Is Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 7,184 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 4 shooting incidents, and 7,458 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Hell's Kitchen is above the Manhattan average for crime with incidents trending upward (5.7% increase year-over-year).
Hell's Kitchen is considered much higher than average, ranking safer than 20% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 7,184 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
7,184
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
4
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
1,293
2,301 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 5.7%
5.7% more incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 915 | 12.7% |
| harrassment 2 | 796 | 11.1% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 777 | 10.8% |
| grand larceny | 770 | 10.7% |
| dangerous drugs | 608 | 8.5% |
| other offenses related to theft | 591 | 8.2% |
| felony assault | 309 | 4.3% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 303 | 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
4,852
138.6 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
226
6.5 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
557
15.9 per 1,000 residents
High
Heat/Hot Water
1,823
52.1 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
4,693
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
1,737
37% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
2,865
61% of total
How Safe Is Hell's Kitchen 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 | 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 (this page) | 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 Hell's Kitchen.
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 Hell's Kitchen 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 Hell's Kitchen Safety
Is Hell's Kitchen safe?
Hell's Kitchen is rated "Much Higher Than Average" — Significantly above average. Over the past 12 months, 7,184 crime incidents were recorded, including 4 shooting incidents. Hell's Kitchen is considered much higher than average, ranking safer than 20% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 7,184 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Hell's Kitchen?
The most common crimes in Hell's Kitchen are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (915 incidents, 12.7% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (796 incidents, 11.1% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (777 incidents, 10.8% of total).
Is Hell's Kitchen safer than the Manhattan average?
Hell's Kitchen is safer than 20% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 60% more incidents than the borough average (7,184 vs. a borough average of 4,500).
How has crime changed in Hell's Kitchen?
Crime in Hell's Kitchen has worsened by 5.7% year-over-year, rising from 6,795 to 7,184 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Hell's Kitchen?
311 data shows 4,852 Very High complaints, 226 Moderate complaints, and 557 High complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Hell's Kitchen safe at night?
Night safety in Hell's Kitchen varies by block. About 31.9% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Hell's Kitchen recorded 4 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Hell's Kitchen safe for families?
For families considering Hell's Kitchen: the neighborhood recorded 4,852 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 226 rodent reports. It ranks in the 20th 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. Hell's Kitchen ranks at the 20th percentile with 7,184 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 Hell's Kitchen at night?
Hell's Kitchen is classified as "Much Higher Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 4 shooting incidents and 7,184 total crime incidents — 60% 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 Hell's Kitchen dangerous?
By NYPD data, Hell's Kitchen is rated "Much Higher Than Average" — safer than 20% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 7,184 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 5.7% year-over-year, rising from 6,795 to 7,184 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 Hell's Kitchen 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 Hell's Kitchen a good place to live?
Hell's Kitchen scores in the 20th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Hell's Kitchen is considered much higher than average, ranking safer than 20% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 7,184 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 Hell's Kitchen to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Hell's Kitchen
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Hell's Kitchen.
Search an Address in Hell's Kitchen