Is Upper West Side, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 6,753 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 3 shooting incidents, and 17,077 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Upper West Side is below the Manhattan average for crime with incidents trending upward (15.5% increase year-over-year).
Upper West Side is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 62% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 6,753 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
6,753
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
3
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
1,150
1,925 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 15.5%
15.5% more incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 2,223 | 32.9% |
| harrassment 2 | 989 | 14.6% |
| grand larceny | 783 | 11.6% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 548 | 8.1% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 414 | 6.1% |
| burglary | 263 | 3.9% |
| felony assault | 209 | 3.1% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 147 | 2.2% |
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.
Noise Complaints
9,442
134.9 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
1,169
16.7 per 1,000 residents
High
Sanitation Issues
1,013
14.5 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
5,453
77.9 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
2,749
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
946
34% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
1,766
64% of total
How Safe Is Upper West 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 West 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 West 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 West Side Safety
Is Upper West Side safe?
Upper West Side is rated "Safer Than Average" — Top 45% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 6,753 crime incidents were recorded, including 3 shooting incidents. Upper West Side is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 62% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 6,753 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Upper West Side?
The most common crimes in Upper West Side are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (2,223 incidents, 32.9% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (989 incidents, 14.6% of total); 3. GRAND LARCENY (783 incidents, 11.6% of total).
Is Upper West Side safer than the Manhattan average?
Upper West Side is safer than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 25% fewer incidents than the borough average (6,753 vs. a borough average of 9,000).
How has crime changed in Upper West Side?
Crime in Upper West Side has worsened by 15.5% year-over-year, rising from 5,845 to 6,753 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Upper West Side?
311 data shows 9,442 Very High complaints, 1,169 High complaints, and 1,013 Moderate complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Upper West Side safe at night?
Night safety in Upper West Side varies by block. About 24.1% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Upper West Side recorded 3 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Upper West Side safe for families?
For families considering Upper West Side: the neighborhood recorded 9,442 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 1,169 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 62% 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 West Side ranks at the 62th percentile with 6,753 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 West Side at night?
Upper West Side is classified as "Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 3 shooting incidents and 6,753 total crime incidents — 25% 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 West Side dangerous?
By NYPD data, Upper West Side is rated "Safer Than Average" — safer than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 6,753 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 15.5% year-over-year, rising from 5,845 to 6,753 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 West 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 West Side a good place to live?
Upper West Side scores in the 62th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Upper West Side is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 62% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 6,753 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 West Side to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Upper West 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 West Side.
Search an Address in Upper West Side