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D

Is Schenectady, New York Safe?

Population 69,471 · Safer than 18% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Crime in Schenectady runs high. The city's D grade puts it below 82% of US cities, with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,769 per 100K.

Schenectady Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSchenectadyNew York AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate274.5320.4363.8
Property Crime Rate2357.52030.01,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate187.0--268.2
Theft Rate1769.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate402.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

263.2 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

275/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2358/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Schenectady

Violent crime in Schenectady is below the national average. The rate of 274.5 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2357.5 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,769 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Schenectady Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault187
070% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery56
088% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary434
01.6x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,769
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft402
01.3x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Schenectady Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Schenectady
274.5
State
320.4
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Schenectady
2357.5
State
2030.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Schenectady Safety

Is Schenectady safe?
Not especially. Schenectady earns a D with a crime rate of 263.2 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Schenectady?
263.2 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 274.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2357.5 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Schenectady safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Schenectady's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,769 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Schenectady?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Schenectady generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Schenectady police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Schenectady?
No. Crime in Schenectady has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Schenectady compare to other cities in New York?
Below average for the state. Schenectady ranks behind about 91% of New York cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Schenectady 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 Schenectady?
Bad. A D grade and 263.2 per-thousand rate put Schenectady below 82% of US cities. Violent crime at 275 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Schenectady?
274.5 per 100,000, which is 25% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (187), robbery (56), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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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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