Is Upper East Side, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 3,592 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 0 shooting incidents, and 3,031 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Upper East Side is below the Manhattan average for crime with stable incident levels year-over-year.
Upper East Side is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 60% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 3,592 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
3,592
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
0
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
909
1,248 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↔ 4.3%
No significant change
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 1,481 | 41.2% |
| grand larceny | 766 | 21.3% |
| harrassment 2 | 307 | 8.5% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 147 | 4.1% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 142 | 4.0% |
| burglary | 128 | 3.6% |
| sex crimes | 107 | 3.0% |
| robbery | 76 | 2.1% |
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
1,994
57.0 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
139
4.0 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
275
7.9 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
623
17.8 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
1,812
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
718
40% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
1,081
60% of total
How Safe Is Upper 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Upper 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 Upper 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 Upper East Side Safety
Is Upper East Side safe?
Upper East Side is rated "Safer Than Average" — Top 45% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 3,592 crime incidents were recorded, including 0 shooting incidents. Upper East Side is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 60% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 3,592 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Upper East Side?
The most common crimes in Upper East Side are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (1,481 incidents, 41.2% of total); 2. GRAND LARCENY (766 incidents, 21.3% of total); 3. HARRASSMENT 2 (307 incidents, 8.5% of total).
Is Upper East Side safer than the Manhattan average?
Upper East Side is safer than 60% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 20% fewer incidents than the borough average (3,592 vs. a borough average of 4,500).
How has crime changed in Upper East Side?
Crime in Upper East Side has remained stable year-over-year (3,755 vs 3,592 incidents). The trend is classified as "stable."
What do 311 complaints say about Upper East Side?
311 data shows 1,994 Very High complaints, 139 Low complaints, and 275 Moderate complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Upper East Side safe at night?
Night safety in Upper East Side varies by block. About 17% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Upper East Side recorded 0 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Upper East Side safe for families?
For families considering Upper East Side: the neighborhood recorded 1,994 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 139 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 60% 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. Upper East Side ranks at the 60th percentile with 3,592 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 Upper East Side at night?
Upper East Side is classified as "Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 0 shooting incidents and 3,592 total crime incidents — 20% 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 Upper East Side dangerous?
By NYPD data, Upper East Side is rated "Safer Than Average" — safer than 60% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 3,592 crime incidents over 12 months, remained stable year-over-year (3,755 vs 3,592 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 Upper 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 Upper East Side a good place to live?
Upper East Side scores in the 60th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Upper East Side is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 60% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 3,592 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 Upper East Side to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Upper 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 Upper East Side.
Search an Address in Upper East Side