2 Bergen County Towns Among NJ's Safest, Study Finds

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According to a new study by the safety and security research group Safewise, two Bergen County towns - Vernon Township and Bernards Township - are among the 10 safest communities in New Jersey. The rankings are based on low per capita crime rates, with Vernon Township topping the list for the third consecutive year and Bernards Township coming in at number two.

Why it matters

The Safewise rankings are intended to highlight cities with low violent crime rates and spark conversations around community safety. New Jersey as a whole fares well nationally, ranking 7th lowest for violent crime incidents per 1,000 people. The inclusion of two Bergen County towns among the state's safest communities underscores the region's focus on public safety.

The details

According to the Safewise report, Vernon Township in Sussex County is the safest community in New Jersey for the third year in a row. Bernards Township in Bergen County came in at number two on the list of the state's 10 safest cities. Other Bergen County towns making the top 10 include Dumont, which saw its already low violent crime rate drop to 0.2 incidents per 1,000 people, and Oakland, which is new to the list with a rate of 0.3 per 1,000.

• Safewise has released its rankings for the safest communities in each state for the third consecutive year.