Is Harlem, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 12,684 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 24 shooting incidents, and 40,636 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Harlem is above the Manhattan average for crime with stable incident levels year-over-year.
Harlem is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 30% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 12,684 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
12,684
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
24
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
1,886
3,708 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↔ 2%
No significant change
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 2,317 | 18.3% |
| harrassment 2 | 2,259 | 17.8% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 1,505 | 11.9% |
| grand larceny | 791 | 6.2% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 778 | 6.1% |
| felony assault | 715 | 5.6% |
| dangerous drugs | 656 | 5.2% |
| off. agnst pub ord sensblty & | 473 | 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
21,473
306.8 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
1,253
17.9 per 1,000 residents
High
Sanitation Issues
1,695
24.2 per 1,000 residents
High
Heat/Hot Water
16,215
231.6 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
6,242
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
2,383
38% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
3,822
61% of total
How Safe Is Harlem 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 (this page) | 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 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 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 Harlem Safety
Is Harlem safe?
Harlem is rated "Higher Than Average" — Above-average incident activity. Over the past 12 months, 12,684 crime incidents were recorded, including 24 shooting incidents. Harlem is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 30% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 12,684 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Harlem?
The most common crimes in Harlem are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (2,317 incidents, 18.3% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (2,259 incidents, 17.8% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (1,505 incidents, 11.9% of total).
Is Harlem safer than the Manhattan average?
Harlem is safer than 30% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 41% more incidents than the borough average (12,684 vs. a borough average of 9,000).
How has crime changed in Harlem?
Crime in Harlem has remained stable year-over-year (12,433 vs 12,684 incidents). The trend is classified as "stable."
What do 311 complaints say about Harlem?
311 data shows 21,473 Very High complaints, 1,253 High complaints, and 1,695 High complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Harlem safe at night?
Night safety in Harlem varies by block. About 24.5% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Harlem recorded 24 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 21,473 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 1,253 rodent reports. It ranks in the 30th 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. Harlem ranks at the 30th percentile with 12,684 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 Harlem at night?
Harlem is classified as "Higher Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 24 shooting incidents and 12,684 total crime incidents — 41% 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 "Higher Than Average" — safer than 30% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 12,684 crime incidents over 12 months, remained stable year-over-year (12,433 vs 12,684 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 Harlem 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 Harlem a good place to live?
Harlem scores in the 30th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Harlem is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 30% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 12,684 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 Harlem