Is New York City or Portland Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, New York City is safer than Portland (Safety Score 19/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 6,247 for Portland — 51% lower. New York City has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where New York City has a 64% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 13.3x 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
Portland — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City, NY
Portland, OR
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | New York City | Portland | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,039.7 | 6,246.7 | -3,207.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 671.4 | 720.5 | -49.0 |
| Murder Rate | 3.9 | 10.8 | -6.8 |
| Rape Rate | 23.4 | 50.9 | -27.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 187.5 | 177.4 | +10.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 456.2 | 481.2 | -25.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,368.3 | 5,526.2 | -3,158.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 154.7 | 727.4 | -572.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,015.0 | 3,921.3 | -1,906.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 198.5 | 877.6 | -679.1 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York City or Portland safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 6,247 for Portland — a 51% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
New York City has a violent crime rate of 671.4 per 100K while Portland has 720.5. New York City 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.