JACKSON – The township made it to the top 10 list of the safest communities in the state based on a recently released FBI criminal statistics study.
Out of 564 towns and cities in New Jersey, Jackson was ranked tenth. SafeWise, a security product review platform, lists in their report the safest cities as being Vernon, Bernards, Jefferson, New Milford, Hillsborough, West Milford, Dumont, Denville, Sparta, and Jackson.
The study reviews crime rates for the safest cities. The Garden State consistently boasts some of the lowest crime rates in the nation. Residents in the state express the eighteenth-highest level of concern about their safety, the study revealed.
Despite years of low crime rates, just 46% of residents say they feel safe in New Jersey. This report explores the contradiction in New Jersey’s perception of safety versus how safe the state really is.
Two other Ocean County communities also made the list. According to the data, Barnegat is the 16th-safest town in the state and the furthest south of those in the top 20. Stafford comes in at number 24.
Jackson has more than 60,000 residents and is the 18th largest municipality in New Jersey by population and third largest by size, consisting of over 100 square miles.
The 2024 Safewise Safest Cities in New Jersey report analyzed FBI property and violent crime statistics against demographics obtained from the U.S. Census to rank cities in each state and across the country.
Mayor Michael Reina said the report is a testament to the entire community of Jackson. “We have an exceptional police department, great schools, and a great community.”
“While other cities were defunding police, Jackson Township was defending theirs and investing into our men and women in blue with all of the resources they need to keep our streets and our neighborhoods safe. Our officers know that they have our full support in Jackson,” the mayor added.
Township Council Vice President Scott Sargent said safe communities start with good schools. Sargent previously served on the township school board prior to being elected as a member of council.
“Jackson Township, for decades, has been known for its great school system; it has been consistently rated as one of the top in the state. People come to Jackson for their children to get a great education and to live in safe neighborhoods,” he added.
Noting economic factors to the township’s status as a safe community, Council President Jennifer Kuhn noted that the community was situated at the halfway point between Philadelphia and New York. “We’re in close proximity to New Jersey’s major economic centers which helps our local economy by providing good paying jobs.”
“There are plenty of economic opportunities for people who live in Jackson to be successful regardless of what their career path is. Good jobs, good schools, and a great police department are the keys to our success,” she added.
“I’m thrilled to read from SafeWise about our town making the list as one of the top 10 safest cities in all of New Jersey. I hope the trend continues for our suburban community. Thank you to our men and women in blue. We don’t defund the police in Jackson. We support them,” Councilman Nino Borrelli said.
He added, “as a Councilman, I’ve consistently supported and voted to give our police and first responders the tools and resources they need to do their jobs effectively to keep our town safe and secure 24/7. The public health and safety of our fellow residents and quality of life in Jackson is of the utmost importance.”
Councilman Mordechai Burnstein pointed out the diversity of the community. “People come from all over the tri-state area to live here and we’re all tied by one common bond. We all came here for a better life and a safe community and to leave behind the overdevelopment, congestion and crime of the bigger cities.”
A total of 102 cities met the criteria to be considered for ranking and the report looked at property crime rates, violent crime rates, and other statistics.
Statewide violent crime has actually dropped by 59 percent year-over-year, making New Jersey the fourth-lowest state for violent crime, according to the study. The state’s violent crime rate is 2.8 incidents per 1,000 people, lower than the national rate of 4.0. For further information visit safewise.com/blog/safest-cities-new-jersey/
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