Side-by-side safety comparison for two of NYC’s most popular neighborhoods. Which is safer for renters in 2026?
Updated May 11, 2026
| Lower East Side Manhattan |
Upper West Side Manhattan |
|
|---|---|---|
| Safety Grade | B | A |
| 30-Day Incidents | 44 | 56 |
| Violent Crime | 0 | 6 |
| Robbery | 1 | 0 |
| Drug Activity | 0 | 0 |
Lower East Side is currently safer with 44 incidents vs 56 in Upper West Side. Safety grades: Lower East Side (B) vs Upper West Side (A).
Lower East Side currently has fewer incidents (44 vs 56 in the last 30 days) and a B safety grade.
Lower East Side: 0 violent incidents. Upper West Side: 6. These counts reflect the last 30 days.