Each year, the FBI releases statewide crime data that the site then uses to compile lists of the country’s most dangerous destinations. New Yorkers already know all the best places to live in New York, but if you’re curious about which places are technically the most dangerous, then you’ll want to take a good look at the Empire State’s Top 10 list of the most dangerous cities in New York.

1 - Buffalo
Buffalo, NY, USA
Cavan Images/Cavan via Getty Images
To our friends in the Nickel City, we hate to break the news that according to the data, Buffalo is New York's most dangerous city. With a population of over 258,000 residents, Buffalo actually moved up on the list from the previous year's position as being our state's second most dangerous city. With 1,042 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, Buffalo holds the title of having the highest violent crime rate in all of New York.

Take a look at some safe activities in Buffalo:

2 - Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, NY, USA
CHBD/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
As much as we love visiting the American Falls, unfortunately, according to the latest data, the country's oldest state park isn't enough to keep Niagara Falls' residents from getting into trouble. Trading place with Buffalo and moving down one spot from last year, Niagara Falls may no longer be the state's most dangerous city but it's still quite close. With a population of over 48,000 residents, the city of Niagara Falls saw more than 4,068 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
3 - Binghamton
Binghamton, NY, USA
ChrisBoswell/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
With no change from last year, Binghamton still remains to be New York State's third most dangerous. Down along our Southern Tier with a population of over 44,000 residents, the city of Binghamton held the title for being the second most dangerous city in New York in terms of property crimes - with 4,218 crimes per 100,000 residents.
4 - Schenectady
Schenectady, NY, USA
DenisTangneyJr/E+ via Getty Images
Having one of the most drastic changes in ranks from last year, the city of Schenectady went from being the 11th most dangerous city in New York State to the 4th most dangerous. Yikes! With more than 66,000 residents, if you happen to live here in Schenectady you have a 5% chance of being a victim of property crime. While the city's population is certainly to be taken into consideration, you'll also want to make note that Schenectady's violent crime rate was recorded as being quite high.

Get an in-depth look at the history of Schenectady:

5 - Rochester
Rochester, NY, USA
narawon/E+ via Getty Images
We love to hang out along the banks of the Genesee River and gaze at the city's mesmerizing architecture, but according to the FBI's most recent data, Rochester is the fifth most dangerous city in all of New York. More than 207,000 residents call Rochester home, and while the city may be sitting relatively high up on New York's list of most dangerous destinations, it actually saw 1,000 fewer property crimes than the previous year! Let's root on the Flower City as things continue to improve out here in Western New York.
6 - Watertown
Watertown, NY 13601, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Jondude11
Up north where you're not far from the shores of Lake Ontario and some of New York's most scenic regions, the FBI's data hints that the residents of Watertown may be getting a tad too bored in their secluded little city. One of the smallest cities you'll find in the Empire State's Top 10, Watertown, unfortunately, increased in danger from last year when it was ranked 10th in the list of the most dangerous cities in New York. According to the data, residents of Watertown have a 1 in 145 chance of being a victim of a violent crime.
7 - Albany
Albany, NY, USA
Sharan Singh/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
With no change in ranking from last year's list, New York State's Capital is considered to be the seventh most dangerous city. Nearly 100,000 residents call Albany home, and while the ranking of the city may have had no change from last year, property and crime rates have continued to decrease here throughout recent years - giving us hope that Albany will fall lower on this list in the future.

Get a bird’s-eye view of Albany:

8 - Johnson City
Johnson City, NY 13790, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Doug Kerr
Another city that saw a decrease in crime, Johnson City found itself down three spots from last year when it was ranked as New York State's fifth most dangerous city. The smallest city to crack the Top 10, Johnson City saw 4,133 property crimes per 100,000 residents, making it the third most dangerous for property crimes in all of New York. Stay safe Broome County friends!
9 - Utica
Utica, NY, USA
M. Suhail/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images
Yet another destination that unfortunately rose in the ranks from the previous year, Utica was considered to be New York's sixteenth most dangerous city previously but now holds the title of being our ninth most dangerous city. Utica may only have a population of 60,000 residents, but according to the FBI's most recent data, things are getting worse here. If you look at the information, you'll see that in 2018 our residents of Utica had a 1 in 158 chance of being a victim of crime.
10 - Syracuse
Syracuse, NY, USA
DenisTangneyJr/E+ via Getty Images
The last city to crack New York's Top 10 list, Syracuse was named the tenth most dangerous city in all of the Empire State for 2020. More than 143,000 residents call Syracuse home and fortunately for them, violent crime in the city has been steadily decreasing and managed to move Syracuse down a spot from its previous rank of being the ninth most dangerous city. Sadly, the fact that Syracuse has such a large population and saw such a high number of property crimes, the city still managed to make the Top 10 list.

Have you visited or lived in any of the most dangerous cities in New York? Let us know about your experiences in the comments. Since you’ve heard about the worst places to live in New York, take a look at the most charming waterfront towns in New York.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

More to Explore

Most Dangerous Cities in New York

Danielle Schwartz | March 17, 2022

What is the most haunted place in New York?

The most haunted place in New York is the Palmyra Historical Museum.

If you are on the hunt for a scare that's less about crime and more about the supernatural, you should definitely check out the Palmyra Historical Museum. Located in Palmyra, New York, this museum is said to be haunted by the ghosts of six children and a young mother who died in a fire in 1964. There have been reports of the basement smelling like ash, toys spontaneously jumping off of the museum shelves, feeling like someone is pulling on your hair and clothing, and the ghost of a cat. You have to experience it for yourself to believe it -- beware of the spirits in this haunted museum!

What are the safest places to live in New York?

The safest places to live in New York are:

  • Lewisboro Town
  • Highlands Town

Lewisboro Town and Highlands Town are the safest places to live in New York. With amazing statistics of zero crimes reported to the FBI, you'll feel safe anytime you're in one of these peaceful towns. Lewisboro Town and Highlands Town both have average incomes in the $100,000 range and have small populations. Lewisboro has 12,500 residents, while Highlands has 8300 people who call the town home.

What is the most scenic town in New York?

The most scenic town in New York is Skaneateles.

One of the most scenic towns in New York is Skaneateles. With a beautiful lake and waterfront park, it's the perfect place to relax and look at the tranquil water. You'll be especially dazzled at sunset when the beautiful colors reflect on the smooth lake surface. For a little evening fun, you'll love all of the charming restaurants and shops in the downtown area. It's a wonderful way to get out of the city and enjoy the nice small-town atmosphere for a weekend! There are multiple places to stay, so you'll find what you're looking for whether you prefer hotels, bed and breakfasts, or Air B&Bs and VRBOs.

 

 

 

Related Articles

Explore New York