Is Pelham Bay Safe? Bronx Livability, Crime & Rent
Pelham Bay scores 6.1 median—a green, transit-connected neighborhood with strong park access and practical services, but elevated noise and worsening crime temper the appeal.
Pelham Bay at a glance
- Borough
- Bronx
- Livability score
- 6.1/10
- Borough rank
- #9 of 23
- Safety verdict
- Much Safer Than Average
- Crimes (12 mo)
- 1,291
- Median listing
- $0
- Subway stations
- 3 (St Lawrence Av, Morrison Av-Soundview, Elder Av)
- Active listings
- 206
- Data updated
- 2026-04-05
Is Pelham Bay Safe?
Pelham Bay, Bronx scores 6.1/10 for overall livability, ranking #9 of 23 Bronx neighborhoods. Pelham Bay scores 6.1 median—a green, transit-connected neighborhood with strong park access and practical services, but elevated noise and worsening crime temper the appeal.
This score aggregates live NYPD crime data, 311 safety complaints, shooting incidents, and building health signals within walking distance. Safety varies by block — check a specific Pelham Bay address below for a block-level breakdown.
Score Overview
Vertical line = borough median. Scale: 0-10.
Neighborhood Character
You'll find Pelham Bay as a tree-dense residential pocket in the northeast Bronx, anchored by proximity to Pelham Bay Park and Orchard Beach. The neighborhood averages 108 trees within a 200-meter radius with a canopy density of 9.5/10—among the greenest blocks you'll encounter. Street-level, you're looking at a mid-rise dominated area (66% of tracked buildings), mixed with walk-ups (23%) and a few high-rises (11%), creating an uneven but lived-in residential texture. Three subway lines service the area (6 train at St Lawrence Av, Morrison Av-Soundview, and Elder Av), though parks like Watson Gleason and Noble Playground sit an average 548 meters away—walkable but not immediate.
Analysis based on 206 properties scored across 30+ data points
Livability & Restoration
Tree Canopy
108 trees
Avg within 200m | Density: 9.5/10
10 additional trees per block correlates with health benefits equivalent to being 7 years younger (Kardan et al., 2015)
Park Access
Watson Gleason Playground
Avg 548m away | Score: 2.5/10
Living within 300m of green space associated with 30% fewer antidepressant prescriptions (Taylor et al., 2015)
Acoustic Quality
10/10
Noise proxy score (higher = quieter)
Chronic noise above 55 dB at night associated with 8% cardiovascular mortality increase (Basner et al., 2014)
Street Character
0/10
Enclosure: 0/10
What is the ART Score?
ART stands for Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989) — the framework environmental psychologists use to measure whether a place helps your brain recover from mental fatigue, or pushes it deeper into overload. Cities deplete directed attention (the effortful focus you use at work); exposure to restorative environments replenishes it.
We compute an ART score for every block by combining four signals: access to restorative zones (parks, museums, libraries), sensory load (nightlife and tourist density), street vitality (Jane Jacobs’ “eyes on the street”), and third places (Oldenburg’s informal community spaces).
In line with the Bronx median — typical city stimulus with typical restorative access.
What drives the score
- +Restorative zones. Museums, libraries, community gardens, and parks within walking distance. “Soft fascination” stimuli (clouds, tree branches, water) let directed attention recover without effort — the Kaplans’ core mechanism.
- −Sensory load. Bar and nightclub density (5+ within 150m), firehouse siren corridors, tourist chokepoints, and very high foot traffic push the score down by up to 8 points.
- +Street vitality (Jacobs, 1961). Permitted block parties, farmers markets, and community festivals over the past 12 months — a proxy for “eyes on the street” and the informal surveillance that makes blocks feel safe and maintained.
- +Third places (Oldenburg, 1989). Cafés, public plazas (POPS), community centers — the “anchors of community life” that buffer against social isolation. Loneliness has been linked to 29% higher incident coronary heart disease risk (Valtorta et al., 2016).
Health mechanism. Directed-attention fatigue (DAF) is linked to impaired decision-making, irritability, and elevated cortisol. A meta-analysis of 60+ studies (Ohly et al., 2016) found restorative environment exposure significantly improves attention-task performance (Hedges’ g ≈ 0.32) and reduces negative affect.
Theoretical foundations. Kaplan & Kaplan (1989), The Experience of Nature; Jacobs (1961), The Death and Life of Great American Cities; Oldenburg (1989), The Great Good Place.
Transit & Commute
Subway Stations
Commute Score
5/10
Borough median: 5/10
Walk Score Proxy
0/10
Based on street geometry analysis
Financial Landscape
Median Price
$0
Price per Sq Ft
$0
Price Distribution
Price by Building Type
Investment Indicators
Avg Unused FAR
0 sqft
Development rights potential
Unused development rights valued at $30-$80/sqft in Brooklyn (Glaeser, 2011)
Avg Days on Market
0
Market velocity signal
Multi-Family Stock
0%
2-4 family buildings
Multi-family owner-occupants build 2.4x wealth vs single-family (Herbert, 2013)
Outdoor & Green Space
Avg Tree Count
108
Within 200m radius
Canopy Density
9.5/10
Normalized canopy coverage
Park Network
- Watson Gleason Playground
- Noble Playground
- Colgate Close
- Taylor Playground
- Captain William Harry Thompson Playground
Avg distance: 548m
Practical Living
Building Types
Who Pelham Bay Is For
Nature-focused residents
Practical score of 9 (versus borough median 4) reflects proximity to parks and green space; canopy density of 9.5/10 is exceptional for the Bronx.
Transit-dependent commuters
Commute score of 5 (borough median 5) means reliable but not premium transit access; three 6 train stops provide steady service.
Budget-conscious renters/buyers
Financial and Investment scores neutral (5.0) due to unavailable pricing data, but lack of hype suggests lower-pressure market relative to tighter Bronx neighborhoods.
Pros & Cons
Strengths
Exceptional tree canopy and park access
108 trees within 200m radius; canopy density 9.5/10; Pelham Bay Park and Orchard Beach adjacent; multiple playgrounds under 600m away.
Solid practical livability score
Practical score of 9—highest in this dataset—reflecting reliable local services and amenities despite modest transit and financial scores.
Stable multi-family residential building stock
206 tracked buildings, 66% mid-rise (stable backbone), 23% walk-up (character), 11% high-rise; mix supports diverse unit types.
Trade-offs
High noise complaints
6,867 noise complaints recorded—very high relative to borough activity—suggests congested or disruptive conditions despite residential branding.
Worsening crime trend
Crime increased 194.4% over 12 months; total crimes 3,960; safety percentile 48% (middle of borough range), but trajectory is concerning.
Below-average outdoor and art/livability scores
Outdoor score 4.9 (borough median 5.5); Art/Livability score 4.8 (borough median 4.5)—limited cultural amenities and recreational diversity beyond parks.
Score Any Address in Pelham Bay
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Search an Address in Pelham BayFrequently Asked Questions about Pelham Bay
1Is Pelham Bay safe?
By NYPD data, Pelham Bay is rated "Much Safer Than Average" — safer than 83% of Bronx neighborhoods. 1,291 crime incidents and 0 shooting incidents over the past 12 months. See the safety page for the full breakdown.
2What is the average rent in Pelham Bay?
Rents in Pelham Bay, Bronx vary significantly by building and apartment type. The median listing price is $0. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses.
3How is transit access in Pelham Bay?
Pelham Bay has a commute score of 5/10. 3 subway stations serve the area: St Lawrence Av, Morrison Av-Soundview, Elder Av.
4What are the best streets in Pelham Bay?
The best streets depend on your priorities. Use DwellCheck to compare specific addresses across livability, safety, transit, and environmental factors.
5What is Pelham Bay known for?
Pelham Bay sits in Bronx and ranks #9 of 23 Bronx neighborhoods on DwellCheck's livability score (6.1/10). It's served by 3 subway stations (St Lawrence Av, Morrison Av-Soundview, Elder Av), with a median listing price of $0. Pelham Bay scores 6.1 median—a green, transit-connected neighborhood with strong park access and practical services, but elevated noise and worsening crime temper the appeal.
6What is it like to live in Pelham Bay?
Living in Pelham Bay, Bronx weights against six livability dimensions: practical (HPD-violation density), commute (subway proximity), arts/culture (venue density), outdoor (parks + trees), financial (price level), investment (price trend). Pelham Bay's composite is 6.1/10. Pelham Bay scores 6.1 median—a green, transit-connected neighborhood with strong park access and practical services, but elevated noise and worsening crime temper the appeal. For the block-by-block view, run any specific Pelham Bay address through DwellCheck.
7Is Pelham Bay expensive?
Median listing price in Pelham Bay, Bronx is $0 based on 206 active listings as of 2026-04-05. Whether that reads "expensive" depends on the comparison: it's lower than Manhattan averages and varies considerably by building. Rent-stabilized units in Pelham Bay can run 20-40% below the median; check DHCR rent history for any specific address to verify.
8Can you walk around Pelham Bay at night?
Pelham Bay is classified as "Much Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 0 shooting incidents and 1,291 total crime incidents. 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.
9Is Pelham Bay dangerous?
By NYPD data, Pelham Bay is rated "Much Safer Than Average" — safer than 83% of Bronx neighborhoods. 1,291 crime incidents over 12 months. Block-level risk varies; check the address-level safety score for any specific street or building.
10What parts of Pelham Bay 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 NYC: industrial blocks with no foot traffic are higher-risk than residential blocks; subway-station-adjacent commercial corridors are lowest-risk.
11Is Pelham Bay a good place to live?
Pelham Bay scores 6.1/10 for overall livability and ranks in the 83th percentile for safety in Bronx. Pelham Bay scores 6.1 median—a green, transit-connected neighborhood with strong park access and practical services, but elevated noise and worsening crime temper the appeal. Whether it's a good fit depends on what you weight: families, solo renters, and remote workers each prioritize different factors (noise, transit access, parks, building quality).
12What is the average DwellScore in Pelham Bay?
Median composite score is 6.1 (interquartile range 5.7–6.5). High practical score (9) drives appeal for nature and services; weaker financial (5), art/livability (4.8), and outdoor (4.9) scores reflect limited cultural amenities and investment activity.
13How accessible is public transit?
Commute score is 5 (borough median 5). Three 6 train stations serve the area: St Lawrence Av, Morrison Av-Soundview, and Elder Av. Reliable but not premium frequency or destination diversity.
14What's the safety situation?
Safety percentile is 48% (middle of borough). Total crimes 3,960 over 12 months; noise complaints 6,867 (very high). Crime is worsening, up 194.4% year-over-year—a red flag for prospective residents.
15Is there green space nearby?
Yes—exceptionally so. Average tree density is 108 within 200m; canopy density 9.5/10. Pelham Bay Park and Orchard Beach are adjacent; five playgrounds average 548m away. Practical score of 9 reflects this asset.
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