Essex County in New Jersey stands out as both densely populated and culturally varied within the state. However, it also grapples with a high incidence of criminal activity. The FBI’s most recent statistics show that in 2019, Essex County experienced a violent crime rate of 1,736.9 per 100,000 residents, surpassing the national average of 366.7 per 100,000 residents by over four times.
Although certain parts of the county enjoy safety and prosperity, others suffer from issues such as poverty, violence, and societal challenges. Here, we list the top five most dangerous neighborhoods in Essex County for 2019, determined by the count of reported violent crimes.
Irvington
Irvington, situated in Essex County, has a population of approximately 54,000 residents. It is positioned south of Newark and to the east of Hillside. In 2019, Irvington’s violent crime rate was 1,433.8 per 100,000 individuals, slightly lower than the county average yet significantly higher than the national average.
During the same year, there were 774 reported violent crimes in Irvington, encompassing 13 homicides, 30 rapes, 303 robberies, and 428 aggravated assaults. Additionally, the town faced a notable property crime rate of 2,528.6 per 100,000 inhabitants, with 1,365 property crimes documented in 2019.
Over the past decades, Irvington has grappled with challenges such as poverty, unemployment, drug misuse, and gang involvement. The median household income in 2019 was $39,575, which was less than half of the state median of $85,751. The poverty rate in the same year stood at 23.7%, more than twice the state’s rate of 10%.
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East Orange
East Orange, situated in Essex County, has a population of approximately 64,000 individuals. It is positioned to the north of Newark and west of Orange. In 2019, East Orange had a violent crime rate of 1,471.8 per 100,000 residents, slightly surpassing the county average and exceeding the national average by more than four times.
During the same year, there were 941 reported violent crimes in East Orange, including 12 cases of murder, 36 incidents of rape, 406 instances of robbery, and 487 cases of aggravated assault. Additionally, the city had a notable property crime rate of 2,372 per 100,000 residents, resulting in a total of 1,519 property crimes reported.
Much like Irvington, East Orange has been grappling with challenges such as poverty, unemployment, drug misuse, and gang involvement. The median household income in East Orange stood at $43,341 in 2019, which was roughly half of the state’s median income. Moreover, the poverty rate in the city reached 21% in 2019, more than double the state’s rate.
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Newark
Newark, situated in Essex County, New Jersey, holds the title of being the most populous city with around 282,000 inhabitants. Positioned to the east of Elizabeth and south of Jersey City, Newark experienced a violent crime rate of 1,619 per 100,000 residents in 2019. This was notably higher than the county average and more than four times the national average.
In 2019, Newark reported a total of 4,570 violent crimes. This included 51 homicides, 144 cases of rape, 1,579 instances of robbery, and 2,796 cases of aggravated assault. Additionally, the city recorded a notable property crime rate of 2,433 per 100,000 residents, with a total of 6,865 property crimes reported in the same year.
Despite being a hub for economic and cultural activities in Essex County, Newark grapples with significant social and economic challenges. The median household income in Newark was $37,642 in 2019, which stood at less than half of the state median income. Furthermore, the poverty rate in Newark was 27.8% in 2019, nearly three times the state’s poverty rate.
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Orange
Orange, situated in Essex County, has a population of roughly 30,000 individuals. It’s positioned to the north of East Orange and to the west of West Orange. In 2019, Orange experienced a violent crime rate of 2,029.6 for every 100,000 residents, surpassing Newark’s rate and being over five times higher than the national average.
For the year 2019, Orange recorded a total of 609 violent crimes, encompassing six homicides, 22 incidents of rape, 214 robberies, and 367 aggravated assaults. Additionally, the city displayed a substantial property crime rate of 2,789.7 for every 100,000 residents, with 837 property-related offenses reported in the same year.
Although Orange holds the distinction of being one of the oldest and smallest cities in Essex County, it also grapples with challenges, particularly concerning poverty. In 2019, the median household income in Orange was $41,341, merely half of the state’s median. Notably, the poverty rate in Orange for that year stood at 24.6%, more than double the state’s rate.
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East Newark
East Newark, situated in Essex County, is a borough with approximately 2,500 inhabitants. Positioned to the north of Newark and to the east of Harrison, it holds the distinction of having the highest violent crime rate in the county as of 2019, standing at 2,400 per 100,000 residents. This figure is over six times greater than the national average.
In the year 2019, East Newark documented a total of 60 violent crimes, encompassing one instance of murder, two cases of rape, 20 incidents of robbery, and 37 aggravated assaults. Furthermore, the borough experienced a notably elevated property crime rate of 3,600 per 100,000 residents, leading to a reported count of 90 property crimes.
Despite being the smallest municipality in Essex County, East Newark boasts the highest population density and registers as the most perilous area. The median household income in 2019 was $49,375, falling below the state’s median income. Correspondingly, the poverty rate during the same year was 15.7%, exceeding the state average.
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Conclusion
Here are the top five most dangerous neighborhoods in Essex County, New Jersey, according to the most recent FBI crime statistics. Even though these regions experience high levels of violent and property offenses, they also boast positive attributes like diverse cultures, historical importance, and strong community spirit.
Nonetheless, these areas require added resources, assistance, and action to tackle the underlying reasons for crime and enhance the residents’ living conditions.
