Is Chelsea, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 6,840 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 2 shooting incidents, and 8,188 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Chelsea is above the Manhattan average for crime with incidents trending upward (11.9% increase year-over-year).
Chelsea is considered much higher than average, ranking safer than 24% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 6,840 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
Data covers December 2024 – December 2025 (12 months) · Source: NYPD CompStat & NYC 311 via NYC Open Data · Updated April 18, 2026
Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
6,840
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
2
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
1,250
2,253 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 11.9%
11.9% more incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 1,853 | 27.1% |
| grand larceny | 832 | 12.2% |
| harrassment 2 | 713 | 10.4% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 572 | 8.4% |
| dangerous drugs | 427 | 6.2% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 371 | 5.4% |
| sex crimes | 303 | 4.4% |
| felony assault | 224 | 3.3% |
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.
Noise Complaints
5,818
166.2 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
182
5.2 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
1,180
33.7 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Heat/Hot Water
1,008
28.8 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
5,952
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
2,280
38% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
3,408
57% of total
How Safe Is Chelsea Compared to Other Manhattan Neighborhoods?
Manhattan Neighborhood Safety Comparison
| Neighborhood | Crime Incidents | Shootings | Verdict | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stuyvesant Town | 523 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 94% |
| Morningside Heights | 1,583 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 82% |
| Gramercy Park | 1,802 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 80% |
| Yorkville | 1,898 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 79% |
| Roosevelt Island | 1,960 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 78% |
| Midtown East | 2,295 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 75% |
| Chinatown | 2,476 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 72% |
| Murray Hill | 2,888 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 68% |
| West Village | 3,307 | 2 | Safer Than Average | 63% |
| Upper West Side | 6,753 | 3 | Safer Than Average | 62% |
| Greenwich Village | 3,385 | 2 | Safer Than Average | 62% |
| Lincoln Square | 3,445 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 62% |
| Hamilton Heights | 3,541 | 3 | Safer Than Average | 61% |
| Upper East Side | 3,592 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 60% |
| Tribeca | 3,605 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 60% |
| Financial District | 3,732 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 59% |
| East Village | 4,175 | 1 | Average | 54% |
| Lower East Side | 4,401 | 4 | Average | 51% |
| SoHo | 4,564 | 0 | Average | 49% |
| Inwood | 2,649 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Washington Heights | 9,031 | 6 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| East Harlem | 12,491 | 18 | Higher Than Average | 31% |
| Harlem | 12,684 | 24 | Higher Than Average | 30% |
| Chelsea (this page) | 6,840 | 2 | Much Higher Than Average | 24% |
| Flatiron | 7,058 | 1 | Much Higher Than Average | 22% |
| Hell's Kitchen | 7,184 | 4 | Much Higher Than Average | 20% |
| Midtown | 12,545 | 4 | High Activity Area | 0% |
Understanding This Data
All crime statistics on this page are sourced directly from the NYPD CompStat database via NYC Open Data. 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 Chelsea.
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 Chelsea only against other NTAs within Manhattan, so scores are borough-relative rather than city-wide.
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 Chelsea Safety
Is Chelsea safe?
Chelsea is rated "Much Higher Than Average" — Significantly above average. Over the past 12 months, 6,840 crime incidents were recorded, including 2 shooting incidents. Chelsea is considered much higher than average, ranking safer than 24% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 6,840 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Chelsea?
The most common crimes in Chelsea are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (1,853 incidents, 27.1% of total); 2. GRAND LARCENY (832 incidents, 12.2% of total); 3. HARRASSMENT 2 (713 incidents, 10.4% of total).
Is Chelsea safer than the Manhattan average?
Chelsea is safer than 24% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 52% more incidents than the borough average (6,840 vs. a borough average of 4,500).
How has crime changed in Chelsea?
Crime in Chelsea has worsened by 11.9% year-over-year, rising from 6,111 to 6,840 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Chelsea?
311 data shows 5,818 Very High complaints, 182 Moderate complaints, and 1,180 Very High complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Chelsea safe at night?
Night safety in Chelsea varies by block. About 27.6% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Chelsea recorded 2 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Chelsea safe for families?
For families considering Chelsea: the neighborhood recorded 5,818 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 182 rodent reports. It ranks in the 24th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Family-friendliness also depends on schools, parks, and building quality — use DwellCheck to evaluate a specific address.
What is the safest neighborhood in Manhattan?
Safety varies across Manhattan neighborhoods. Chelsea ranks at the 24th percentile with 6,840 incidents. Compare all Manhattan neighborhoods in the comparison table above to see how each ranks by total crime, shootings, and borough percentile. All data is sourced from NYPD CompStat.
Can you walk around Chelsea at night?
Chelsea is classified as "Much Higher Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 2 shooting incidents and 6,840 total crime incidents — 52% 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 Chelsea dangerous?
By NYPD data, Chelsea is rated "Much Higher Than Average" — safer than 24% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 6,840 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 11.9% year-over-year, rising from 6,111 to 6,840 incidents. Block-level risk varies; check our address-level safety score for any specific street or building to weight NYPD incidents within a 250-meter radius.
What parts of Chelsea should I avoid?
NYPD CompStat reports incidents at the precinct level, not block-by-block, so a granular "avoid this street" answer isn't possible from public data alone. The most reliable signal at the block level is DwellCheck's address-level safety score, which weights NYPD incidents within a 250m 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 Chelsea a good place to live?
Chelsea scores in the 24th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Chelsea is considered much higher than average, ranking safer than 24% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 6,840 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 Chelsea to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Chelsea
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Chelsea.
Search an Address in Chelsea