Is Hamilton Heights, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 3,541 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 3 shooting incidents, and 17,420 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Hamilton Heights is below the Manhattan average for crime with stable incident levels year-over-year.
Hamilton Heights is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 61% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 3,541 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 26, 2026
Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
3,541
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
3
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
530
1,059 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↔ 4.1%
No significant change
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| harrassment 2 | 648 | 18.3% |
| petit larceny | 555 | 15.7% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 368 | 10.4% |
| grand larceny | 290 | 8.2% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 224 | 6.3% |
| dangerous drugs | 185 | 5.2% |
| off. agnst pub ord sensblty & | 163 | 4.6% |
| felony assault | 147 | 4.2% |
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
10,205
291.6 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
393
11.2 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
399
11.4 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
6,423
183.5 per 1,000 residents
Very 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
1,661
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
666
40% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
977
59% of total
How Safe Is Hamilton Heights 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 (this page) | 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton Heights 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 Hamilton Heights Safety
Is Hamilton Heights safe?
Hamilton Heights is rated "Safer Than Average" — Top 45% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 3,541 crime incidents were recorded, including 3 shooting incidents. Hamilton Heights is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 61% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 3,541 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Hamilton Heights?
The most common crimes in Hamilton Heights are: 1. HARRASSMENT 2 (648 incidents, 18.3% of total); 2. PETIT LARCENY (555 incidents, 15.7% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (368 incidents, 10.4% of total).
Is Hamilton Heights safer than the Manhattan average?
Hamilton Heights is safer than 61% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 21% fewer incidents than the borough average (3,541 vs. a borough average of 4,500).
How has crime changed in Hamilton Heights?
Crime in Hamilton Heights has remained stable year-over-year (3,692 vs 3,541 incidents). The trend is classified as "stable."
What do 311 complaints say about Hamilton Heights?
311 data shows 10,205 Very High complaints, 393 Moderate complaints, and 399 Moderate complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Hamilton Heights safe at night?
Night safety in Hamilton Heights varies by block. About 34.7% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Hamilton Heights recorded 3 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Hamilton Heights safe for families?
For families considering Hamilton Heights: the neighborhood recorded 10,205 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 393 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 61% 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. Hamilton Heights ranks at the 61th percentile with 3,541 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 Hamilton Heights at night?
Hamilton Heights is classified as "Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 3 shooting incidents and 3,541 total crime incidents — 21% 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 Hamilton Heights dangerous?
By NYPD data, Hamilton Heights is rated "Safer Than Average" — safer than 61% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 3,541 crime incidents over 12 months, remained stable year-over-year (3,692 vs 3,541 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 Hamilton Heights 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 Hamilton Heights a good place to live?
Hamilton Heights scores in the 61th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Hamilton Heights is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 61% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 3,541 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 Hamilton Heights to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Hamilton Heights
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Hamilton Heights.
Search an Address in Hamilton Heights