Is Grand Rapids or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Grand Rapids (Safety Score 19/100 vs 14/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,391 for Grand Rapids — 10% lower. Grand Rapids has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Grand Rapids has a 38% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 42.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Grand Rapids — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Grand Rapids, MI
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Grand Rapids | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,390.8 | 3,039.7 | +351.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 910.1 | 671.4 | +238.7 |
| Murder Rate | 6.1 | 3.9 | +2.2 |
| Rape Rate | 89.8 | 23.4 | +66.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 116.4 | 187.5 | -71.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 697.8 | 456.2 | +241.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,480.7 | 2,368.3 | +112.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 267.5 | 154.7 | +112.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,828.9 | 2,015.0 | -186.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 384.4 | 198.5 | +185.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grand Rapids or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,391 for Grand Rapids — a 10% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Grand Rapids has a violent crime rate of 910.1 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. New York City has lower violent crime.
About Grand Rapids, MI
Grand Rapids, Michigan, a city on the Grand River, is known as "Furniture City" due to its rich manufacturing history. It's the second-largest city in Michigan, with a diverse population. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 195,913, Grand Rapids has a total crime rate of 3,390.8 per 100,000 residents.
About New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.