
22. New Jersey – Trenton
Trenton has long been associated with some of the more challenging urban conditions in New Jersey. Although many people expect Newark, the largest city in the state to be the most dangerous, it is relative safe with a majority of the crimes being property crime. Trenton has a violent crime rate of 1,160 per 100k residents compared to only 470 of Newark. While New Jersey is overall a wealthy and densely developed state, Trenton’s urban core presents a different reality shaped by long-term disinvestment. South Trenton reflects how concentrated neighborhoods within small capital cities can carry disproportionate safety concerns. Despite proximity to major economic hubs like Philadelphia and New York, local conditions remain uneven across different parts of the city.