Worst towns in NJ (Newark, Paterson: low income, rent, houses)

[dullnboring]

According to the City Data main page, the murder rates of some of the cities most frequently mentioned here are as follows:

Camden - 61.3
Irvington - 42.8
Newark - 30.7
East Orange - 24.3
Trenton - 21.1
Asbury Park - 17.7 (but it's crime rate as a whole is among the highest in the state)
Atlantic City - 12.3
Jersey City - 9.6
Elizabeth - 8.3
Paterson - 6.7
Dover - 0.0 (no murders in 2004, and only two since 2000)

This is data for the year of 2004. I'd imagine there may have been some small changes since then, but this gives a good idea of where some cities stand. However, murder rates are not as accurate in smaller populated cities as one murder can significantly alter their murder rate as opposed to larger cities. Of course, there are other issues to take into account when judging a city as well.

[Nikon35]

Originally Posted by dullnboring

According to the City Data main page, the murder rates of some of the cities most frequently mentioned here are as follows:

Camden - 61.3
Irvington - 42.8
Newark - 30.7
East Orange - 24.3
Trenton - 21.1
Asbury Park - 17.7 (but it's crime rate as a whole is among the highest in the state)
Atlantic City - 12.3
Jersey City - 9.6
Elizabeth - 8.3
Paterson - 6.7
Dover - 0.0 (no murders in 2004, and only two since 2000)

This is data for the year of 2004. I'd imagine there may have been some small changes since then, but this gives a good idea of where some cities stand. However, murder rates are not as accurate in smaller populated cities as one murder can significantly alter their murder rate as opposed to larger cities. Of course, there are other issues to take into account when judging a city as well.

Why would you even include Dover?

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by Nikon35

Why would you even include Dover?

Because like all of the cities I listed, quite a few other people mentioned it in this thread as being among the worst towns in Jersey.

I've never been to Dover so I have no clue what it's like.

[paullySC]

NJ is a cesspool. I can't understand why anyone would want to live there.

[MrTudo]

I was born in Bayonne, grew up in Garwood, lived in NYC and then moved to S. Fla 25 years ago.

I come up to NJ twice a year, but mostly just to fly into Nwk and then take a cab into NYC. I have a blast for about 3 days and at that point I can't wait to go BACK to the airport and leave.

[LS1DAN]

Originally Posted by SickofNY/NJ

You forgot JC NJ has turned to garbage. We have the privilige of being conjested here and paying for all the welfare programs that are attracting more and more filth to NJ. There is really no reason to even live here. I am currently looking to move out of this entire area. I am not gonna follow the herds to the south. I'm a full blooded yankee. Just cant do it. So I am stuck here till I figure this mess out.

i was born in jc now i live in florida i want to move back. i will be moving to middlesex co. i wish i was as smart as you and i did not come south!

[howellnj]

you go bouncer!!!!!!!!! My husband is from bay one as he calls it ....... There is nothing like Bayonne.... and for the person that called good ole' NJ a cesspool That was not very nice no name calling!!!

[JBIZinc]

Originally Posted by SilkCity0416

Do you people have anything else better to do, then trash cities on this forum? I live in Paterson, and yes, it is a tough town, but that doesn't mean that everyone in this city, or the whole city for that matter, is one giant slum. Paterson is a large and diverse city, where people are just trying their best to get by in life. We have to remember that New Jersey really doesn't have a classic big city, like some states. I lived in Ohio for sometime, and if Newark (our state's biggest city) was in Ohio, it would be the the 5th biggest city (behind Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo) I lived in Cleveland, and I can say, that it will make any city on this list, look like Disneyland. You haven't seen bad into you walk in some parts of Cleveland. That being said, you have to remember, that NJ has a HORRIBLE reputation in this country. We are seen as being nothing but a toxic, urban hell, where there is nothing but pollution, traffic, and urban sprawl throughout the place. Also, let's not forget, NYC's dumping ground. I tell people all the time that NJ is a wonderful place, but they just laugh it off. (New Joisey is nasty!) While I try my best to change eople's feelings about NJ, would you please just take a second to realize that people do call these places home, and I'm sure no one wouldn't like to hear that their hometown (or state) made a top-ten list for a negative reason. I know these places could be dangerous, but that doesn't mean we have to knock them. Jersey City is nice! They don't call it's downtown "Wall St. West" for nothing. Newark is getting there. It has a great history going back to 1666 (making it older than Philadelphia) Soon we New Jerseyans will be proud to say Newark is the city of NJ. Paterson has history like no other place in this country. Alexander Hamilton founded this city, as the first planned industrial city in America. America's industrial power was born at the Great Falls of the Passaic. So lets just realize that NJ and it's cites are one with each other. Talking trash about them, is the same as downing New Jersey (your home) as a whole.

JBIZinc says;

I agree with Silk City. Yeah, we all know about how bad parts of Jersey are, but, firstly, I have been living in Somerset and Hunterdon county most of my life with few serious concerns about violent crime, a great education, great downtowns, a great career and 1 hour in either direction to NYC or Philly, two of the greatest cities on the planet. Secondly, poverty is an issue that will not go away and if every person capable of making even a small contribution to bettering their surroundings left, the entire state would go the way Newark went 40 years ago when the middle class left.

Don't get me wrong, the cost of living is tough and I too am considering moving to Lehigh Valley(they have their own gangs), so I understand why people want to leave particularly if they don't have two incomes or one big one, but lets not identify NJ only by the cost of living and crime. The cost of living is high in part because proximity to higher paying/more interesting jobs is high. The fact that the poor and immigrants flock to certain parts is not the fault of the people or towns of NJ. It's an issue that people can run away from because ignorance is bliss. Of course it is still going on and the lessons to be learned before it's all figured out are similar to the lessons that will lead to peace.....everywhere. So lay off Jersey. All the great places in PA and NC and elsewhere that are hot destinations right now would not be as hot if it weren't for the sold NJ homes and intelligent, educated NJ middle class that are financing those areas upswings.

I am about to leave a lab in Hoboken. Out my window is one of the best evening views of Manhatten you can find. It's awesome. I am gonna get in my car and drive through Hoboken and I know I will see at least something interesting. It might be a really hot women, or a poor person, or students of many different cultures, a hopping bar, etc...Then I will drive back to central Jersey through some, yeah, pretty stinky areas(literally) and it will remind me how much of the countries industries thrived here first but also encourage me to go green in my personal life and in my job as a chemist. Then as I get close to home, the rolling hills and beautiful changing trees look the complete opposite of what 90% of the rest of the country thinks about NJ...and I know where is safe and where is not the closer I get to home.

Anyway, if it gets too expensive, none of that will matter, but don't diss NJ because of what is happening to it and if you really cared, stick around and try to do something about it. Maybe someday, if it gets really cleaned up, the only people left will be the ones who really deserve all the great things this area has to offer, minus the crime and expense

[DeniseNJ]

Originally Posted by Nikon35

Why would you even include Dover?

Dover is always mentioned by people who live in Morris County. The thing is alot of them have never even lived there and because Dover isn't as rich as other towns in Morris County, and because of the majority hispanic population, it's automatically considered bad. I'm from there and it's an awesome town, I've never been afraid in Dover and I go there almost everyday. Sure there's crime and drugs in Dover but there's also crime and drugs in the richer neighboring towns too, but it's easier to point their fingers at Dover.

[NewHomeHappy]

GREAT POST JB1ZINC!!! Well said, Bravo ! That post deserves a Positive REP from me !
check your "user CP"

You said what needed to be said on this forum about our Home State. Thank you I'm in beautiful Burlington County now and moving to the lush green hills of Monmouth County tomorrow!! Can't wait till full Autumn colors burst in the trees and there are mums for sale at every farm stand. The fat Jersey Grown pumpkins are lining the farm stand now. Kids will be taking a hayride & pumpkin picking next weekend.
Ohh how nice it is to live here. I'm looking forward to meeting my new horse farm neighbors and buying a bale of hay & cornstalks to decorate our new front yard.
Autumn in NJ- nothing like it. We're even sleeping like babies at night with the windows open.