New Jersey has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation. A new report from SafeWise has ranked the 10 safest cities in the state for 2026, and Vernon Township tops the list for the third consecutive year.
The state’s violent crime rate sits at 2.64 incidents per 1,000 people—well below the national average of 4.43 and the seventh lowest in the country. Property crime is similarly low, at 15.88 incidents per 1,000 people compared to the national rate of 22.89.
New Jersey residents are feeling it too. About 56% say they feel safe in the state, up from 47% last year. That’s four points higher than the national average of 52%.
The 10 Safest Cities in New Jersey for 2026
- Vernon Township
- Bernards Township
- South River
- Barnegat Township
- Dumont
- New Providence
- Hopatcong
- Oakland
- Madison
- Denville Township
What the Data Shows
Vernon Township and Bernards Township have held the top two spots for three straight years.
South River and Barnegat Township made significant jumps in safety, driven by dramatic drops in property crime. South River saw an 84% decrease over two years, while Barnegat Township welcomed an 81% decrease.
Zero murders were reported across the 10 safest cities. 80% reported zero rapes, and 60% reported zero robberies.
However, despite the positive numbers, NJ residents still worry about crime at higher rates than the national average. 63% say they worry about violent crime on a daily basis, compared to just 55% nationally—revealing a gap between reality and perception.
For the full rankings and crime rate breakdowns of New Jersey’s 10 safest cities, check out the complete SafeWise report.