Mercer County Crime & Safety

Mercer County has a total crime rate of 1967.0 per 100,000 residents, based on FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data. This includes both violent crimes (342.9 per 100K) and property crimes (1624.1 per 100K).

Mercer County has a safety score of 23/100, rated "High Crime". A higher safety score indicates lower crime rates relative to other counties nationwide. It ranks #16 out of 21 counties in New Jersey for safety (1 = safest).

Mercer's crime rate is higher than the New Jersey average of 1,525.9. Its safety score is slightly below the state average of 97.6, reflecting its status as a busy urban-centered hub.

Violent crime occurs at a rate of 342.9 per 100,000, while property crime is more common at 1,624.1. Residents should be aware that the vast majority of local incidents involve property theft.

Crime data for Mercer County comes from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. Local law enforcement agencies submit data on violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft) to the FBI. Rates are calculated per 100,000 residents to allow fair comparison between counties of different sizes. The safety score (0-100) is derived from these rates, with higher scores indicating safer counties.

Mercer County has a safety score of 23/100, which is below the New Jersey average of 40/100. Many counties with above-average crime rates invest in community policing, crime prevention programs, neighborhood watch initiatives, and social services aimed at reducing crime over time.