Is New York City or Pittsfield Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Pittsfield is safer than New York City (Safety Score 48/100 vs 19/100), with a total crime rate of 1,751 per 100,000 versus 3,040 for New York City — 42% lower. New York City has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Pittsfield has a 85% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 193.7x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Pittsfield — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City, NY
Pittsfield, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | New York City | Pittsfield | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,039.7 | 1,750.9 | +1,288.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 671.4 | 511.3 | +160.2 |
| Murder Rate | 3.9 | 4.7 | -0.8 |
| Rape Rate | 23.4 | 98.1 | -74.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 187.5 | 28.0 | +159.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 456.2 | 380.5 | +75.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,368.3 | 1,239.6 | +1,128.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 154.7 | 385.2 | -230.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,015.0 | 756.4 | +1,258.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 198.5 | 98.1 | +100.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York City or Pittsfield safer?
Pittsfield is safer with a total crime rate of 1,751 per 100K vs 3,040 for New York City — a 42% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
New York City has a violent crime rate of 671.4 per 100K while Pittsfield has 511.3. Pittsfield 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 Pittsfield, MA
Pittsfield, nestled in the Berkshire Mountains, is the county seat of Berkshire County. Herman Melville wrote "Moby Dick" here. Its population is approximately 42,000. With a safety score of 48/100 and a population coverage of 42,835, Pittsfield has a total crime rate of 1,750.9 per 100,000 residents.