Crime & Safety
Barnegat Is 1 Of NJ's Safest Towns, Report Says
Both violent crime and property crime in Barnegat have decreased in the past few years, according to crime data.
BARNEGAT, NJ — Good news for Barnegat residents. The town was named one of the safest in all of New Jersey, according to a new report from Safewise.
The rankings from Safewise "are intended to highlight cities with low per capita crime and ignite
conversation and action around how to make all cities and communities safer."
Out of the top 10 safest cities, Barnegat ranks at number four. It's also the only South Jersey town to make the cut.
Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to FBI crime data used by Safewise, Barnegat has seen an 81 percent decrease in property crime in the past two years. Violent crime has also decreased, and no motor vehicle thefts were reported, according to the data.
The violent crime rate in the Garden State is 2.46 incidents per 1,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 4.43 and the seventh lowest violent crime rate nationwide.
Find out what's happening in Barnegat-Manahawkinfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
According to SafeWise, Barnegat's violent crime rate in 2026 is 0.6 incidents per 1,000 people, down from 0.9 in 2025.
The property crime rate in Barnegat is 0.8 incidents per 1,000 people in 2026, down from 2.9 in 2025 and 4.3 in 2024.
"Everyone wants to feel safe at home," Safewise wrote. "Whether you're checking in on your current city or scouting out a new one, we've crunched the numbers on crime rates across the country."
Check out the full analysis by clicking here.
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