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Violent Crime Trends in North Wildwood: Coastal Community Shows Overall Improvement
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
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Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
North Wildwood, a coastal community in New Jersey, has experienced fluctuating violent crime rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes decreased by 35.71%, from 14 to 9 incidents. During this same period, the population declined by 12.75%, from 4,171 to 3,639 residents.
Murder trends in the city have remained consistently low. There was only one reported murder in 2010, with no murders recorded in subsequent years through 2022. This translates to a murder rate that dropped from 0.24 per 1,000 people in 2010 to 0 per 1,000 in all following years. The city's contribution to the state's murder statistics also fell from 0.36% in 2010 to 0% thereafter, indicating a positive trend in public safety regarding homicides.
Rape incidents have shown variability over the years. The city reported one case in 2010, 2015, and 2020, two cases in 2016 and 2018, and no cases in several other years including 2022. The rape rate per 1,000 people fluctuated accordingly, peaking at 0.51 per 1,000 in 2016 and 2018. The city's percentage of state rape cases ranged from 0% to 0.3%, with the highest percentage occurring in 2016.
Robbery trends have remained relatively stable, with slight fluctuations. The number of robberies ranged from 1 to 6 incidents per year, with the highest count in 2017. The robbery rate per 1,000 people peaked at 1.54 in 2017 and was at its lowest at 0.26 in 2019 and 2022. The city's contribution to state robbery statistics varied from 0.01% to 0.12%, with the highest percentage also in 2017.
Aggravated assault has been the most prevalent violent crime in the city. The number of incidents fluctuated between 3 and 19 cases per year, with the highest count in 2012. The aggravated assault rate per 1,000 people ranged from 0.76 in 2016 to 4.70 in 2012. The city's share of state aggravated assault cases varied from 0.05% to 0.23%, peaking in 2012.
There appears to be a correlation between population density and violent crime rates. As the population density decreased from 2,417 per square mile in 2010 to 2,109 per square mile in 2022, there was a general downward trend in violent crime incidents. Additionally, the racial composition of the city has shown some changes, with the white population decreasing from 99% in 2013 to 87% in 2022, while the Hispanic population increased from 0% to 6% during the same period. This demographic shift coincides with the overall decrease in violent crime, although a direct causal relationship cannot be established without further analysis.
Applying predictive models to forecast violent crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), it is projected that the city will continue to experience low and potentially decreasing violent crime rates if current trends persist. The forecasted range for total violent crimes in 2029 is estimated to be between 5 and 11 incidents, assuming no significant changes in socioeconomic factors or law enforcement strategies.
In summary, North Wildwood has demonstrated an overall improvement in public safety with regard to violent crimes from 2010 to 2022. The most significant changes include the elimination of murders, fluctuating but generally low rates of rape and robbery, and a variable but declining trend in aggravated assaults. These trends, coupled with demographic shifts and decreasing population density, suggest a generally positive outlook for public safety in the coming years.
