Is Lower East Side, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 4,401 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 4 shooting incidents, and 8,619 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Lower East Side is below the Manhattan average for crime and trending safer (9.6% fewer incidents year-over-year).
Lower East Side is considered about average, ranking safer than 51% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 4,401 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
4,401
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
4
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
770
1,366 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↓ 9.6%
9.6% fewer incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 1,172 | 26.6% |
| harrassment 2 | 602 | 13.7% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 463 | 10.5% |
| grand larceny | 451 | 10.2% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 305 | 6.9% |
| dangerous drugs | 194 | 4.4% |
| felony assault | 193 | 4.4% |
| robbery | 115 | 2.6% |
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.
Noise Complaints
7,401
211.5 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
93
2.7 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
243
6.9 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
882
25.2 per 1,000 residents
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
2,038
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
845
41% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
1,163
57% of total
How Safe Is Lower East Side 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 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 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 Lower East Side Safety
Is Lower East Side safe?
Lower East Side is rated "Average" — Typical for the borough. Over the past 12 months, 4,401 crime incidents were recorded, including 4 shooting incidents. Lower East Side is considered about average, ranking safer than 51% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 4,401 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Lower East Side?
The most common crimes in Lower East Side are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (1,172 incidents, 26.6% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (602 incidents, 13.7% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (463 incidents, 10.5% of total).
Is Lower East Side safer than the Manhattan average?
Lower East Side is safer than 51% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 2% fewer incidents than the borough average (4,401 vs. a borough average of 4,500).
How has crime changed in Lower East Side?
Crime in Lower East Side has improved by 9.6% year-over-year, dropping from 4,870 to 4,401 incidents. The trend is classified as "improving."
What do 311 complaints say about Lower East Side?
311 data shows 7,401 Very High complaints, 93 Low complaints, and 243 Moderate complaints. 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 27.6% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Lower East Side recorded 4 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 7,401 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 93 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 51% of Manhattan neighborhoods, which is above average. 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 ranks at the 51th percentile with 4,401 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 Lower East Side at night?
Lower East Side is classified as "Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 4 shooting incidents and 4,401 total crime incidents — 2% 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 Lower East Side dangerous?
By NYPD data, Lower East Side is rated "Average" — safer than 51% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 4,401 crime incidents over 12 months, improved by 9.6% year-over-year, dropping from 4,870 to 4,401 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 Lower East Side 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 Lower East Side a good place to live?
Lower East Side scores in the 51th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Lower East Side is considered about average, ranking safer than 51% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 4,401 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 Side