Here Are The 20 Safest Cities In NJ, 2024 Report Says (2024)

Community Corner

Is your city among the safest in New Jersey? See the rankings.

Posted Wed, Apr 17, 2024 at 12:33 pm ET

SafeWise, a security product review platform, looked at FBI crime statistics for cities in the state to compile its 10th annual Safest Cities report. A total of 102 cities met the criteria to be considered for ranking, including municipalities like Denville that reported zero violent crimes, and others like Vernon Township, Jefferson Township, New Milford, and Dumont that reported just two violent crimes.

Statewide violent crime has actually dipped 59 percent year-over-year, making The Garden State the fourth-lowest state for violent crime experience, according to the the study.
New Jersey's violent crime rate of 2.8 incidents per 1,000 people, lower than the national rate of 4.0.

In New Jersey, Vernon Township, Bernards Township, Jefferson Township and New Milford ranked as the top four safest cities in the state. North and Central Jersey dominated the list, with Hillsborough, West Milford, Denville, Mount Olive, Dumont, Sparta, Hopatcong, Warren, Westfield, Roxbury and Middlesex claiming most of the top 20 spots.

Vernon Township ranked as the safest city in the Garden State, with a violent crime rate of 0.0 and a property crime rate of 1.5 incidents per 1,000 people, according to the report. The city has a population of 22,623.

The rankings were based on FBI crime data. Cities and jurisdictions across the country voluntarily report the information through the FBI Summary Reporting System and National Incident-Based Reporting System. The most recent FBI data was released in October 2023 and accounts for crimes reported in 2022. SafeWise also used population thresholds in its reporting, according to the company.

These are the top 20 safest cities in New Jersey for 2024, according to SafeWise:

1. Vernon Township
2. Bernards Township
3. Jefferson Township
4. New Milford
5. Hillsborough Township
6. West Milford Township
7. Dumont
8. Denville Township
9. Sparta Township
10. Jackson Township
11. Mount Olive Township
12. Hopatcong
13. Manchester Township
14. Warren Township
15. Hopewell Township
16. Barnegat Township
17. Westfield
18. Roxbury Township
19. Princeton
20. Middlesex Borough

See the full list.

Statewide, the property crime rate of 15.7 incidents per 1,000 people is is the tenth-lowest in the nation, lower than the nationwide rate of 20.7.

About 46 percent of people in New Jersey reported feeling safe in their state compared to 50 percent of Americans, according to the report.

Gun violence is the only issue where concern increased year over year, rising from 47 to 52 percent who said they worry about it on a daily basis. It’s consistent with increasing mass shooting incidents in New Jersey, with nine incidents in 2022 rising to 12 in 2023.