Is Lower East Side, Manhattan Safe? Crime Rate & NYPD Data (2026)
Lower East Side has a lower crime rate per resident than 35% of Manhattan neighborhoods, or 93 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Manhattan. DwellCheck rates it "Higher Than Average" — above-average incident activity — from 4,571 NYPD complaint records and 5 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents held roughly steady year-over-year (4,666 vs 4,571). 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 8,892 quality-of-life complaints in Lower East Side. Lower East Side is considered higher than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 35% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Incident levels are stable with 4,571 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 Lower East Side?
Lower East Side recorded 4,571 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (49,149 residents) that is 93 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 35% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Of those, 1,429 were felonies and 308 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.
Lower East Side Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
4,571
Past 12 months · 93 per 1,000 residents
Shooting Incidents
5
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
308
Murder, rape, robbery, felony assault
Year-over-Year Trend
↔ 2%
No significant change
* Borough rate: the borough's count per resident across the neighborhoods we track, applied to this neighborhood's 49,149 residents (2020 Census).
Most Common Crimes in Lower East Side
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 1,236 | 27.0% |
| harrassment 2 | 599 | 13.1% |
| grand larceny | 496 | 10.9% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 489 | 10.7% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 322 | 7.0% |
| dangerous drugs | 218 | 4.8% |
| felony assault | 201 | 4.4% |
| burglary | 108 | 2.4% |
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 (49,149 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
7,441
151.4 per 1,000 residents
High
Rodent Reports
105
2.1 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
254
5.2 per 1,000 residents
Low
Heat/Hot Water
1,092
22.2 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
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
2,221
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
873
39% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
1,329
60% of total
How Safe Is Lower East Side 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Lower East Side.
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 Lower East Side's reported crimes per resident (its NTAs' 2020 Census population, 49,149) 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 Lower East Side'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 Lower East Side Safety
Is Lower East Side safe?
Lower East Side has a lower crime rate per resident than 35% of Manhattan neighborhoods, or 93 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the higher-crime half of Manhattan. DwellCheck rates it "Higher Than Average" — above-average incident activity — from 4,571 NYPD complaint records and 5 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents held roughly steady year-over-year (4,666 vs 4,571). 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 Lower East Side?
Lower East Side recorded 4,571 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (49,149 residents) that is 93 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 35% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Of those, 1,429 were felonies and 308 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 Lower East Side?
The most common crimes in Lower East Side are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (1,236 incidents, 27% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (599 incidents, 13.1% of total); 3. GRAND LARCENY (496 incidents, 10.9% of total).
Is Lower East Side safer than the Manhattan average?
Lower East Side has a lower crime rate per resident than 35% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 21% more incidents than the borough average (4,571 vs. a borough average of 3,786 for a neighborhood of the same population, 49,149 residents in the 2020 Census). That is 93 reported crimes per 1,000 residents.
How has crime changed in Lower East Side?
Crime in Lower East Side has remained stable year-over-year (4,666 vs 4,571 incidents). The trend is classified as "stable."
What do 311 complaints say about Lower East Side?
Over the past 12 months, 311 recorded 7,441 noise complaints (high per resident), 105 rodent complaints (moderate) and 254 sanitation complaints (low). 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 Lower East Side safe at night?
Night safety in Lower East Side varies by block. About 25.7% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Lower East Side recorded 5 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Lower East Side safe for families?
For families considering Lower East Side: the neighborhood recorded 7,441 noise complaints (high per resident among the NYC neighborhoods we track) and 105 rodent reports. It has a lower crime rate per resident than 35% 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. Lower East Side has a lower crime rate per resident than 35% of Manhattan neighborhoods, with 4,571 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 Lower East Side at night?
Lower East Side is classified as "Higher Than Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 5 shooting incidents and 4,571 total crime incidents — 21% 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 Lower East Side dangerous?
By NYPD data, Lower East Side is rated "Higher Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 35% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 4,571 crime incidents over 12 months, remained stable year-over-year (4,666 vs 4,571 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 Lower East Side 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 Lower East Side a good place to live?
Lower East Side is considered higher than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 35% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Incident levels are stable with 4,571 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 Lower East Side to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Lower East Side
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Lower East Side.
Search an Address in Lower East SideCompare Lower East Side with Nearby Manhattan Crime Rates
The Manhattan neighborhoods whose crime rate per resident is closest to Lower East Side's.