Is Rochester, New York Safe? (Crime Rates And Crime Stats)

If you are thinking about visiting Rochester and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.

We are going to deep dive into the statistics, look at some maps, graphs and talk to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe Rochester really is.

Is Rochester, New York Safe To Visit?

Statistically speaking, Rochester is a slightly unsafe place to visit. In 2020, Rochester had a violent crime rate of 794.97 per 100,000 people.

It’s violent crime rate is 2x greater than the national average and its murder rate of 38.33 is 3.7x greater than the national average.

Rochester, New York Crime Stats

Here’s a breakdown of all the crimes in the city for 2020 compared to 2019:

	2019	2020	% + OR –
Homicide	32	51	59%
Rape	102	86	-16%
Robbery	429	418	-3%
Aggravated Assault	976	1,128	16%
Burglary	1,269	1,389	9%
Larceny-Theft	5,222	4,583	-12%
Motor Vehicle Theft	651	915	41%
Arson	83	152	83%
TOTAL	8,764	8,722	-0.5%

**All data is from the FBI UCR**

Rochester’s Violent Crime Stats

In 2020 Rochester reported 1,680 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 794.97 per 100,000 people.

The national average for violent crime is 398.5 per 100,000 residents. Rochester’s violent crime rate is 2x greater than the national average.
Rochester’s violent crime rate is 2.2x greater than the state average.
Year over year violent crime has increased by 9%.
Rochester’s violent crime rate is on par with cities like Dallas, Phoenix and Los Angeles.

Here’s a map showing you how violent crimes have trended in Rochester over a 30 year period.

Violent crime peaked in 1990 when Rochester reported 2,865 violent crimes and had a violent crime rate of 1,240.95 per 100,000 people
Violent crime has decreased 41% from its peak from 1990.

*Violent crimes include; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults and the violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.

Rochester’s Property Crime Stats

In 2020 Rochester reported 6,887 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 3,258.92 per 100,000 people.

The national average for property crime is 1958.2 per 100,000 residents. Rochester’s property crime rate is roughly 1.7x greater than the national average.
Rochester’s property crime rate is roughly 2.3x greater than the state average.
Year over year property crime in Rochester has decreased by 4%.
Rochester has a similar property crime rate to Las Vegas, Sacramento and Philadelphia.

Here’s a map showing you how property crimes have trended in Rochester over a 30 year period.

Property crime peaked in 1992 when Rochester reported 24,964 violent crimes and had a property crime rate of roughly 10,812.92 per 100,000 people
Property crime has decreased 72% from its peak from 1992.

*Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson and property crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.

Rochester’s Murder Stats

In 2021, Rochester reported 81 homicides, which is a 59% increase from 2020.

Rochester homicide rate in 2021 was roughly 38.33 per 100,000 people.
Rochester has a similar homicide rate to Cleveland, Kansas City and Dayton.
Rochester’s murder rate is 3.7x greater than the national average.
Rochester’s murder rate is 5.8x greater than the state average.

Here’s a map showing you how homicides have trended in Rochester over a 30 year period.

2021 was Rochester’s deadliest year on record.

Here’s a maps showing you the locations of all the homicides in 2021

Rochester Shooting Stats

In 2021, Rochester reported 349 shootings, which is a 39% increase from 2020 and a 122% increase from 2019

Here’s a map showing you the locations of all the shootings in Rochester in 2021

Rochester, New York vs The Most Dangerous Cities in the United States

Here’s a list of the top 18 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Rochester’s violent crime rate is 3x less than Memphis, the most dangerous city on the list.

City	Number of violent crimes in 2020	Violent Crime Rate
Memphis	15,310	2,418.24
Detroit	14,370	2,248.44
St. Louis	6,017	1,995.17
Little Rock	3,657	1,805.11
South Bend	1,765	1,706.09
Cleveland	6,294	1,689.10
Milwaukee	9,407	1,629.70
Birmingham	3,166	1,577.22
Kansas City	7,919	1,558.58
Lansing	1,699	1,508.29
Springfield	2,545	1,504.35
Baltimore	8,552	1,404.20
San Bernardino	3,033	1,365.59
New Orleans	5,215	1,358.08
Albuquerque	7,552	1,337.68
Oakland	5,653	1,282.89
Stockton	4,023	1,254.04

Most Dangerous Neighborhoods In Rochester, New York

Marketview Heights
Upper Falls
Group 14621
Edgerton
Brown Square
JOSANA
Plymouth-Exchange
North Clinton
Thurston Rd
Genesee St.
Troup St.
Hudson Ave
Ave D
North Goodman
Llyle Ave

Safest Neighborhoods in Rochester, New York

Browncroft
Cobbs Hill
East End
Park Ave
East Ave
The Neighborhood of the Arts (NOTA)
Cornhill
Brighton
Swillburg
Culver-Winton
Maplewood
Mt. Hope/Highland
Ellwanger-Barry
19th Ward
Genesee Valley Park
Charlotte
Northland-Lyceum
Homestead Hights

Is Downtown Rochester, New York Safe?

Downtown Rochester is generally a safe area to visit during the day time. At night we recommend that you do not venture out of the immediate downtown area, stay in well populated places and don’t stray off the beaten path.

Also avoid straying into the crescent area of the city, which are the neighborhoods surrounding the northern border of downtown: Upper Falls, Marketview Heights, Group 14621, Edgerton, Brown Square, and JOSANA.

Is Rochester, New York safe from hurricanes and tornadoes?

Rochester is at very low risk from hurricanes and tornadoes and is something that doesn’t concern residents of the city.

Is the public transportation in Rochester safe?

The public transportation system in Rochester is handled by RTS (Regional Transport Services). and it offers 37 fixed bus routes.

It is generally safe to use the public transportation of Rochester during commuting hours (8am – 6pm), however we do not recommend that you take the bus at night. You should opt for a taxi or ride sharing service instead.

What do residents of Rochester say about it’s safety?

"Overall Rochester is a safe city. That doesn’t mean that there aren’tneighborhoods I wouldn’t hang out in at night."
"I feel safe in Rochester, but I have a great deal of awareness of where not to go."
"Rochester is as safe as any medium size city in the US. There are places where you shouldn’t be late at night but overall it’s a great city."
"Rochester is not dangerous unless you decide to live or spend time in the few areas of high crime in the inner city."
"The city is very safe, unless you are entangled in the drug trade or gang life."
"The majority of violent crime in Rochester occurs in the “fatal crescent” area of the city.

Is Rochester safe for women?

While there are no guarantees, Rochester is generally safe for female solo travelers as long as you learn the layout of the city, avoid problem areas, stay in well lit/well populated areas and avoid walking by yourself at night.

Is Rochester safe at night?

Rochester is safe at night as long as you stay away from the sketchy neighborhoods mentioned above. You should be able to mitigate your chances of being a victim if you study the layout of the city and avoid areas where crime is high.

Streets and squares that are perfectly safe in the day can be questionable at night. Stay where the tourists go during the day and avoid any places that are outside normal pedestrian areas at night.

Is Rochester’s tap water safe to drink?

The tap water in Rochester, New York is safe to drink. From Oct. 31, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2021, Rochester only had 0 health violations.

While the tap water in Rochester meets the EPA health guidelines, it can still contain contaminants present in trace amounts that could potentially cause health issues over the long-run.

If you have any concerns about the tap water in Rochester, we suggest that you use bottle water for your drinking needs.

Tips to stay safe while visiting Rochester, New York

Learn the layout of the city and figure out which areas you should avoid. Book your accommodations accordingly.
Save the sight seeing for the daytime. At night the situation can drastically change in certain neighborhoods.
Always be aware of your surroundings. That means to keep your ears and eyes open. Keep your headphones off and don’t scroll aimlessly through your phone.
Always listen to your gut and trust your instincts. If a situation feels unsafe or if you feel uncomfortable, even if you don’t know why, leave. Don’t stick around to find out.
Map your route before you leave. Don’t just jump in the car, set the GPS and drive. You need to know where you are going and what you are going through.
Don’t walk by yourself at night. There is safety in numbers.
Don’t leave any valuables in your car.
Always park in a well-lit or secure area.

A Few Things You Should Do While Visiting Rochester According To Locals

Strong National Museum of Play – Really awesome place to take the kids.
Mendon Ponds Park – Scenic hiking trails that are well marked and maintained.
Highland Park/Lamberton Conservatory – A botanical garden that is full of peace and tranquility.
George Eastman Museum – The World’s oldest museum dedicated to photography
Good Luck restaurant – The food is phenomenal here.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que – Best bbq in the city.
Atlas Eats – Best breakfast/brunch spot in the city
Susan B. Anthony Museum & House – Take a step back in time and tour the house of one of the most pivotal women in America’s history

Quick Facts About Rochester, New York

	Rochester, New York	United States
Population, Census, April 1, 2020	211,328	331,449,281
Population, Census, April 1, 2010	210,565	308,745,538
Persons under 5 years, percent	6.3%	6.0%
Persons under 18 years, percent	22.7%	22.3%
Persons 65 years and over, percent	10.9%	16.5%
Black or African American alone, percent	39.8%	13.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent	1.0%	1.3%
Asian alone, percent	3.1%	5.9%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent	0.1%	0.2%
Two or More Races, percent	4.4%	2.8%
Hispanic or Latino, percent	19.2%	18.5%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent	36.7%	60.1%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2015-2019	$83,100.00	$217,500.00
Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2015-2019	$1,055.00	$1,595.00
Median gross rent, 2015-2019	$848.00	$1,062.00
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2015-2019	75.7%	82.7%
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2015-2019	80.4%	88.0%
Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2015-2019	25.1%	32.1%
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2015-2019	62.3%	63.0%
Median household income (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019	$35,590.00	$62,843.00
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2019 dollars), 2015-2019	$23,246.00	$34,103.00
Persons in poverty, percent	31.3%	11.4%