooklyn neighborhoods, with 9,905 incidents. Compare all Brooklyn 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 Crown Heights at night?
Crown Heights is classified as "Much Higher Than Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 22 shooting incidents and 9,905 total crime incidents — 21% 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 Crown Heights dangerous?
By NYPD data, Crown Heights is rated "Much Higher Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 22% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. 9,905 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 6% year-over-year, rising from 9,341 to 9,905 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 Crown Heights 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 Crown Heights a good place to live?
Crown Heights is considered much higher than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 22% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Incidents are trending up with 9,905 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 Crown Heights to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Crown Heights
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Crown Heights.
Search an Address in Crown HeightsCompare Crown Heights with Nearby Brooklyn Crime Rates
The Brooklyn neighborhoods whose crime rate per resident is closest to Crown Heights's.