The Bronx is one of those places that many have preconceived thoughts about due to pop culture.
New York City is one of the most well-known places in the world and a lot has been written about the place.
Not to mention what pops up in TV, movies, and music.
Naturally, the Bronx has been covered by several different lights.
From dangerous to up-and-coming, there’s a lot to learn about the area.
What about in terms of safety?
The Bronx may not be the safest place to live, but there are neighborhoods within the community one can feel comfortable in.
So, we put together a list of 10 neighborhoods that you might want to check out.
Whether you’re just visiting or looking to settle, here are the best places the Bronx has to offer.
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10 Safest Neighborhoods in the Bronx
1. Riverdale
When it comes to safe places to call home, it’s hard to argue with Riverdale’s numbers.
This neighborhood is safer than 81% of all other places in the whole state of New York.
2. Fieldston
Crime here is 55% lower than America’s average.
It should also be noted that Fieldston has a 92% graduation rate.
Does that have anything to do with this being a wealthy area known for its high-quality private schools?
3. Morris Park
Morris Park is rated safer than more than half the cities in New York.
Known for being an Italian neighborhood, it’s highly ranked for cleanliness and being family-friendly.
Education, healthcare, and transportation are added conveniences held in high regard locally.
4. Country Club
If the name doesn’t give it away, Country Club is a pretty safe place to live.
The crime rate is 17% lower than anywhere else in the US.
While the neighborhood surely conjures up images of high society, the name is supposed to be regarding its location.
Of course, things are often nicer when waterfront property is at a premium.
5. Kingsbridge
Compared to other neighborhoods, Kingsbridge is safer than nearly 40% of other areas in the Bronx.
Located in Upper Manhattan, there’s a college, affordable housing, and plenty of green space nearby.
6. Fordham
There are no idle hands in Fordham.
This is home to the New York Botanical Garden as well as the Bronx Zoo.
Activity is keeping local crime low.
7. Spuyten Duyvil
Just across the bridge from Manhattan, Spuyten Duyvil is Dutch for “despite the devil”, which seems to have worked out.
The crime rate is around 12 per 1,000 residents.
8. Schuylerville
On the Bronx’s east side, Schuylerville is safer than 70% of other cities in New York.
The crime rate is also 40% lower than the national average.
It’s also so close to the beach that many residents go regularly.
9. Pelham Bay
A neighborhood named after a park is surely to have good vibes.
Pelham Bay Park is the largest around, three times bigger than the well-known Central Park.
That might be why the crime rate is 13 per 1k residents.
10. Woodlawn
A historically Irish neighborhood, Woodlawn is safer than 40% of other neighborhoods in the Bronx.
Many residents live here and commute to Manhattan via a convenient subway nearby.
5 Safety Tips for Traveling to the Bronx
1. Don’t Be a Tourist
This may seem like a strange one, at first.
Even if you are new to the city, the goal is that no one else knows that.
If you look lost and seem to have trouble looking at your phone or map, that’s almost an invitation.
Criminals look for people like that to prey upon.
Activity like this will open the door to someone coming over and asking if you need help.
Maybe you do but don’t tell them that.
Before you know it, you can be pickpocketed, robbed, or even assaulted.
If you are lost, look confident and walk into a safe-looking place.
Use that as an opportunity to get your bearings.
Then, if you need to ask, find someone who hasn’t been watching.
2. Avoid Night
In comparison with the rest of New York, the Bronx’s crime rate is 95% higher than everywhere else.
If that doesn’t tell you to stay inside at night, not much else will.
However, if we could implore you to stay inside, we will.
Most of the crime happens after dark, and you have a higher chance of it being violent than anywhere else.
If you absolutely must go somewhere once the sun has gone down, try to impose a buddy system.
Being alone draws attention, especially if you’re female.
Try to focus on well-lit streets and crowds of people.
3. Carry Protection
Even if you’re going out during the daylight hours, it wouldn’t hurt to pack protection.
That doesn’t necessarily mean a gun.
What it does mean is something that can get you out of a pickle, if you end up finding yourself in one.
Mace is a spray that will incapacitate an attacker, and it’s easy to carry around.
A metal baton can cause serious damage if you’re approached in an unsavory manner.
Heck, even putting keys in between your fingers can be a stinging blow to anyone not expecting your wrath.
It doesn’t matter if the whole family is with you or if you happen to be visiting the Bronx alone.
Make sure to have someone be aware of what the plans are.
In the hopefully unlikely case, something negative happens, there’s someone with information.
Going as far as to share your location can make a difference.
It wouldn’t hurt if a few people knew where you were going, especially at night.
The more layers of protection the better.
5. Get on the Phone
If you’re feeling uncomfortable, get on the phone.
That can mean calling someone or even making a video call.
A stranger is less likely to engage with you if someone is actively talking to you.
No one answering your call?
That doesn’t mean discarding this tactic.
No one knows you’re not on the phone aside from you.
There is nothing wrong with making a fake call, even if it’s to your voicemail.
New York City Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: New York City Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM
- SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bronx known for?
With all the media coverage, it might be hard to get a true sense of what the Bronx is known for.
To start with, it’s where rap and hip-hop are credited for originating.
Since the beginning of the music genre to now, many singers and rappers have been brought up here.
It’s the hotbed for hip-hop and many say they can feel the energy on the streets.
Let’s not forget that one of the biggest stars in the world, Jennifer Lopez, sang about being from the Bronx.
Aside from music, the New York Yankees call the Bronx home.
Why does the Bronx have a bad reputation?
This is a loaded question.
First, it’s important to note that it’s not for lack of trying.
Several factors come into play here, but that hasn’t stopped big investors from pouring money into the community.
Some of the problems have been traced to perpetuating social issues.
For example, overcrowding is pushing people out.
Economic failures have led to subpar living conditions.
Of course, these things lead to crime.
Being part of NYC means experience spreads fast.
Before you know it, word is out and people are not looking positively on the Bronx.
What's the most dangerous neighborhood in the Bronx?
One neighborhood most locals will tell you to stay away from is Hunts Point.
The area has been well below the poverty line for some years.
That, in conjunction with a loss of income and poor living situations, has harshly driven up the crime rate.
For example, in New York City, the serious crime rate per 1,000 people is 5.1.
In Hunts Point, it’s almost 14.
That’s going on twice as much as the Bronx, as a whole.
Property crime is about the same.
The average in NYC is 9, but it jumps up to 14.4 in Hunts Point.
Other top contenders include Brownsville and Mott Haven.
