Rye is officially the safest place to live in New York. In SafeWise’s 2026 ranking of the safest cities in New York, the Westchester County city took the No. 1 spot with a violent crime rate of just 0.1 incidents per 1,000 residents — a figure dwarfed by the statewide average of 5.73. Bedford, which held the crown for two straight years, slipped to second, while Scarsdale jumped four spots to third after its property crime rate fell nearly in half.
TL;DR: SafeWise ranked New York’s 10 safest cities for 2026 using FBI crime data, weighing violent and property crime rates per 1,000 residents. Rye leads at a 0.1 violent crime rate, followed by Bedford and Scarsdale. All 10 are in the Hudson Valley or greater Rochester area, and none reported a single murder.
How SafeWise ranked the safest cities in New York
SafeWise’s 2026 report scored 63 qualifying New York cities on FBI Uniform Crime Report data — violent crime rate per 1,000 residents first, property crime second. As SafeWise notes, “safest” here refers strictly to reported crime rates, not a verdict on any community. Notably, none of the 10 safest cities reported a murder, and 60% reported zero robberies.
The 10 safest cities in New York for 2026
1. Rye — 0.1 violent, 2.5 property
A waterfront Westchester County city on Long Island Sound, Rye climbed two spots to No. 1. Its property crime rate dropped from 4.5 to 2.5 per 1,000 year over year, according to SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
2. Bedford — 0.2 violent, 2.5 property
This Westchester town held the No. 1 spot for two consecutive years before slipping to second. Its violent crime rate remains among the lowest in New York State.
3. Scarsdale — 0.1 violent, 3.6 property
An affluent Westchester village known for its highly rated schools, Scarsdale rose four places after its property crime rate fell by nearly 50% year over year.
4. East Fishkill — 0.2 violent, 4.3 property
A Dutchess County town in the Hudson Valley, East Fishkill moved up two spots as its violent crime rate ticked down from 0.5 to 0.2 per 1,000.
5. Hyde Park — 0.5 violent, 4.1 property
Home to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Springwood estate, Hyde Park held steady at No. 5, and its property crime has declined two years running.
6. Saugerties — 0.5 violent, 5.4 property
This Ulster County town in the Hudson Valley climbed three spots, with both violent and property crime falling for two straight years.
7. Ogden — 0.4 violent, 6.0 property
A Monroe County town just west of Rochester, Ogden is the only top-10 entry from outside the Hudson Valley. Both its crime rates have declined two years in a row.
8. Yorktown — 0.3 violent, 6.4 property
This northern Westchester town held its No. 8 position, with property crime falling for a second consecutive year.
9. Orangetown — 0.6 violent, 5.7 property
A Rockland County town along the Hudson River, Orangetown is the list’s only newcomer, debuting at No. 9 with zero reported rapes.
10. New Paltz — 0.6 violent, 6.9 property
Home to SUNY New Paltz, this Ulster County college town jumped five spots — the biggest leap in the top 10 — as both crime rates dropped.
All rates are incidents per 1,000 residents, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
What these numbers actually mean
The gap between these cities and the state is enormous. New York’s statewide violent crime rate is 5.73 per 1,000 — above the national average of 4.43 — while property crime sits at 23.72 per 1,000 versus 22.89 nationally, per SafeWise. Rye’s 0.1 violent crime rate is roughly 57 times lower than the state figure. Still, a low citywide rate doesn’t guarantee zero crime on any given block, and SafeWise cautions that its rankings measure relative risk — not a prediction of what happens in any particular neighborhood.
Curious about the other end of the spectrum? See Ranked: New York’s 10 Most Dangerous Cities in 2026. And for another Empire State community explored street by street, see our 10 Best Neighborhoods in Buffalo, NY for 2026 guide.
Frequently asked questions about the safest cities in New York
What is the safest city in New York in 2026?
Rye, with a violent crime rate of 0.1 and a property crime rate of 2.5 per 1,000 residents, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
What are the 10 safest cities in New York?
Per SafeWise’s 2026 ranking: Rye, Bedford, Scarsdale, East Fishkill, Hyde Park, Saugerties, Ogden, Yorktown, Orangetown, and New Paltz.
Is New York City on the list of safest cities?
No. SafeWise only ranks qualifying cities, and New York City’s crime rates are far higher than the small towns topping the list.
How does SafeWise calculate its safest cities ranking?
It scores FBI Uniform Crime Report data primarily on violent crime rate per 1,000 residents, with property crime per 1,000 as the secondary factor. The 2026 New York report covered 63 qualifying cities.
Are crime rates falling in New York’s safest cities?
In many. Hyde Park, Saugerties, Ogden, and Yorktown have seen property crime fall two years in a row, and Scarsdale’s property crime fell nearly 50% in one year.
What is the violent crime rate in New York State?
It’s 5.73 incidents per 1,000 people, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data — above the national average of 4.43.
Did any of the 10 safest cities report a murder?
No. SafeWise reports zero murders across all 10, and 60% reported zero robberies.
Does a low crime ranking mean a city is completely crime-free?
No. Rankings describe relative risk across whole cities, not individual blocks, so standard safety precautions still apply.
