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Violent Crime Trends in Ridgewood, NJ: A Decade of Low Homicide Rates
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Ridgewood, a suburban community in New Jersey, presents an interesting case study in violent crime trends. From 2010 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes fluctuated, ranging from a low of 5 in 2018 to a high of 13 in 2019. Over this period, the population grew from 24,824 in 2010 to 26,043 in 2022, a 4.9% increase. This demographic shift provides context for understanding the city's crime dynamics.
Murder rates in the city have remained consistently low, with no reported cases from 2010 to 2022. This stability is notable given the population growth, maintaining a murder rate of 0 per 1,000 residents throughout the period. The city's contribution to the state's murder statistics has consistently been 0%, indicating a remarkably safe environment in this regard.
Rape incidents have shown some variation over the years. The city reported no cases in 2010, 2011, and 2019, while reaching a peak of 2 cases in 2020. The rape rate per 1,000 residents ranged from 0 to 0.078 during this period. The city's contribution to state rape statistics fluctuated, reaching a high of 0.32% in 2020. This suggests that while rape occurrences are infrequent, they have become slightly more prevalent in recent years relative to the state's overall numbers.
Robbery trends in the city have been variable but generally low. The number of robberies ranged from 0 to 3 cases per year, with the highest incidence in 2012 and 2016. The robbery rate per 1,000 residents peaked at 0.120 in 2012 and was at its lowest at 0 in several years, including 2013 and 2018. The city's contribution to state robbery statistics has remained minimal, never exceeding 0.05% of the state total.
Aggravated assault has been the most prevalent form of violent crime in the city. The number of cases ranged from 4 to 11 per year, with the highest count in 2019. The rate per 1,000 residents fluctuated between 0.158 and 0.437 during this period. The city's contribution to state aggravated assault statistics has varied, reaching a peak of 0.18% in 2019. This suggests that while aggravated assault is more common than other violent crimes in the city, it still represents a small fraction of the state's total.
Examining correlations, there appears to be a weak positive relationship between population density and violent crime rates. As the population density increased from 4,323 per square mile in 2010 to 4,535 in 2022, there was a slight upward trend in overall violent crime numbers, though this correlation is not strong or consistent enough to draw definitive conclusions.
Applying predictive models to forecast violent crime trends for the next five years (up to 2029), we might expect the overall violent crime rate to remain relatively stable, with potential for slight increases in line with population growth. The city's consistently low crime rates across all categories suggest that dramatic changes are unlikely, barring significant shifts in socioeconomic factors or law enforcement strategies.
In summary, Ridgewood has maintained a relatively low and stable violent crime profile from 2010 to 2022, despite modest population growth. The absence of murders, low incidence of rape and robbery, and the predominance of aggravated assault as the main form of violent crime characterize the city's safety landscape. While there have been fluctuations in crime rates, the overall trends suggest a community that has managed to maintain a safe environment for its residents, with violent crime rates that contribute minimally to state totals across all categories.
