Is Inwood, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 2,649 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 5 shooting incidents, and 11,549 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Inwood is below the Manhattan average for crime with incidents trending upward (9.6% increase year-over-year).
Inwood is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 44% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 2,649 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
2,649
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
5
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
426
949 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 9.6%
9.6% more incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 310 | 11.7% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 308 | 11.6% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 298 | 11.2% |
| harrassment 2 | 267 | 10.1% |
| grand larceny | 202 | 7.6% |
| felony assault | 132 | 5.0% |
| other state laws | 115 | 4.3% |
| dangerous drugs | 114 | 4.3% |
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
6,520
186.3 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
179
5.1 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
263
7.5 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
4,587
131.1 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
1,047
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
408
39% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
630
60% of total
How Safe Is Inwood 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 (this page) | 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 Inwood.
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 Inwood 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 Inwood Safety
Is Inwood safe?
Inwood is rated "Higher Than Average" — Above-average incident activity. Over the past 12 months, 2,649 crime incidents were recorded, including 5 shooting incidents. Inwood is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 44% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 2,649 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Inwood?
The most common crimes in Inwood are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (310 incidents, 11.7% of total); 2. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (308 incidents, 11.6% of total); 3. VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC LAWS (298 incidents, 11.2% of total).
Is Inwood safer than the Manhattan average?
Inwood is safer than 44% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 41% fewer incidents than the borough average (2,649 vs. a borough average of 4,500).
How has crime changed in Inwood?
Crime in Inwood has worsened by 9.6% year-over-year, rising from 2,418 to 2,649 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Inwood?
311 data shows 6,520 Very High complaints, 179 Moderate complaints, and 263 Moderate complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Inwood safe at night?
Night safety in Inwood varies by block. About 51.9% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Inwood recorded 5 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Inwood safe for families?
For families considering Inwood: the neighborhood recorded 6,520 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 179 rodent reports. It ranks in the 44th 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. Inwood ranks at the 44th percentile with 2,649 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 Inwood at night?
Inwood is classified as "Higher Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 5 shooting incidents and 2,649 total crime incidents — 41% 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 Inwood dangerous?
By NYPD data, Inwood is rated "Higher Than Average" — safer than 44% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 2,649 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 9.6% year-over-year, rising from 2,418 to 2,649 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 Inwood 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 Inwood a good place to live?
Inwood scores in the 44th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Inwood is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 44% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 2,649 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 Inwood to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Inwood
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Inwood.
Search an Address in Inwood