Is Merced or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Merced (Safety Score 19/100 vs 12/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,577 for Merced — 15% lower. Merced has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where New York City has a 46% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 86.4x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Merced — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Merced, CA
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Merced | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,577.3 | 3,039.7 | +537.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 784.8 | 671.4 | +113.4 |
| Murder Rate | 7.3 | 3.9 | +3.4 |
| Rape Rate | 103.0 | 23.4 | +79.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 166.5 | 187.5 | -20.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 507.9 | 456.2 | +51.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,792.6 | 2,368.3 | +424.3 |
| Burglary Rate | 569.3 | 154.7 | +414.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,738.2 | 2,015.0 | -276.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 485.0 | 198.5 | +286.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Merced or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,577 for Merced — a 15% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Merced has a violent crime rate of 784.8 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. New York City has lower violent crime.
About Merced, CA
Merced, a Central Valley city known for its proximity to Yosemite, serves as a significant agricultural hub. This community, home to a University of California campus, experiences hot, dry summers and mild winters. With a safety score of 12/100 and a population coverage of 96,077, Merced has a total crime rate of 3,577.3 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.