Is Chinatown, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 2,476 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 1 shooting incident, and 4,170 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Chinatown is below the Manhattan average for crime and trending safer (7.2% fewer incidents year-over-year).
Chinatown is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 72% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,476 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
2,476
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
1
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
461
806 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↓ 7.2%
7.2% fewer incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| harrassment 2 | 455 | 18.4% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 337 | 13.6% |
| petit larceny | 330 | 13.3% |
| grand larceny | 227 | 9.2% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 178 | 7.2% |
| felony assault | 131 | 5.3% |
| sex crimes | 98 | 4.0% |
| off. agnst pub ord sensblty & | 91 | 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.
Noise Complaints
3,242
92.6 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
93
2.7 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
221
6.3 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
614
17.5 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
1,914
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
861
45% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
831
43% of total
How Safe Is Chinatown 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 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 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 Chinatown Safety
Is Chinatown safe?
Chinatown is rated "Safer Than Average" — Top 45% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 2,476 crime incidents were recorded, including 1 shooting incident. Chinatown is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 72% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,476 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Chinatown?
The most common crimes in Chinatown are: 1. HARRASSMENT 2 (455 incidents, 18.4% of total); 2. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (337 incidents, 13.6% of total); 3. PETIT LARCENY (330 incidents, 13.3% of total).
Is Chinatown safer than the Manhattan average?
Chinatown is safer than 72% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 45% fewer incidents than the borough average (2,476 vs. a borough average of 4,500).
How has crime changed in Chinatown?
Crime in Chinatown has improved by 7.2% year-over-year, dropping from 2,668 to 2,476 incidents. The trend is classified as "improving."
What do 311 complaints say about Chinatown?
311 data shows 3,242 Very High complaints, 93 Low complaints, and 221 Moderate complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Chinatown safe at night?
Night safety in Chinatown varies by block. About 28.3% 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 3,242 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 93 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 72% of Manhattan neighborhoods, which is above average. 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 ranks at the 72th percentile with 2,476 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 Chinatown at night?
Chinatown is classified as "Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 1 shooting incident and 2,476 total crime incidents — 45% 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" — safer than 72% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 2,476 crime incidents over 12 months, improved by 7.2% year-over-year, dropping from 2,668 to 2,476 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 Chinatown 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 Chinatown a good place to live?
Chinatown scores in the 72th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Chinatown is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 72% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,476 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 Chinatown