Is Stamford Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

Cities in Connecticut generally have two out of three things – beach, shopping, nightlife. Stamford, CT, has it all.

On top of that?

It was recently named one of the Top 25 Safest Cities in New England.

This is StaMford, not StaNford, which is a prestigious university on the other side of the country.

Stamford is a city with its own wonderful university – and so much more.

Stamford is tucked just east of affluent Greenwich and is less than an hour from New York City, but why go anywhere when you can spend the day at the beach, an evening of fine dining via water taxi, and then dance until the wee hours at a Latin nightclub?

The spirit of this diverse community is thriving and expanding.

Warnings & Dangers in Stamford

OVERALL RISK: LOW

There's a low overall risk, with some cautionary points. This is a fun, vibrant, diverse town ready to show you the time of your life - safely.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

You have a lot of options here if you want to get around the city, the region, take Amtrack, hop the Metro-North to NYC, or take a downtown trolley. Of course, taxis and rideshares are available for those who want more privacy. This city is very walkable in the popular districts as well. There's a low risk for everyone.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk here, even though only five pickpockets were reported in 2020. There's a lot to unpack in Stamford and you can get exhausted trying to see it all, especially if your friends convince you to dance until 1 am. Always keep your guard up while having fun. Keep your purse in sight, put the wallet in your front pocket, and only carry around what you need to have with you. Leave valuables at the hotel.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

If you're not used to snow, you'll think I'm nuts for saying there's a low risk. Here's the thing - big winter storms are part of life in Connecticut. They've got emergency plans, people hunker down, road crews clear the snow, and life resumes to normal. You might get thunderstorms in the summer too, but rarely are they very serious. The most severe thunderstorms are in the Midwest. There could be a tropical storm or hurricane in the winter, but it's less likely to hit here than in the southern seaboard states.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk just because almost half of all robberies in 2020 were robberies in public places. It's inevitable with all the fun activities here, someone will try to take advantage of it. Don't walk around by yourself at night and stay with your group. Never leave the main street and wander into an unknown neighborhood.

TERRORISM RISK: MEDIUM

There's a medium risk for most cities along the stretch of the northeast because all the big cities are so close together. Terrorists like to hit high population areas, and Connecticut is right in the middle of all of them. There's an emergency plan for that in Stamford you can read on the city's website.

SCAMS RISK: LOW

There is a scam report on the police department page, but it's the "grandparent" scam taking advantage of this college town. Scammers will call a grandparent and say their kin is kidnapped or in danger and they need money to free them. This isn't going to impact tourists, so there's a low risk for you.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

The rape average here is well below the national level, which is a good thing. There are a lot of ways someone could slip a drug into a drink, so pay for your own drinks and watch them being made. Travel in pairs after dark. There's a low-risk anything will happen, but being prepared is the best way to avoid someone trying to take advantage of you. Also, NEVER leave your purse when you hit the dance floor.

TAP WATER RISK: LOW

This city has already posted its 2021 Water Quality Report, which is a step ahead of many other cities. The water is safe to use with low risk and meets or exceeds every single requirement.

Safest Places to Visit in Stamford

Stamford has 45 parks to visit and six of them are seaside.

There are plenty of adventures, whether you want a beach party or a secluded hike in the wilderness.

Check the city website for the full list with an interactive map.

Greenwich Point Park is a great place to get incredible views of the New York City skyline.

I love wandering around and looking at boats I’ll never be able to afford.

If you do too – check out TGM Anchor Point Marina.

You can get fishing charters and water rentals too if you’d like.

Harbor Point is another hot spot on the water where living, working and playing all come together.

You’ve got shopping and dining, amazing sunrise views, and easy access to public transportation.

Downtown is the place to be, day or night.

This is where the coffee starts percolating before the sun comes up and the nightclubs don’t shut down until the next day.

In between, you’ve got casual or fine dining, shopping, and street fairs from time to time.

The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is a nice escape from city life to enjoy history and nature.

There’s the Bendel Mansion to tour and a lavish farmhouse with great photo ops.

Places to Avoid in Stamford

The southeastern corner of the city is the part with the highest crime rate, but it’s also the busiest part of the city.

This is a city where many people choose urban living among the waterfront views of historic buildings downtown.

Half of the people in this city are renters.

So don’t get scared off by high crime areas as it’s also the most dense area, so that’s going to bring more crime.

It’s worth noting this isn’t a beach getaway kind of town.

While you can go to the beach, it’s not the main economic driver.

This is a fun, young, working city with an average salary of nearly $100,000.

This is a larger metropolitan area that offers a little bit of everything, and unfortunately, that includes some crime.

However, I’m surprised the rates aren’t higher with all the nightlife and variety of people who live here.

In some states nationwide, having a gang problem is just part of life.

That kind of problem doesn’t largely impact Connecticut at all.

Safety Tips for Traveling to Stamford

So... How Safe Is Stamford Really?

The crime numbers are low for a city of over 100,000 people.

It is the 23rd safest city in New England, according to the latest FBI Crime Data Report.

The city had six homicides in 2020, and there have been 28 homicides in the past decade.

Hartford sometimes has 28 homicides in just one year, and that’s a slightly smaller city.

Theft rates might seem high at 1206 until you realize that half of those are from vehicles.

If you lock up your car and leave nothing of value inside, you now have just a 1 in 224 risks of being a theft victim.

You do need to keep an eye on highway robberies when you’re out exploring the town or enjoying the nightlife, but there’s still just a one in 1593 chance of being a victim.

If you’re looking for a town with a lot of fun but a safer crime rate than other “fun” cities, Stamford is the place for you!

How Does Stamford Compare?

Useful Information

Visas

Put that Visa away after you go through customs at the airport. You won't need to use it to get into Stamford.

Currency

The U.S. Dollar is the only currency accepted here, and it's perfectly fine to just use a credit card for purchases. I'd advise against leaving an open tab at a bar, as that could lead to fraud.

Weather

The weather is mild or warm much of the year, but winters get very cold and can have more than 12 inches of snow pile up in one storm. Be prepared for the worst winter weather if you're traveling between December and March.

Airports

The Westchester County Airport is less than a half-hour away. It might make more sense to take the train to New York City in less than an hour where you can be at JFK or LaGuardia.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is a must for a trip to Stamford as good Connecticut weather is one thing money can't buy.

Stamford Weather Averages (Temperatures)

Average High/Low Temperature

Connecticut - Safety by City