Is Ithaca or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Ithaca (Safety Score 19/100 vs 14/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,412 for Ithaca — 11% lower. Ithaca has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Ithaca has a 75% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 246.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Ithaca — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Ithaca, NY
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Ithaca | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,412.0 | 3,039.7 | +372.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 196.2 | 671.4 | -475.3 |
| Murder Rate | 3.0 | 3.9 | -1.0 |
| Rape Rate | 17.8 | 23.4 | -5.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 47.6 | 187.5 | -139.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 127.8 | 456.2 | -328.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,215.8 | 2,368.3 | +847.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 329.9 | 154.7 | +175.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,838.4 | 2,015.0 | +823.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 47.6 | 198.5 | -151.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ithaca or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,412 for Ithaca — a 11% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Ithaca has a violent crime rate of 196.2 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. Ithaca has lower violent crime.
About Ithaca, NY
Ithaca, home to Cornell University, is a city nestled in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. Its dramatic gorges and waterfalls are a defining geographic feature, and its population is relatively young due to the presence of two colleges. With a safety score of 14/100 and a population coverage of 33,646, Ithaca has a total crime rate of 3,412.0 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.