Is Morningside Heights, Manhattan Safe? Crime Rate & NYPD Data (2026)
Morningside Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 88% of Manhattan neighborhoods, or 38.4 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the safer half of Manhattan. DwellCheck rates it "Much Safer Than Average" — top 25% safest in the borough — from 1,492 NYPD complaint records and 1 shooting incident over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are down 14.7% year-over-year. 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 2,785 quality-of-life complaints in Morningside Heights. Morningside Heights is considered much safer than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 88% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Incidents are trending down with 1,492 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 Morningside Heights?
Morningside Heights recorded 1,492 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (38,865 residents) that is 38.4 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 88% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Of those, 525 were felonies and 120 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.
Morningside Heights Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
1,492
Past 12 months · 38.4 per 1,000 residents
Shooting Incidents
1
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
120
Murder, rape, robbery, felony assault
Year-over-Year Trend
↓ 14.7%
14.7% fewer incidents
* Borough rate: the borough's count per resident across the neighborhoods we track, applied to this neighborhood's 38,865 residents (2020 Census).
Most Common Crimes in Morningside Heights
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| harrassment 2 | 271 | 18.2% |
| petit larceny | 257 | 17.2% |
| grand larceny | 244 | 16.4% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 155 | 10.4% |
| felony assault | 88 | 5.9% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 87 | 5.8% |
| off. agnst pub ord sensblty & | 73 | 4.9% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 47 | 3.2% |
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. Rates use the 2020 Census population (38,865 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
1,470
37.8 per 1,000 residents
Low
Rodent Reports
98
2.5 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
142
3.7 per 1,000 residents
Low
Heat/Hot Water
1,075
27.7 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
330
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
116
35% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
211
64% of total
How Safe Is Morningside Heights 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Morningside Heights.
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 Morningside Heights's reported crimes per resident (its NTAs' 2020 Census population, 38,865) 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 Morningside Heights'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 Morningside Heights Safety
Is Morningside Heights safe?
Morningside Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 88% of Manhattan neighborhoods, or 38.4 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the safer half of Manhattan. DwellCheck rates it "Much Safer Than Average" — top 25% safest in the borough — from 1,492 NYPD complaint records and 1 shooting incident over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are down 14.7% year-over-year. 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 Morningside Heights?
Morningside Heights recorded 1,492 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (38,865 residents) that is 38.4 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 88% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Of those, 525 were felonies and 120 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 Morningside Heights?
The most common crimes in Morningside Heights are: 1. HARRASSMENT 2 (271 incidents, 18.2% of total); 2. PETIT LARCENY (257 incidents, 17.2% of total); 3. GRAND LARCENY (244 incidents, 16.4% of total).
Is Morningside Heights safer than the Manhattan average?
Morningside Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 88% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 50% fewer incidents than the borough average (1,492 vs. a borough average of 2,993 for a neighborhood of the same population, 38,865 residents in the 2020 Census). That is 38.4 reported crimes per 1,000 residents.
How has crime changed in Morningside Heights?
Crime in Morningside Heights has improved by 14.7% year-over-year, dropping from 1,750 to 1,492 incidents. The trend is classified as "improving."
What do 311 complaints say about Morningside Heights?
Over the past 12 months, 311 recorded 1,470 noise complaints (low per resident), 98 rodent complaints (moderate) and 142 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 Morningside Heights safe at night?
Night safety in Morningside Heights varies by block. About 27.1% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Morningside Heights recorded 1 shooting incident in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Morningside Heights safe for families?
For families considering Morningside Heights: the neighborhood recorded 1,470 noise complaints (low per resident among the NYC neighborhoods we track) and 98 rodent reports. It has a lower crime rate per resident than 88% 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. Morningside Heights has a lower crime rate per resident than 88% of Manhattan neighborhoods, with 1,492 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 Morningside Heights at night?
Morningside Heights is classified as "Much Safer Than Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 1 shooting incident and 1,492 total crime incidents — 50% 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 Morningside Heights dangerous?
By NYPD data, Morningside Heights is rated "Much Safer Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 88% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 1,492 crime incidents over 12 months, improved by 14.7% year-over-year, dropping from 1,750 to 1,492 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 Morningside Heights 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 Morningside Heights a good place to live?
Morningside Heights is considered much safer than average, with a lower crime rate per resident than 88% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Incidents are trending down with 1,492 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 Morningside Heights to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Morningside Heights
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Morningside Heights.
Search an Address in Morningside HeightsCompare Morningside Heights with Nearby Manhattan Crime Rates
The Manhattan neighborhoods whose crime rate per resident is closest to Morningside Heights's.