Is Chinatown, Manhattan Safe? Crime Rate & NYPD Data (2026)
Chinatown has a lower crime rate per resident than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods, or 58.9 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the safer half of Manhattan. DwellCheck rates it "Safer Than Average" — top 45% safest in the borough — from 2,506 NYPD complaint records and 1 shooting incident over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents held roughly steady year-over-year (2,541 vs 2,506). 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 4,695 quality-of-life complaints in Chinatown. Chinatown is considered safer than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Incident levels are stable with 2,506 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 Chinatown?
Chinatown recorded 2,506 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (42,556 residents) that is 58.9 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Of those, 821 were felonies and 241 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.
Chinatown Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
2,506
Past 12 months · 58.9 per 1,000 residents
Shooting Incidents
1
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
241
Murder, rape, robbery, felony assault
Year-over-Year Trend
↔ 1.4%
No significant change
* Borough rate: the borough's count per resident across the neighborhoods we track, applied to this neighborhood's 42,556 residents (2020 Census).
Most Common Crimes in Chinatown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| harrassment 2 | 437 | 17.4% |
| petit larceny | 372 | 14.8% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 311 | 12.4% |
| grand larceny | 230 | 9.2% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 202 | 8.1% |
| felony assault | 152 | 6.1% |
| dangerous drugs | 106 | 4.2% |
| sex crimes | 101 | 4.0% |
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 (42,556 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
3,558
83.6 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Rodent Reports
57
1.3 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
227
5.3 per 1,000 residents
Low
Heat/Hot Water
853
20.0 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
1,708
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
843
49% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
848
50% of total
How Safe Is Chinatown Compared to Other Manhattan Neighborhoods?
Manhattan Neighborhood Safety Comparison
| Neighborhood | Crime Incidents | Per 1,000 Residents | Shootings | Verdict | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stuyvesant Town | 507 | 22.5 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 100% |
| Yorkville | 1,974 | 23.5 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 96% |
| Roosevelt Island | 2,087 | 24.4 | 0 | Exceptionally Safe | 92% |
| Morningside Heights | 1,492 | 38.4 | 1 | Much Safer Than Average | 88% |
| Murray Hill | 2,578 | 40.6 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 85% |
| Upper West Side | 6,922 | 45.1 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 81% |
| Midtown East | 2,149 | 47 | 0 | Much Safer Than Average | 77% |
| Lincoln Square | 3,462 | 49 | 2 | Safer Than Average | 73% |
| Upper East Side | 3,230 | 51.8 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 69% |
| East Village | 4,204 | 58.8 | 3 | Safer Than Average | 65% |
| Chinatown (this page) | 2,506 | 58.9 | 1 | Safer Than Average | 62% |
| Gramercy Park | 1,771 | 61.9 | 0 | Safer Than Average | 58% |
| Washington Heights | 9,009 | 62.6 | 6 | Higher Than Average | 54% |
| Financial District | 3,475 | 65.6 | 1 | Average | 50% |
| Hamilton Heights | 3,291 | 66.6 | 3 | Average | 46% |
| Inwood | 2,573 | 70.9 | 8 | Higher Than Average | 42% |
| West Village | 3,024 | 86.4 | 1 | Higher Than Average | 38% |
| Lower East Side | 4,571 | 93 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 35% |
| Chelsea | 6,727 | 96.5 | 0 | Higher Than Average | 31% |
| Greenwich Village | 3,309 | 96.9 | 1 | Higher Than Average | 27% |
| Harlem | 12,706 | 97.4 | 26 | Much Higher Than Average | 23% |
| East Harlem | 12,459 | 100.1 | 20 | Much Higher Than Average | 19% |
| Hell's Kitchen | 6,587 | 110.7 | 5 | Much Higher Than Average | 15% |
| Tribeca | 3,467 | 136.5 | 0 | Much Higher Than Average | 12% |
| SoHo | 4,502 | 193.3 | 0 | High Activity Area | 8% |
| Flatiron | 7,293 | 219.6 | 2 | High Activity Area | 4% |
| Midtown | 12,137 | 474.6 | 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 Chinatown.
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 Chinatown's reported crimes per resident (its NTAs' 2020 Census population, 42,556) only against the other neighborhoods we track in Manhattan, 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 Chinatown'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 Chinatown Safety
Is Chinatown safe?
Chinatown has a lower crime rate per resident than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods, or 58.9 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the safer half of Manhattan. DwellCheck rates it "Safer Than Average" — top 45% safest in the borough — from 2,506 NYPD complaint records and 1 shooting incident over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents held roughly steady year-over-year (2,541 vs 2,506). 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 Chinatown?
Chinatown recorded 2,506 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (42,556 residents) that is 58.9 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Of those, 821 were felonies and 241 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 Chinatown?
The most common crimes in Chinatown are: 1. HARRASSMENT 2 (437 incidents, 17.4% of total); 2. PETIT LARCENY (372 incidents, 14.8% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (311 incidents, 12.4% of total).
Is Chinatown safer than the Manhattan average?
Chinatown has a lower crime rate per resident than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 24% fewer incidents than the borough average (2,506 vs. a borough average of 3,278 for a neighborhood of the same population, 42,556 residents in the 2020 Census). That is 58.9 reported crimes per 1,000 residents.
How has crime changed in Chinatown?
Crime in Chinatown has remained stable year-over-year (2,541 vs 2,506 incidents). The trend is classified as "stable."
What do 311 complaints say about Chinatown?
Over the past 12 months, 311 recorded 3,558 noise complaints (moderate per resident), 57 rodent complaints (low) and 227 sanitation complaints (low). 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 Chinatown safe at night?
Night safety in Chinatown varies by block. About 27.5% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Chinatown recorded 1 shooting incident in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Chinatown safe for families?
For families considering Chinatown: the neighborhood recorded 3,558 noise complaints (moderate per resident among the NYC neighborhoods we track) and 57 rodent reports. It has a lower crime rate per resident than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 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. Chinatown has a lower crime rate per resident than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods, with 2,506 incidents. Compare all Manhattan 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 Chinatown at night?
Chinatown is classified as "Safer Than Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 1 shooting incident and 2,506 total crime incidents — 24% 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 Chinatown dangerous?
By NYPD data, Chinatown is rated "Safer Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 2,506 crime incidents over 12 months, remained stable year-over-year (2,541 vs 2,506 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 Chinatown 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 Chinatown a good place to live?
Chinatown is considered safer than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Incident levels are stable with 2,506 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 Chinatown to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Chinatown
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Chinatown.
Search an Address in ChinatownCompare Chinatown with Nearby Manhattan Crime Rates
The Manhattan neighborhoods whose crime rate per resident is closest to Chinatown's.