Is Harlem, Manhattan Safe? Crime Rate & NYPD Data (2026)
Harlem has a lower crime rate per resident than 23% of Manhattan neighborhoods, or 97.4 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Manhattan. DwellCheck rates it "Much Higher Than Average" — significantly above average — from 12,706 NYPD complaint records and 26 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents held roughly steady year-over-year (13,136 vs 12,706). 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 41,233 quality-of-life complaints in Harlem. Harlem is considered much higher than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 23% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Incident levels are stable with 12,706 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 Harlem?
Harlem recorded 12,706 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (130,440 residents) that is 97.4 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 23% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Of those, 3,762 were felonies and 1,062 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.
Harlem Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
12,706
Past 12 months · 97.4 per 1,000 residents
Shooting Incidents
26
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
1,062
Murder, rape, robbery, felony assault
Year-over-Year Trend
↔ 3.3%
No significant change
* Borough rate: the borough's count per resident across the neighborhoods we track, applied to this neighborhood's 130,440 residents (2020 Census).
Most Common Crimes in Harlem
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 2,333 | 18.4% |
| harrassment 2 | 2,313 | 18.2% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 1,419 | 11.2% |
| grand larceny | 840 | 6.6% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 764 | 6.0% |
| felony assault | 736 | 5.8% |
| dangerous drugs | 730 | 5.7% |
| off. agnst pub ord sensblty & | 456 | 3.6% |
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 (130,440 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
20,945
160.6 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
1,126
8.6 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Sanitation Issues
1,882
14.4 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Heat/Hot Water
17,280
132.5 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
6,160
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
2,340
38% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
3,797
62% of total
How Safe Is Harlem 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 | 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 (this page) | 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 Harlem.
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 Harlem's reported crimes per resident (its NTAs' 2020 Census population, 130,440) 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 Harlem'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 Harlem Safety
Is Harlem safe?
Harlem has a lower crime rate per resident than 23% of Manhattan neighborhoods, or 97.4 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Manhattan. DwellCheck rates it "Much Higher Than Average" — significantly above average — from 12,706 NYPD complaint records and 26 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents held roughly steady year-over-year (13,136 vs 12,706). 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 Harlem?
Harlem recorded 12,706 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (130,440 residents) that is 97.4 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 23% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Of those, 3,762 were felonies and 1,062 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 Harlem?
The most common crimes in Harlem are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (2,333 incidents, 18.4% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (2,313 incidents, 18.2% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (1,419 incidents, 11.2% of total).
Is Harlem safer than the Manhattan average?
Harlem has a lower crime rate per resident than 23% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 26% more incidents than the borough average (12,706 vs. a borough average of 10,047 for a neighborhood of the same population, 130,440 residents in the 2020 Census). That is 97.4 reported crimes per 1,000 residents.
How has crime changed in Harlem?
Crime in Harlem has remained stable year-over-year (13,136 vs 12,706 incidents). The trend is classified as "stable."
What do 311 complaints say about Harlem?
Over the past 12 months, 311 recorded 20,945 noise complaints (very high per resident), 1,126 rodent complaints (very high) and 1,882 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 Harlem safe at night?
Night safety in Harlem varies by block. About 25.4% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Harlem recorded 26 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Harlem safe for families?
For families considering Harlem: the neighborhood recorded 20,945 noise complaints (very high per resident among the NYC neighborhoods we track) and 1,126 rodent reports. It has a lower crime rate per resident than 23% 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. Harlem has a lower crime rate per resident than 23% of Manhattan neighborhoods, with 12,706 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 Harlem at night?
Harlem is classified as "Much Higher Than Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 26 shooting incidents and 12,706 total crime incidents — 26% 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 Harlem dangerous?
By NYPD data, Harlem is rated "Much Higher Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 23% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 12,706 crime incidents over 12 months, remained stable year-over-year (13,136 vs 12,706 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 Harlem 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 Harlem a good place to live?
Harlem is considered much higher than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 23% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Incident levels are stable with 12,706 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 Harlem to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Harlem
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Harlem.
Search an Address in HarlemCompare Harlem with Nearby Manhattan Crime Rates
The Manhattan neighborhoods whose crime rate per resident is closest to Harlem's.