Is Midtown East, Manhattan Safe in 2026?
Based on 2,295 NYPD-reported crime incidents, 0 shooting incidents, and 3,677 311 quality-of-life complaints recorded over the past 12 months, Midtown East is below the Manhattan average for crime and trending safer (7.2% fewer incidents year-over-year).
Midtown East is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 75% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,295 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
2,295
Past 12 months
Shooting Incidents
0
Past 12 months
Violent Crimes
480
714 felonies total
Year-over-Year Trend
↓ 7.2%
7.2% fewer incidents
Crime Breakdown
Most Common Crime Types
| Type | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| petit larceny | 694 | 30.2% |
| grand larceny | 358 | 15.6% |
| harrassment 2 | 264 | 11.5% |
| assault 3 & related offenses | 178 | 7.8% |
| criminal mischief & related of | 112 | 4.9% |
| other offenses related to theft | 77 | 3.4% |
| vehicle and traffic laws | 76 | 3.3% |
| felony assault | 72 | 3.1% |
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
2,298
65.7 per 1,000 residents
Very High
Rodent Reports
109
3.1 per 1,000 residents
Low
Sanitation Issues
187
5.3 per 1,000 residents
Moderate
Heat/Hot Water
1,083
30.9 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
1,214
Past 12 months
Felony Arrests
352
29% of total
Misdemeanor Arrests
843
69% of total
How Safe Is Midtown East 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 (this page) | 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 | 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 Midtown East.
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 Midtown East 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 Midtown East Safety
Is Midtown East safe?
Midtown East is rated "Much Safer Than Average" — Top 25% safest in the borough. Over the past 12 months, 2,295 crime incidents were recorded, including 0 shooting incidents. Midtown East is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 75% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,295 total incidents recorded over the past 12 months.
What are the most common crimes in Midtown East?
The most common crimes in Midtown East are: 1. PETIT LARCENY (694 incidents, 30.2% of total); 2. GRAND LARCENY (358 incidents, 15.6% of total); 3. HARRASSMENT 2 (264 incidents, 11.5% of total).
Is Midtown East safer than the Manhattan average?
Midtown East is safer than 75% of Manhattan neighborhoods. It had 49% fewer incidents than the borough average (2,295 vs. a borough average of 4,500).
How has crime changed in Midtown East?
Crime in Midtown East has improved by 7.2% year-over-year, dropping from 2,474 to 2,295 incidents. The trend is classified as "improving."
What do 311 complaints say about Midtown East?
311 data shows 2,298 Very High complaints, 109 Low complaints, and 187 Moderate complaints. These quality-of-life indicators provide context beyond crime statistics.
Is Midtown East safe at night?
Night safety in Midtown East varies by block. About 19.7% of crimes occur on streets and sidewalks. Midtown East recorded 0 shooting incidents in the past 12 months. Use DwellCheck to research specific addresses and understand block-by-block conditions.
Is Midtown East safe for families?
For families considering Midtown East: the neighborhood recorded 2,298 noise complaints (very high for Manhattan) and 109 rodent reports. It ranks safer than 75% 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. Midtown East ranks at the 75th percentile with 2,295 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 Midtown East at night?
Midtown East is classified as "Much Safer Than Average" by NYPD CompStat data. Over the past 12 months it recorded 0 shooting incidents and 2,295 total crime incidents — 49% 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 Midtown East dangerous?
By NYPD data, Midtown East is rated "Much Safer Than Average" — safer than 75% of Manhattan neighborhoods. 2,295 crime incidents over 12 months, improved by 7.2% year-over-year, dropping from 2,474 to 2,295 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 Midtown East 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 Midtown East a good place to live?
Midtown East scores in the 75th percentile for safety in Manhattan. Midtown East is considered much safer than average, ranking safer than 75% of the borough. Incidents are trending down with 2,295 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 Midtown East to see all six dimensions side-by-side.
Check a Specific Address in Midtown East
Neighborhood statistics tell part of the story. Get address-level crime data, building health scores, and transit access for any specific location in Midtown East.
Search an Address in Midtown East