A new study based on FBI criminal statistics ranks Jackson Township as one of the safest cities in New Jersey.
With over 60,000 residents, Jackson is also the 18th largest municipality in New Jersey by population and 3rd largest by size, consisting of over 100 square miles.
The 2024 Safewise Safest Cities in New Jersey report analyzed FBI property and violent crime statistics against demographics obtained from the U.S. Census to rank cities in each state and across the country.
Out of 564 towns and cities in New Jersey, Jackson was ranked 10th safest city.
Jackson Mayor Michael Reina said the report is a testament to the entire community of Jackson.
“We have an exceptional Police Department, great schools, and a great community,” Reina said. “While other cities were defunding police, Jackson Township was defending theirs and investing into our men and women in blue with all of the resources they need to keep our streets and our neighborhoods safe. Our officers know that they have our full support in Jackson.”
Jackson Township Council Vice President Scott Sargent, who served on the Jackson School Board for years before being elected to the town council said safe communities start with good schools.
“Jackson Township, for decades, has been known for its great school system; it has been consistently rated as one of the top in the state,” Sargent said. “People come to Jackson for their children to get a great education and to live in safe neighborhoods.”
Economic factors also contribute to Jackson being a safe community.
“Jackson is at the halfway point between Philadelphia and New York, and we’re in close proximity to New Jersey’s major economic centers which helps our local economy by providing good paying jobs,” Council President Jennifer Kuhn said. “There are plenty of economic opportunities for people who live in Jackson to be successful regardless of what their career path is. Good jobs, good schools, and a great police department are the keys to our success.”
Jackson is also a melting pot of cultures.
“We are a very diverse community in Jackson,” said Councilman Mordechai Burnstein. “People come from all over the tri-state area to live here and we’re all tied by one common bond. We all came here for a better life and a safe community and to leave behind the overdevelopment, congestion and crime of the bigger cities.”