Is Lincoln Square, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 3,445 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 1 shooting incident, and 10,637 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Lincoln Square is below the Manhattan average for crime with incidents trending upward (6.2% increase year-over-year).
Lincoln Square is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 62% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 3,445 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 18, 2026
Safety Dashboard
Total Crime Incidents
3,445
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
1
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
659
986 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↑ 6.2%
6.2% more incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 994 | 28.9% |
| grand larceny | 488 | 14.2% |
| harrassment 2 | 435 | 12.6% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 240 | 7.0% |
| other offenses related to theft | 235 | 6.8% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 161 | 4.7% |
| felony assault | 94 | 2.7% |
| burglary | 89 | 2.6% |
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
9,474
270.7 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
170
4.9 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
256
7.3 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
737
21.1 per 1,000 residents
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
1,009
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
250
25% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
732
73% of total
How Safe Is Lincoln Square 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Lincoln Square.
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 Lincoln Square 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 Lincoln Square Safety
Is Lincoln Square safe?
Lincoln Square is rated "Safer Than Average" — Top 45% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 3,445 crime incidents were recorded, including 1 shooting incident. Lincoln Square is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 62% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 3,445 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Lincoln Square?
The most common crimes in Lincoln Square are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (994 incidents, 28.9% of total); 2. GRAND LARCENY (488 incidents, 14.2% of total); 3. HARRASSMENT 2 (435 incidents, 12.6% of total).
Is Lincoln Square safer than the Manhattan average?
Lincoln Square is safer than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 23% fewer incidents than the borough average (3,445 vs. a borough average of 4,500).
How has crime changed in Lincoln Square?
Crime in Lincoln Square has worsened by 6.2% year-over-year, rising from 3,245 to 3,445 incidents. The trend is classified as "worsening."
What do 311 complaints say about Lincoln Square?
311 data shows 9,474 Very High complaints, 170 Low complaints, and 256 Moderate complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Lincoln Square safe at night?
Night safety in Lincoln Square varies by block. About 17.5% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Lincoln Square recorded 1 shooting incident in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Lincoln Square safe for families?
For families considering Lincoln Square: the neighborhood recorded 9,474 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 170 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods, which is above average. 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. Lincoln Square ranks at the 62th percentile with 3,445 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 Lincoln Square at night?
Lincoln Square is classified as "Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 1 shooting incident and 3,445 total crime incidents — 23% 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 Lincoln Square dangerous?
By NYPD data, Lincoln Square is rated "Safer Than Average" — safer than 62% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 3,445 crime incidents over 12 months, worsened by 6.2% year-over-year, rising from 3,245 to 3,445 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 Lincoln Square 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 Lincoln Square a good place to live?
Lincoln Square scores in the 62th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Lincoln Square is considered safer than average, ranking safer than 62% of the borough. Incidents are trending up with 3,445 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 Lincoln Square to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Lincoln Square
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Lincoln Square.
Search an Address in Lincoln Square