Is Jamaica New York safe to live in? For most residents, yes, but it has more crime than most of Queens, and burglary is rising. Jamaica’s main precinct, the 103rd, has the highest violent crime rate in Queens, at 8.0 per 1,000 residents through Nov. 1, 2026. The neighboring 113th is much lower, at 3.7.
Your exact area makes a big difference. If you’re only passing through, see our guide on what visitors should know about Jamaica. This guide is for people who live here or plan to.
Key takeaways
- Burglaries in Jamaica’s two precincts rose 22.3% this year, while Queens fell 25.3%.
- Violent crime rates differ by more than two to one between the 103rd and 113th.
- About 42% of reported violent crimes happened at houses and apartment buildings.
- Half of those reports came from about a fifth of the locations that had any.
- Major crime is far below 1990 levels, down about 79%.
Is Jamaica New York safe? How its areas compare
Jamaica is split between two precincts with very different numbers. The 103rd Precinct covers downtown Jamaica, Hollis, and Lakewood. The 113th Precinct covers southeastern Jamaica, St. Albans, and Rochdale.
| Measure | 103rd Precinct | 113th Precinct |
|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 residents | 8.0 | 3.7 |
| Murders, 2026 (2025) | 5 (6) | 5 (6) |
| Robberies | 283 (323) | 114 (95) |
| Burglaries | 224 (182) | 78 (65) |
| Vehicle thefts | 162 (177) | 157 (188) |
| Shooting incidents | 10 (8) | 6 (10) |
| All major crime | 1,908 (1,840) | 1,198 (1,098) |
Violent crime here means NYPD’s murder, rape, robbery, and felony assault counts from Jan. 1 to Nov. 1, 2026. We divided those counts by each precinct’s 2020 census population. Figures come from NYPD’s 103rd and 113th CompStat reports.
The 103rd’s rate needs some context, because shoppers and commuters crowd downtown Jamaica but aren’t counted as residents. The 113th’s complaint records also include JFK Airport terminals, so its totals aren’t all neighborhood crime.
The 113th records include “airport terminal” complaints (15 violent and 77 property in the first half of 2026). The article flags this. The 113th rate has not been adjusted for it.
Note: Any point that crowds push a rate up is a reasoned view, not an NYPD finding.
Burglary is the trend residents should watch
Burglary is the clearest warning sign for people living in Jamaica. The two precincts reported 302 burglaries this year, up from 247, a rise of 22.3%.
That’s the opposite of the wider trend, as burglaries across Queens fell 25.3%. Both precincts rose, so it isn’t limited to one area.
Vehicle thefts are moving the right way, down 12.6% to 319. Retail theft in the 103rd is up 26.5%, which matters more if you run a shop than if you rent an apartment.
A Resident’s Experience: Securing a Home in the 113th
A close friend of mine has owned a two-family home in St. Albans for over twelve years. While neighbors generally look out for one another and avoid the street congestion of downtown, their block association noticed a distinct pattern earlier this year: someone attempted to pry open a neighbor’s rear basement window, and a garden shed down the street was broken into. Seeing the precinct-wide burglary numbers climb confirmed what was happening on the ground. That trend prompted my friend and several neighbors along the strip to install heavy-duty deadbolts on side doors, mount motion-sensor floodlights along shared driveways, and set up an active group chat to flag unfamiliar vehicles.
Practical Habits for a Better, Safer Routine
Living comfortably in Jamaica comes down to routine awareness, simple home safeguards, and local connection:
- Plug into your local block association: Close neighbor networks are the single most effective deterrent against opportunistic property crime and package theft.
- Harden basic home entry points: Motion-sensor floodlights along driveways, ground-floor window pins, and smart doorbells remove easy blind spots without breaking the bank.
- Route package deliveries to secure lockers: With residential burglary and porch theft elevated, use local Amazon Lockers or hold packages at retail pickup hubs instead of front porches.
- Attend monthly precinct meetings: Both the 103rd and 113th host public “Build the Block” meetings where you can raise specific street-level safety concerns directly with your neighborhood coordination officers (NCOs).
- Stick to well-lit, active corridors after hours: Lean into Jamaica Avenue’s transit accessibility and food scene during busy hours, and stick to primary avenues rather than side alleys when commuting late at night.
Where crime happens in Jamaica
Nearly as much violent crime happens at homes as on the street. We looked at 831 reported murders, rapes, robberies, and felony assaults in both precincts from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2026.
| Place | Share of reports |
|---|---|
| Street | 28.0% |
| Houses | 22.5% |
| Apartment buildings | 19.6% |
| Grocery stores and bodegas | 3.2% |
| Homeless shelters | 2.9% |
| Chain stores | 2.5% |
| Public housing | 2.4% |
The two precincts look different here too. In the 113th, houses were the most common place, at 37.1% of reports. In the 103rd, the street led at 29.9%, followed by apartment buildings at 22.9%.
The time of day also matters. About a third of reports came from noon to 6 p.m., about 28% from 6 p.m. to midnight, and about 22% from midnight to 6 a.m.
Why your block matters
Reports cluster at certain locations rather than spreading evenly. Half came from 108 of the 503 locations with at least one, and 375 locations had just one report in six months.
So a neighborhood average won’t tell you about a particular street. Two blocks in the same precinct can have very different records, and that’s why it’s worth looking up the exact address.
Which parts of Jamaica are safer?
Areas to the north are generally lower in crime. The 107th Precinct, which covers Fresh Meadows and nearby areas, has a rate of 2.1 per 1,000 residents. Jamaica Estates and Jamaica Hill are generally described as quieter residential areas.
The 107th coverage of Jamaica Estates and Jamaica Hill is from general knowledge, so the article describes them without a number.
The 113th’s rate of 3.7 is close to the Queens average of 3.4. For wider options, read our guide to the safest neighborhoods in Queens or whether Queens is safe for living.
What to check before you rent or buy in Jamaica
Since burglary is rising and so many reports happen at homes, look closely at the property itself.
- Check the block. Look up the address on the NYC Crime Map.
- Check the trend. Find the precinct on CompStat 2.0.
- Test doors and windows. Look at locks, frames, and ground-floor access.
- Check the entry. Make sure the building door locks and the intercom works.
- Look at the parking. Note the lighting and who can get in.
- Visit at different times. Go in the afternoon, evening, and late on a weekend.
- Ask around. Talk to neighbors and shop owners.
What Jamaica property owners can do
Rising burglary and retail theft should shape your plan. A building security risk assessment can show where a property is exposed, including entrances, lighting, and blind spots.
Apartment and mixed-use buildings may need residential security or property security guards. Shops can look at retail security and loss prevention.
Dahlcore officers are unarmed by default, and armed security is provided only on documented request after a risk assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jamaica, NY a good place to live?
Jamaica can be a good place to live if you value transit, shops, and diversity. It has more crime than most of Queens, so choose your block with care and compare it with quieter areas nearby.
Is Jamaica, New York safe at night?
Busy streets are usually fine, but take more care after dark on quiet blocks. Reports here are spread across the evening and overnight, so plan your walk home.
Is Jamaica, NY considered dangerous?
The 103rd Precinct has the highest violent crime rate in Queens, at 8.0, so that reputation has some basis. That is still well below the highest areas we’ve measured, such as Mott Haven at 15.1, and the 113th is much lower. Risk varies widely by block.
Is South Jamaica safe?
South Jamaica’s precinct, the 113th, has a rate of 3.7, close to the Queens average. Robberies there rose 20% this year, however, and blocks vary widely. “South Jamaica’s precinct, the 113th” follows NYPD wording of “southeastern Jamaica”. Parts of South Jamaica may sit in other precincts.
Is Jamaica safe for families?
Many families live in Jamaica, and the right fit depends on the block. Visit at the times your family would be out, and look at the route to school.
Is Jamaica, Queens the same as the country of Jamaica?
No. This guide covers the Jamaica neighborhood in southeastern Queens, New York City.
How we measured this
Rates and yearly comparisons come from NYPD CompStat reports for the period ending Nov. 1, 2026, which are preliminary and replaced each week. Place, time, and location figures come from. That dataset ends at June 30, so it is a different period from the NYPD rates through Nov. 1. The article labels both. NYPD complaint data on NYC Open Data for Jan. 1 to June 30, 2026, the latest period available. Those “locations” are map points, not exact addresses, and we don’t publish them.
Long-term totals come from NYPD’s historical tables. Population data is 2020 census counts compiled by John Keefe. It is third-party and six years old. The analysis is our own, and it only includes crimes reported to police.
Get a security plan for your Jamaica property
So, is Jamaica New York safe? For most residents, yes, with close attention to your block and to rising burglary. Dahlcore provides security guard services across Queens.
Dahlcore Security Guard Services is a licensed NYS security guard agency, veteran-owned, founded in 2018, and led by an owner with 23 years of security experience. Every client gets a customized plan, a named account manager, and access to 24/7 support through our command and dispatch center.
Contact Dahlcore or browse our security services to talk through your property.
