Is Williamsburg, Brooklyn Safe? Crime Rate & NYPD Data (2026)
Williamsburg has a lower crime rate per resident than 42% of Brooklyn neighborhoods, or 56.2 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Brooklyn. DwellCheck rates it "Higher Than Average" — above-average incident activity — from 3,619 NYPD complaint records and 2 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are up 10.1% 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 13,611 quality-of-life complaints in Williamsburg. Williamsburg is considered higher than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 42% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Incidents are trending up with 3,619 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 Williamsburg?
Williamsburg recorded 3,619 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (64,444 residents) that is 56.2 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 42% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Of those, 1,347 were felonies and 227 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.
Williamsburg Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
3,619
Past 12 months · 56.2 per 1,000 residents
Shooting Incidents
2
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
227
Murder, rape, robbery, felony assault
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 10.1%
10.1% more incidents
* Borough rate: the borough's count per resident across the neighborhoods we track, applied to this neighborhood's 64,444 residents (2020 Census).
Most Common Crimes in Williamsburg
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 860 | 23.8% |
| grand larceny | 509 | 14.1% |
| harrassment 2 | 456 | 12.6% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 303 | 8.4% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 227 | 6.3% |
| burglary | 158 | 4.4% |
| felony assault | 117 | 3.2% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 110 | 3.0% |
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 (64,444 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
10,403
161.4 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
253
3.9 per 1,000 residents
High
Sanitation Issues
965
15.0 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Heat/Hot Water
1,990
30.9 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
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
1,654
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
861
52% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
770
47% of total
How Safe Is Williamsburg 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Williamsburg.
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 Williamsburg's reported crimes per resident (its NTAs' 2020 Census population, 64,444) 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 Williamsburg'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 Williamsburg Safety
Is Williamsburg safe?
Williamsburg has a lower crime rate per resident than 42% of Brooklyn neighborhoods, or 56.2 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Brooklyn. DwellCheck rates it "Higher Than Average" — above-average incident activity — from 3,619 NYPD complaint records and 2 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are up 10.1% 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 Williamsburg?
Williamsburg recorded 3,619 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (64,444 residents) that is 56.2 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 42% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Of those, 1,347 were felonies and 227 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 Williamsburg?
The most common crimes in Williamsburg are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (860 incidents, 23.8% of total); 2. GRAND LARCENY (509 incidents, 14.1% of total); 3. HARRASSMENT 2 (456 incidents, 12.6% of total).
Is Williamsburg safer than the Brooklyn average?
Williamsburg has a lower crime rate per resident than 42% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. It had 7% fewer incidents than the borough average (3,619 vs. a borough average of 3,872 for a neighborhood of the same population, 64,444 residents in the 2020 Census). That is 56.2 reported crimes per 1,000 residents.
How has crime changed in Williamsburg?
Crime in Williamsburg has worsened by 10.1% year-over-year, rising from 3,288 to 3,619 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Williamsburg?
Over the past 12 months, 311 recorded 10,403 noise complaints (very high per resident), 253 rodent complaints (high) and 965 sanitation complaints (very 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 Williamsburg safe at night?
Night safety in Williamsburg varies by block. About 29.6% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Williamsburg recorded 2 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Williamsburg safe for families?
For families considering Williamsburg: the neighborhood recorded 10,403 noise complaints (very high per resident among the NYC neighborhoods we track) and 253 rodent reports. It has a lower crime rate per resident than 42% 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. Williamsburg has a lower crime rate per resident than 42% of Brooklyn neighborhoods, with 3,619 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 Williamsburg at night?
Williamsburg is classified as "Higher Than Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 2 shooting incidents and 3,619 total crime incidents — 7% fewer 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 Williamsburg dangerous?
By NYPD data, Williamsburg is rated "Higher Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 42% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. 3,619 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 10.1% year-over-year, rising from 3,288 to 3,619 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 Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg a good place to live?
Williamsburg is considered higher than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 42% of Brooklyn neighborhoods. Incidents are trending up with 3,619 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 Williamsburg to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Williamsburg
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Williamsburg.
Search an Address in WilliamsburgCompare Williamsburg with Nearby Brooklyn Crime Rates
The Brooklyn neighborhoods whose crime rate per resident is closest to Williamsburg's.