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C+

Is Watertown, New York Safe?

Population 23,517 · Safer than 43% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Watertown is a smaller community of 23,517 people with a C+ safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 195.5 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,331 per 100K.

Watertown Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWatertownNew York AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate283.2320.4363.8
Property Crime Rate1671.72030.01,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate232.0--268.2
Theft Rate1331.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate218.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC+

195.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

283/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC+

1672/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Watertown

Violent crime in Watertown is below the national average. The rate of 283.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1671.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,331 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Watertown Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault232
087% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery68
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary239
089% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,331
095% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft218
068% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Watertown Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Watertown
283.2
State
320.4
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Watertown
1671.7
State
2030.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Watertown Safety

Is Watertown safe?
It depends on where in Watertown you are. The city gets a C+ overall, with violent crime below the national average and property crime close to the national average. Some areas are safer than others.
What is the crime rate in Watertown?
195.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 283.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1671.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Watertown safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Watertown has a C+ grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Watertown?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Watertown generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Watertown police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Watertown?
Crime rates have held steady in Watertown, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C+ grade.
How does Watertown compare to other cities in New York?
Below average for the state. Watertown ranks behind about 60% of New York cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 0.9x the national rate.
How safe is Watertown to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Watertown?
Mixed. Violent crime is below the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 43th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Watertown?
283.2 per 100,000, which is 22% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (232), robbery (68), and murder (3.0) 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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