Updated April 2026 · 12 cities · 6 data sources
New Jersey Data Profile 2026: Crime, Schools, Water, Air, Hospitals & City Spending
Crime & Safety
New Jersey has an average safety score of 55.5/100 across 4 cities, below the national average of 61.5/100.
Safest Cities
| City | Safety Score | Grade | Violent Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newark | 62 | C | 403.0 |
| Lakewood | 60 | C | 603.1 |
| Jersey City | 55 | C | 574.9 |
| Paterson | 45 | D | 665.3 |
Most Dangerous Cities
| City | Safety Score | Grade | Violent Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson | 45 | D | 665.3 |
| Jersey City | 55 | C | 574.9 |
| Lakewood | 60 | C | 603.1 |
| Newark | 62 | C | 403.0 |
School Quality
New Jersey cities average a school score of 71/100 across 2 cities.
Top School Districts
| City | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Toms River | 71 | B |
| DENVILLE | 71 | B |
Lowest-Rated Schools
| City | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Toms River | 71 | B |
| DENVILLE | 71 | B |
Water Safety
New Jersey cities average a water safety score of 37.5/100 across 2 cities.
Air Quality
New Jersey cities average a median AQI of 46 across 2 cities.
Hospital Quality
New Jersey cities have an average hospital quality rating of 2.1/5 across 12 cities with a total of 19 hospitals tracked.
City Spending
New Jersey cities average $33,514.4 in per-capita spending with an average fiscal health score of 57.5/100.
Most Fiscally Efficient
| City | Fiscal Score | Per Capita |
|---|---|---|
| Toms River | 90/100 | $9,931 |
| Jersey City | 70/100 | $21,136 |
| Paterson | 64/100 | $16,110 |
| Passaic | 63/100 | $70,270 |
| Elizabeth | 61/100 | $21,067 |
Biggest Spenders (Per Capita)
| City | Per Capita | Fiscal Score |
|---|---|---|
| Passaic | $70,270 | 63/100 |
| East Orange | $69,459 | 43/100 |
| Camden | $55,742 | 44/100 |
| Bayonne | $50,508 | 52/100 |
| Hoboken | $21,143 | 53/100 |
According to data compiled by CitySpend.org from 6 federal sources, New Jersey has 12 tracked cities with an average safety score of 55.5, school score of 71, and water safety score of 37.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on FBI crime data, Newark is the safest city in New Jersey with a safety score of 62/100 (Grade C).
Toms River has the highest average school score in New Jersey at 71/100 (Grade B).
Hoboken has the highest water safety score in New Jersey at 70/100 with 1 violation.
Toms River has the highest fiscal health score in New Jersey at 90/100 with per-capita spending of $9,931.
Passaic has the best air quality in New Jersey with a median AQI of 42 (Grade B).
Cross-site data compiled from CrimeContext, WaterSafe, AirHistory, SchoolGrades, HospitalCosts, and CitySpend databases. Scores reflect the most recent federal data available for each dimension.