7 Safest Counties With Lowest Violent Crimes In New York State [List]

If you're looking for the safest places to live in New York State with the lowest violent crime rates, you might want to choose one of these seven counties. The list is based on the violent crime rates for 2020, which is the most up-to-date data.

New York State and the FBI use seven Index crime categories as indicators of overall crime trends: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, are classified as violent crimes.

7. Saratoga County

Violent Crime Rate: 95.4
Violent Crime Incidents: 219
Violent Crime Incidents With Gun: 15

The population was 230,163 in 2018.

Saratoga County is in the northeastern part of New York State, north of Albany, northwest of Troy, and east of Utica. Ballston Spa is the county seat. It is largely known for the Saratoga Race Course, which hosts thoroughbred racing each year in July and August, and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, an outdoor amphitheatre entertainment venue.

6. Suffolk County

Violent Crime Rate: 89.9
Violent Crime Incidents: 1,318
Violent Crime Incidents With Gun: 281

* Keep in mind that while the number of incidents seems high compared to the other counties on the list, Suffolk has a huge population compared to them, so it's violent crime rate is actually very low.

Suffolk County had a population of 1,481,093 as of 2018.

Suffolk County is the easternmost county in New York State and is divided into 10 towns: Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead (county seat), Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton and Southold.

5. Lewis County

Violent Crime Rate: 88.3
Violent Crime Incidents: 23
Violent Crime Incidents With Gun: 3

As of 2018, the county had a population of 26,447.

Lewis County has many prosperous dairy farms in the area. Today, the milk production from Lewis County supplies Kraft, Inc., the largest cream cheese plant in the world. The largest concentration of milk production in New York State is from Lewis County. Lewis County is also the state’s largest producer of maple syrup. The maple syrup is known here as liquid gold.

4. Livingston County

Violent Crime Rate: 83.5
Violent Crime Incidents: 52
Violent Crime Incidents With Gun: 2

It had a population of 63,227 as of 2018.

Livingston County has been home to many prominent persons, among them two presidents – Millard Fillmore and Chester Arthur, Revolutionary War patriot Daniel Shays and pioneer Nathaniel Rochester. Clara Barton organized the First Chapter of the American Red Cross in 1881 in Dansville, and native son Francis Bellamy authored the Pledge of Allegiance in 1892.

3. Yates County

Violent Crime Rate: 64.8
Violent Crime Incidents: 16
Violent Crime Incidents With Gun: 3

The population of Yates County was 24,841 as of 2018.

Yates County includes three of New York State's Finger Lakes. On the eastern border of Yates County is Seneca Lake, on the western border is Canandaigua Lake, and the mid/southern section is split by Keuka Lake. The scenic lakes and extensive wine industry make Yates County a popular tourist destination.

2. Schuyler County

Violent Crime Rate: 56.7
Violent Crime Incidents: 10
Violent Crime Incidents With Gun: 2

It had a population of 17,912 in 2018.

Watkins Glen State Park is the most famous of the Finger Lakes State Parks, with a reputation for leaving visitors spellbound. The Finger Lakes National Forest is in the north part of the county.

1. Putnam County

The safest county in New York State, according to the violent crime rate is Putnam.

Violent Crime Rate: 37.9
Violent Crime Incidents: 37
Violent Crime Incidents With Gun: 3

Putnam County has a population of approximately 98,892, as of the 2010 U.S. Census.

Putnam County is increasingly considered part of Downstate New York, as it is a 45 to 50 minute drive to Times Square and Grand Central Terminal is a one hour train ride away.

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