Queens is the geographically largest of the five boroughs in New York City, with diverse and distinct neighborhood identities throughout. Whether you are visiting the borough or you live there, it can be helpful to know the Queens crime rate to remain alert.
New York City has, on average, lower crime rates than other urban cities, and Queens is one of its less dangerous boroughs. However, crimes still do occur, and you should always be cautious. The overall serious crime rate in Queens as of 2022 was 10.8 per 1,000 residents, less than the city’s serious crime rate of 14.2.
Queens Property Crimes
Property crimes include offenses such as arson, burglary, petit and grand larceny, and motor vehicle theft. Unlike in violent crimes, the victim of property crimes is not directly harmed or threatened with harm. Property crimes like arson can become violent crimes in some cases. Property crimes involve the destruction, damage, or theft of personal or public property.
Queens had a property crime rate of 17.06 per 1,000 residents, slightly less than New York State’s rate of 17.22 and lower than the national median of 20. In 2022, the serious property crime rate was 7.1 per 1,000 residents in Queens, compared to a rate of 9 for the entire city.
Queens Violent Crimes
Violent crimes may be felonies or misdemeanors, and they include varying degrees of assault, battery, manslaughter, rape, and robbery. The victim either suffers harm or is threatened with harm. Violent crimes may also mean that the crime was committed with the presence of a deadly weapon.
In 2019, there were 7,139 reported violent crimes in Queens out of 36,138 citywide, making up about 20% of the crime in New York City. Queens had 6,874 violent crimes in 2018 out of 35,435 citywide, or about 19%. Queens has a higher number of violent crimes than Staten Island, and it has a near-equal average number of violent crimes compared to Manhattan. Queens has significantly fewer violent crimes than the Bronx and Brooklyn.
New York City saw 319 homicides in 2019, 69 of which were in Queens. This is the highest number of homicides in Queens in the previous six years. Although Queens had higher numbers of homicides than Staten Island and Manhattan, the homicide rate per 1,000 residents is approximately the same as both boroughs, at .03.
When looking at the rate of violent crimes in Queens, Staten Island is the only borough with lower rates. Queens had a rate in 2019 of 3.13 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, less than Manhattan’s 4.57 and Brooklyn’s 4.16 rate per 1,000 residents. It is less than half the violent crime rate in the Bronx.
Queens Major Crimes
Law enforcement uses the phrase “major crimes” to refer to both property and violent crimes, particularly those of a significant and/or felony nature.
In New York City in 2019, there were 95,593 reported major crimes, continuing the overall downward trend of the last couple of decades. Of these major crimes, 19,049 occurred in Queens. This is slightly more than the amount of major crimes from 2018 but lower than in 2013 to 2017, continuing an overall decrease. Queens has about the same amount of major crimes as the Bronx in recent years and fewer than Manhattan and Brooklyn.
When looking at major crime rates per number of residents, Queens had a rate of 8.36 per 1,000 residents in 2019, a rate higher than only Staten Island of the five boroughs. Queens’ 2019 major crime rate is nearly half that of Manhattan’s, which is 16.67 per 1,000 residents. Although Queens’ 2019 rate is slightly higher than the rate in 2017 and 2018, it represents a downward trend since 2013, when Queens had a major crime rate of 10.51.
FAQs
Q: Is It Safe to Walk in Queens at Night?
A: Walking in Queens at night can be risky or relatively safe, depending on the neighborhoods you walk in and other factors, such as if you are with someone else. New York is safer than other urban areas of a similar size, and Queens usually had mid to low crime rates compared to the other boroughs. Based on the borough’s major crime rate, it is safer than Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. However, you should always remain cautious when walking at night.
Q: What’s the Crime Rate in Queens?
A: The overall serious crime rate in Queens in 2022 was 10.8 per 1,000 residents. This is lower than the city’s rate of serious crimes, at 14.2 per 1,00 residents. The Queens major crime rate in 2019 was 8.36 per 1,000 residents, which includes major property and violent crimes, particularly those that are considered felonies.
Q: Is Queens a Nice Area of New York?
A: Queens is a relatively nice place to live, having one of the lowest rates of violent and major crime out of the five boroughs, second only to Staten Island. As with any city, it’s important to remain cautious. In addition to lower crime rates, Queens has other advantages, including good schools and strong communities. Because Queens is the geographically largest borough, it is a sprawling and diverse location with many places to experience and call home.
Q: Is It Safe to Drive in Queens?
A: Queens often sees high rates of collisions compared to the other boroughs. In January 2024, the NYPD reported 2,192 motor vehicle collisions in Queens. This was second to Brooklyn, which saw 2,491 collisions. The rate of collisions in the two boroughs is close, at 9.65 collisions per 10,000 people in Queens and 9.67 in Brooklyn. Typically, residents of and visitors to New York City recommend not driving in the city, especially considering the time it takes and the cost of parking.
The Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC: Protecting Your Rights in Queens
It’s essential to find strong criminal defense if you are charged with a crime in Queens. The criminal justice system can often feel overwhelming and unfair, and skilled legal counsel can help you protect your civil rights. At the Law Offices of Robert Tsigler, PLLC, we are proud to represent Queens and the five boroughs of New York City. Contact us today to see how we can help.
