Side-by-side safety comparison for two of NYC’s most popular neighborhoods. Which is safer for renters in 2026?
Updated June 27, 2026
| Lower East Side Manhattan |
Upper West Side Manhattan |
|
|---|---|---|
| Safety Grade | C | B |
| 30-Day Incidents | 187 | 186 |
| Violent Crime | 12 | 14 |
| Robbery | 2 | 10 |
| Drug Activity | 0 | 0 |
Upper West Side is currently safer with 186 incidents vs 187 in Lower East Side. Safety grades: Lower East Side (C) vs Upper West Side (B).
Upper West Side currently has fewer incidents (186 vs 187 in the last 30 days) and a B safety grade.
Lower East Side: 12 violent incidents. Upper West Side: 14. These counts reflect the last 30 days.