Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Watertown, NY has a Safety Score of 5/100 — higher crime than 95% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 4,527.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,812 of 2,971 US cities and #130 of 132 in New York.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Watertown, New York Safe?
Watertown, NY, a city along the Black River, boasts the first department store in the nation, founded by F.W. Woolworth. Situated just south of Fort Drum, it serves as a regional hub for Jefferson County.
Watertown has a safety score of 5/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 4,527.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Watertown ranks #130 out of 132 cities in New York and #2812 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 5th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 95% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Watertown is rape, at 166.5 per 100K — 3.8x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Watertown's total crime rate decreased by 1.4%, with violent crime rising 18.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Watertown Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 144 | 599.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 40 | 166.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 9 | 37.5 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 95 | 395.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 944 | 3,928.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 93 | 387.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 822 | 3,420.9 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 29 | 120.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Watertown vs New York Average
How does Watertown's crime rate compare to the New York state average?
| Metric | Watertown | New York Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 599.3 | 528.5 | +13.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,928.6 | 2,205.9 | +78.1% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 3.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 4,527.9 | 2,734.4 | +65.6% |
Watertown Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Watertown, New York.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 24,029 | 4,527.9 | 599.3 | 3,928.6 |
| 2023 | 24,393 | 4,591.5 | 504.2 | 4,087.2 |
| 2022 | 24,558 | 4,800.9 | 643.4 | 4,157.5 |
| 2021 | 24,091 | 4,258.9 | 498.1 | 3,760.7 |
| 2020 | 24,624 | 4,662.1 | 735.1 | 3,927.1 |
| 2019 | 25,102 | 4,147.1 | 613.5 | 3,533.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Watertown, New York safe?
Watertown has a safety score of 5/100, meaning it has less crime than about 5% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 4,527.9 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Watertown is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Watertown, New York?
According to FBI data for 2024, Watertown has a violent crime rate of 599.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,928.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Watertown compare to the national average?
Watertown's total crime rate of 4,527.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 24,029 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Watertown?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Watertown include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Watertown safe to visit?
Like any city, Watertown has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 5/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.