Is New York City or Palo Alto Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, New York City is safer than Palo Alto (Safety Score 19/100 vs 16/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,245 for Palo Alto — 6% lower. New York City has higher rates in 3 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Palo Alto has a 71% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 127.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than New York City, NY?
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Palo Alto — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City, NY
Palo Alto, CA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | New York City | Palo Alto | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,039.7 | 3,245.3 | -205.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 671.4 | 212.1 | +459.4 |
| Murder Rate | 3.9 | 1.5 | +2.4 |
| Rape Rate | 23.4 | 38.4 | -15.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 187.5 | 53.8 | +133.7 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 456.2 | 118.3 | +337.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,368.3 | 3,033.2 | -665.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 154.7 | 225.9 | -71.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,015.0 | 2,623.0 | -608.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 198.5 | 184.4 | +14.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York City or Palo Alto safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,245 for Palo Alto — a 6% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
New York City has a violent crime rate of 671.4 per 100K while Palo Alto has 212.1. Palo Alto has lower violent crime.
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.
About Palo Alto, CA
Palo Alto, at the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, is a wealthy Silicon Valley hub home to Stanford University. Its residents are highly educated, with a significant portion holding advanced degrees. With a safety score of 16/100 and a population coverage of 65,079, Palo Alto has a total crime rate of 3,245.3 per 100,000 residents.