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D

Is Rochester, New York Safe?

Population 206,108 · Safer than 19% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Rochester has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate below the national average and an overall rate of 260.4 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,455 per 100K.

Rochester Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricRochesterNew York AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate269.6320.4363.8
Property Crime Rate2334.02030.01,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate169.0--268.2
Theft Rate1455.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate553.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

260.4 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

270/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2334/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Rochester

Violent crime in Rochester is below the national average. The rate of 269.6 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2334.0 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,455 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Rochester Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault169
063% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery49
077% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary273
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,455
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft553
01.7x national avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Rochester Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Rochester
269.6
State
320.4
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Rochester
2334.0
State
2030.0
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rochester Safety

Is Rochester safe?
Not especially. Rochester earns a D with a crime rate of 260.4 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Rochester?
260.4 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 269.6 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2334.0 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Rochester safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Rochester's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,455 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Rochester?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Rochester generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Rochester police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Rochester?
No. Crime in Rochester has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Rochester compare to other cities in New York?
Below average for the state. Rochester ranks behind about 85% of New York cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Rochester to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Rochester?
Bad. A D grade and 260.4 per-thousand rate put Rochester below 81% of US cities. Violent crime at 270 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Rochester?
269.6 per 100,000, which is 26% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (169), robbery (49), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in New York

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View all New York city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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