Is Upper West Side, Manhattan Safe? Crime Rate & NYPD Data (2026)
Upper West Side has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Manhattan neighborhoods, or 45.1 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the safer half of Manhattan. DwellCheck rates it "Higher Than Average" — above-average incident activity — from 6,922 NYPD complaint records and 5 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are up 5.5% 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 17,745 quality-of-life complaints in Upper West Side. Upper West Side is considered higher than average: it has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Manhattan neighborhoods, but 5 shooting incidents in the past 12 months lower the rating. Incidents are trending up with 6,922 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 Upper West Side?
Upper West Side recorded 6,922 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (153,518 residents) that is 45.1 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Of those, 1,940 were felonies and 391 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.
Upper West Side Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
6,922
Past 12 months · 45.1 per 1,000 residents
Shooting Incidents
5
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
391
Murder, rape, robbery, felony assault
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 5.5%
5.5% more incidents
* Borough rate: the borough's count per resident across the neighborhoods we track, applied to this neighborhood's 153,518 residents (2020 Census).
Most Common Crimes in Upper West Side
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 2,290 | 33.1% |
| harrassment 2 | 1,089 | 15.7% |
| grand larceny | 775 | 11.2% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 592 | 8.6% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 318 | 4.6% |
| burglary | 283 | 4.1% |
| felony assault | 235 | 3.4% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 170 | 2.5% |
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 (153,518 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
10,041
65.4 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Rodent Reports
874
5.7 per 1,000 residents
High
Sanitation Issues
1,043
6.8 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
5,787
37.7 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
2,754
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
934
34% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
1,812
66% of total
How Safe Is Upper West 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 (this page) | 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 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's reported crimes per resident (its NTAs' 2020 Census population, 153,518) 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 Upper West 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 Upper West Side Safety
Is Upper West Side safe?
Upper West Side has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Manhattan neighborhoods, or 45.1 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. Measured per resident, it sits on the safer half of Manhattan. DwellCheck rates it "Higher Than Average" — above-average incident activity — from 6,922 NYPD complaint records and 5 shooting incidents over the 12 months ending June 2026, and incidents are up 5.5% 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 Upper West Side?
Upper West Side recorded 6,922 NYPD crime complaints over the 12 months ending June 2026. Against the 2020 Census population of its Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (153,518 residents) that is 45.1 reported crimes per 1,000 residents, which is a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Manhattan neighborhoods. Of those, 1,940 were felonies and 391 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 Upper West Side?
The most common crimes in Upper West Side are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (2,290 incidents, 33.1% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (1,089 incidents, 15.7% of total); 3. GRAND LARCENY (775 incidents, 11.2% of total).
Is Upper West Side safer than the Manhattan average?
Upper West Side has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 41% fewer incidents than the borough average (6,922 vs. a borough average of 11,824 for a neighborhood of the same population, 153,518 residents in the 2020 Census). That is 45.1 reported crimes per 1,000 residents.
How has crime changed in Upper West Side?
Crime in Upper West Side has worsened by 5.5% year-over-year, rising from 6,564 to 6,922 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Upper West Side?
Over the past 12 months, 311 recorded 10,041 noise complaints (moderate per resident), 874 rodent complaints (high) and 1,043 sanitation complaints (moderate). 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 Upper West Side safe at night?
Night safety in Upper West Side varies by block. About 21.4% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Upper West Side recorded 5 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 10,041 noise complaints (moderate per resident among the NYC neighborhoods we track) and 874 rodent reports. It has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% 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. Upper West Side has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Manhattan neighborhoods, with 6,922 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 Upper West Side at night?
Upper West Side is classified as "Higher Than Average" by NYPD complaint data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 5 shooting incidents and 6,922 total crime incidents — 41% 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 "Higher Than Average", with a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 6,922 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 5.5% year-over-year, rising from 6,564 to 6,922 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 Upper West 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 Upper West Side a good place to live?
Upper West Side is considered higher than average: it has a lower crime rate per resident than 81% of Manhattan neighborhoods, but 5 shooting incidents in the past 12 months lower the rating. Incidents are trending up with 6,922 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 SideCompare Upper West Side with Nearby Manhattan Crime Rates
The Manhattan neighborhoods whose crime rate per resident is closest to Upper West Side's.