Is Washington Heights, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 9,031 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 6 shooting incidents, and 44,864 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Washington Heights is above the Manhattan average for crime with stable incident levels year-over-year.
Washington Heights is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 44% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 9,031 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 26, 2026
Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
9,031
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
6
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
1,399
3,149 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↔ 1.3%
No significant change
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 1,667 | 18.5% |
| harrassment 2 | 1,098 | 12.2% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 896 | 9.9% |
| grand larceny | 660 | 7.3% |
| dangerous drugs | 656 | 7.3% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 533 | 5.9% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 486 | 5.4% |
| felony assault | 423 | 4.7% |
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
27,063
386.6 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
622
8.9 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Sanitation Issues
1,181
16.9 per 1,000 residents
High
Heat/Hot Water
15,998
228.5 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
5,290
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
2,285
43% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
2,957
56% of total
How Safe Is Washington Heights 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 | 4,401 | 4 | Average | 51% |
| SoHo | 4,564 | 0 | Average | 49% |
| Inwood | 2,649 | 5 | Higher Than Average | 44% |
| Washington Heights (this page) | 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 Washington 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 Washington Heights 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 Washington Heights Safety
Is Washington Heights safe?
Washington Heights is rated "Higher Than Average" — Above-average incident activity. Over the past 12 months, 9,031 crime incidents were recorded, including 6 shooting incidents. Washington Heights is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 44% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 9,031 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Washington Heights?
The most common crimes in Washington Heights are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (1,667 incidents, 18.5% of total); 2. HARRASSMENT 2 (1,098 incidents, 12.2% of total); 3. ASSAULT 3 & RELATED OFFENSES (896 incidents, 9.9% of total).
Is Washington Heights safer than the Manhattan average?
Washington Heights is safer than 44% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 0% more incidents than the borough average (9,031 vs. a borough average of 9,000).
How has crime changed in Washington Heights?
Crime in Washington Heights has remained stable year-over-year (9,150 vs 9,031 incidents). The trend is classified as "stable."
What do 311 complaints say about Washington Heights?
311 data shows 27,063 Very High complaints, 622 Moderate complaints, and 1,181 High complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Washington Heights safe at night?
Night safety in Washington Heights varies by block. About 43.4% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Washington Heights recorded 6 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Washington Heights safe for families?
For families considering Washington Heights: the neighborhood recorded 27,063 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 622 rodent reports. It ranks in the 44th percentile for safety in Manhattan. 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. Washington Heights ranks at the 44th percentile with 9,031 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 Washington Heights at night?
Washington Heights is classified as "Higher Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 6 shooting incidents and 9,031 total crime incidents — 0% more 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 Washington Heights dangerous?
By NYPD data, Washington Heights is rated "Higher Than Average" — safer than 44% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 9,031 crime incidents over 12 months, remained stable year-over-year (9,150 vs 9,031 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 Washington Heights 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 Washington Heights a good place to live?
Washington Heights scores in the 44th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Washington Heights is considered higher than average, ranking safer than 44% of the borough. Incident levels are stable with 9,031 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 Washington Heights to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Washington Heights
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Washington Heights.
Search an Address in Washington Heights