Most Dangerous Neighbourhoods in Toronto: 2026 Crime Data and Areas to Research

Toronto is not a dangerous city overall, and most major crimes are still falling in 2026. Toronto Police Service (TPS) open data for January to September 2026 shows 27 homicides, down from 34 in the same months of 2025. Shootings and firearm discharges fell 7%, robberies fell 7% and assaults fell 2.5%. Auto theft is the one major crime going up, by about 5%.

Some neighbourhoods still report much higher rates of certain crimes than others. Busy downtown areas such as Yonge-Bay Corridor, Downtown Yonge East and Moss Park have the highest assault rates, while parts of Jane and Finch and Scarborough see more shootings and car thefts.

This guide looks at seven areas that often come up in safety searches: Regent Park, Moss Park, Jane and Finch, Malvern, St. James Town, Weston-Mount Dennis and Kingston-Galloway. None of them should be judged by reputation alone. Safety can change by street, building, time of day, transit access and lighting.

For buyers, renters, and investors, the smartest approach is to compare official crime data, visit the area at different times, review building security, and speak with a local real estate professional before making a decision.

For agents comparing the best real estate brokerage to work for in Toronto, this kind of neighbourhood-level knowledge is also important. Clients expect guidance that goes beyond listings and pricing.

Toronto Crime in 2026: What the Latest Data Shows

Toronto Police Service open data for January to September 2026 shows most major crimes still going down. Auto theft is the exception.

Crime type	Jan to Sep 2025	Jan to Sep 2026	Change
Assault	18,338	17,883	Down 2.5%
Auto theft	5,374	5,623	Up 4.6%
Break and enter	4,515	4,400	Down 2.5%
Robbery	2,026	1,883	Down 7.1%
Shootings and firearm discharges	209	195	Down 6.7%
Homicides	34	27	Down 20.6%

Source: Toronto Police Service open data (Major Crime Indicators, Shootings and Firearm Discharges, and Homicides), January 1 to September 30 of each year. Recent months can change slightly as late reports come in.

Full-Year 2025 Baseline

2025 was a big year for falling crime in Toronto. Homicides hit their lowest level in decades, and Statistics Canada reported that the Crime Severity Index for the Toronto area fell 7%.

Crime type	2024	2025	Change	2025 rate per 100,000 residents
Assault	25,431	24,686	Down 2.9%	767.9
Auto theft	9,551	7,240	Down 24.2%	225.2
Break and enter	6,824	6,092	Down 10.7%	189.5
Robbery	3,149	2,522	Down 19.9%	78.5
Shootings	461	262	Down 43.2%	8.2
Homicide	85	45	Down 47.1%	1.4

Source: Toronto Police Service, Neighbourhood Crime Rates open data, Public Safety Data Portal (2025 figures, updated February 2026). Rates use a 2025 population of 3,214,722. Crime data changes every year, so check the latest release before you buy, rent or invest.

Which Toronto Neighbourhoods Have the Highest Crime Rates?

There is no single official list of the most dangerous neighbourhoods in Toronto. The answer depends on the type of crime. TPS only publishes neighbourhood rates for full years, so the rankings below use 2025, the latest full year.

Highest Assault Rates in 2025

Neighbourhood	Assaults (2025)	Rate per 100,000 residents
Mimico-Queensway	1,014	4,209.2
Yonge-Bay Corridor	560	3,361.1
Downtown Yonge East	593	2,360.8
Moss Park	655	2,226.8
Kensington-Chinatown	460	2,017.5
University	143	1,740.5
Danforth	160	1,561.7
Kennedy Park	288	1,521.5
City of Toronto	24,686	767.9

Most of these areas are downtown or along busy commercial streets. Rates are based on residents, so places where many more people visit, work or go out than live will show higher numbers. A large mall, transit hub or institution inside a neighbourhood can also push its rate up.

Most Shootings in 2025

Neighbourhood	Shootings (2025)	Shootings (2024)
Wexford/Maryvale	10	18
West Humber-Clairville	10	7
Black Creek	8	13
Glenfield-Jane Heights	8	17
Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown	7	19
Agincourt South-Malvern West	6	5
Englemount-Lawrence	6	8
Yorkdale-Glen Park	6	5

Shootings are rare across the city: 262 in all 158 neighbourhoods in 2025, down from 461 in 2024.

Most Auto Thefts in 2025

Neighbourhood	Auto thefts (2025)	Rate per 100,000 residents
West Humber-Clairville	494	1,320.6
York University Heights	213	634.1
Etobicoke City Centre	186	601.8
Milliken	160	607.7
Wexford/Maryvale	132	425.5

Highest Break-In Rates in 2025

Neighbourhood	Break-ins (2025)	Rate per 100,000 residents
University	60	730.3
Yonge-Bay Corridor	92	552.2
Rosedale-Moore Park	105	455.6
Kensington-Chinatown	101	443.0
Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills	47	403.3
Humber Summit	52	397.4

Notice that some of Toronto’s wealthiest areas, such as Rosedale-Moore Park and Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills, rank high for break-ins while having low violent crime. That is why crime type matters more than a neighbourhood’s overall reputation.

How to Think About Dangerous Areas in Toronto

Searches like “dangerous neighborhoods in Toronto,” “bad areas of Toronto,” or “places to avoid in Toronto” usually come from a practical concern. People want to know where they can live, rent, invest, commute, or walk safely.

But neighbourhood safety should be handled carefully. A single label like “bad neighbourhood” can be misleading because it ignores important context:

• Crime varies block by block
• Property crime and violent crime are different issues
• High-density areas naturally report more incidents
• Transit corridors can affect reported crime numbers
• Some communities are actively improving
• Building security can matter as much as neighbourhood reputation
• Public perception often lags behind current data

The Toronto Police Service shares crime data on its Public Safety Data Portal (data.tps.ca). Its incident datasets are updated through the year and currently run to September 2026. Its Neighbourhood Crime Rates dataset gives counts and rates per 100,000 residents for all 158 neighbourhoods, but only for full years, so 2025 is the latest year with official rates. Read both carefully: reported crime does not tell the full story of daily life, and rates can look high where few people live but many people visit.

That is why this guide focuses on areas buyers and renters should research carefully, not blanket judgments about entire communities.

Methodology: How We Evaluated Higher-Risk Areas

This guide uses TPS open data for January to September 2026, compared with the same months of 2025, plus the full-year 2025 neighbourhood rates. We combined that with common real estate safety indicators such as:

• Reported violent crime
• Assaults and robberies
• Break-and-enter incidents
• Auto theft
• Shootings and firearm-related incidents
• Public disorder concerns
• Building density and infrastructure
• Nighttime safety perception
• Revitalization and community investment
• Buyer and renter due diligence needs

A neighbourhood appearing in this guide does not mean every street is unsafe. It means the area has historically appeared in public safety conversations, has reported elevated concerns in certain crime categories, or requires extra due diligence before moving.

2026 Crime Counts for the Neighbourhoods in This Guide

TPS reports crime by the City’s 158 official neighbourhoods, which do not always match the names people use. Jane and Finch, for example, is split between Black Creek and Glenfield-Jane Heights. Counts below cover January to September 2026, with the same months of 2025 in brackets.

TPS neighbourhood (area in this guide)	Assaults	Auto thefts	Break-ins	Shootings and firearm discharges
Regent Park	126 (124)	19 (14)	23 (18)	2 (1)
Moss Park	467 (510)	14 (19)	94 (71)	4 (1)
Black Creek (Jane and Finch)	186 (196)	64 (35)	15 (17)	9 (6)
Glenfield-Jane Heights (Jane and Finch)	253 (245)	61 (45)	15 (24)	9 (6)
Malvern East (Malvern)	103 (104)	55 (42)	15 (15)	8 (0)
Malvern West (Malvern)	82 (78)	45 (42)	9 (5)	3 (4)
North St.James Town (St. James Town)	207 (222)	6 (16)	34 (22)	1 (1)
Weston (Weston-Mount Dennis)	151 (141)	44 (43)	34 (30)	2 (3)
Mount Dennis (Weston-Mount Dennis)	85 (58)	18 (19)	16 (13)	0 (2)
West Hill (Kingston-Galloway)	308 (304)	46 (37)	33 (49)	8 (5)

Source: Toronto Police Service open data, January 1 to September 30, 2026 and 2025.

Full-Year 2025 Rates for the Same Neighbourhoods

Rates per resident are only published for full years. All rates below are per 100,000 residents for 2025.

TPS neighbourhood (area in this guide)	Population	Assault rate	Auto theft rate	Break-in rate	Shootings
City of Toronto (all neighbourhoods)	3,214,722	767.9	225.2	189.5	262
Regent Park	16,775	947.8	95.4	166.9	1
Moss Park	29,415	2,226.8	81.6	350.2	1
Black Creek (Jane and Finch)	23,252	1,204.2	258.0	94.6	8
Glenfield-Jane Heights (Jane and Finch)	31,831	1,083.8	226.2	113.1	8
Malvern East (Malvern)	28,466	505.9	224.8	80.8	0
Malvern West (Malvern)	18,267	635.0	366.8	43.8	5
North St.James Town (St. James Town)	23,408	1,281.6	85.4	153.8	1
Weston (Weston-Mount Dennis)	22,158	875.5	239.2	180.5	4
Mount Dennis (Weston-Mount Dennis)	14,409	562.1	152.7	124.9	2
West Hill (Kingston-Galloway)	31,546	1,328.2	149.0	193.4	5

Source: Toronto Police Service, Neighbourhood Crime Rates open data, 2025. Shootings are counts, not rates.

7 Toronto Neighbourhoods to Research Carefully

The seven areas below come up most often in searches about dangerous or bad areas of Toronto. Each one includes its 2026 data so far, how it compares with 2025 and what to check before you buy or rent.

1. Regent Park

Regent Park is one of Toronto’s most discussed neighbourhoods because of its long history, public housing roots, and major redevelopment.

For years, Regent Park was associated with poverty, crime, and underinvestment. That reputation still appears in searches around “Regent Park Toronto crime” and “is Regent Park Toronto safe.”

Today, the area looks very different. From January to September 2026, TPS data shows 126 assaults in Regent Park, almost the same as 124 in the same months of 2025. Break-ins rose from 18 to 23, and there were 2 shootings or firearm discharges, up from 1. In 2025 as a whole, Regent Park’s assault rate was 947.8 per 100,000 residents, above the city rate of 767.9, and it had no homicides.

Regent Park has gone through one of the city’s largest revitalization projects. According to Toronto Community Housing, Phases 1 to 3 delivered more than 6,000 homes, including replacement of all the original rent-geared-to-income homes. Phases 4 and 5 could add more than 3,400 affordable and replacement rental homes, and in March 2026 construction began on a Phase 4 building with 271 affordable homes.

Still, buyers and renters should look closely at:

• Building security
• Specific intersection and block conditions
• Nighttime activity
• Proximity to shelters or high-traffic corridors
• Recent sales and rental demand
• Condo management quality
• Walkability after dark

Judge Regent Park by its buildings and streets today, not by its past.

2. Moss Park

Moss Park is centrally located and offers strong downtown access, but it also appears frequently in conversations about dangerous areas in Toronto.

The area has a mix of shelters, community services, older housing, public spaces, and downtown foot traffic. That mix can create very different experiences depending on the time of day.

From January to September 2026, Moss Park recorded 467 assaults, down from 510 in the same months of 2025. Break-ins went the other way, rising from 71 to 94. In 2025 as a whole, Moss Park’s assault rate was 2,226.8 per 100,000 residents. That is about 2.9 times the city rate and the fourth-highest of Toronto’s 158 neighbourhoods.

Common concerns include:

• Visible drug use in some areas
• Public disorder around certain blocks
• Theft and break-ins
• Nighttime safety concerns
• Uneven pedestrian comfort

For buyers and renters, Moss Park requires careful in-person review. Visit during the day, after dark, and during typical commute hours. Pay attention to building entrances, parking security, lobby access, and nearby street activity.

For some residents, the location and affordability may outweigh concerns. For others, the environment may not feel comfortable.

3. Jane and Finch

Jane and Finch is often mentioned when people search for “bad neighborhoods in Toronto” or “most dangerous area in Toronto. The area’s reputation is tied to past gun violence and decades of underinvestment.

But the area is more than its reputation. The City’s Jane Finch Initiative covers two TPS neighbourhoods, Black Creek and Glenfield-Jane Heights. After a big drop in 2025, some numbers have crept back up in 2026. From January to September 2026, the two areas recorded 18 shootings or firearm discharges, up from 12 in the same months of 2025. Auto thefts rose from 80 to 125. Assaults stayed about the same, at 439 compared with 441. These are small numbers, so a few incidents can swing the trend.

Jane and Finch is also home to strong community organizations, local businesses, families, schools and long-term residents who care deeply about the area. Line 6 Finch West, the TTC’s new light rail line along Finch Avenue West, opened in December 2025. In 2024, City Council adopted the Jane Finch Initiative, a plan to guide growth, housing and community facilities in the area.

Buyers and renters should evaluate:

• Specific building or street conditions
• Transit access
• Lighting and pedestrian routes
• Proximity to community centres
• Local development activity
• Property type and resale demand
• School and commute priorities

Some pockets may suit you well, while others may need more caution.

4. Malvern

Malvern is another area that appears in searches like “is Scarborough dangerous” and “worst neighborhoods in Scarborough.”

The neighbourhood has large residential areas, apartment clusters, schools, parks and a diverse community. TPS data splits it into Malvern East and Malvern West. Assaults are steady in 2026: 185 across both areas from January to September, compared with 182 in the same months of 2025. Car theft is the bigger issue. Auto thefts rose from 84 to 100, and Malvern East recorded 8 shootings or firearm discharges, after none in the same period of 2025. In 2025 as a whole, both areas had assault rates below the city rate.

For real estate decisions, Malvern should be studied through a practical lens.

Review:

• Property crime trends
• Parking and vehicle security
• Building management
• Street lighting
• Transit routes
• Nearby schools and amenities
• Recent development or community investment

Malvern can offer affordability compared with more expensive areas, but buyers should not make decisions based only on price. Safety, commute, lifestyle, and long-term resale demand should all be reviewed together.

5. St. James Town

St. James Town is one of the most densely populated communities in the city. Density can affect how safety feels, especially in high-rise environments.

TPS lists the area as North St.James Town. From January to September 2026 it recorded 207 assaults, down from 222 in the same months of 2025. Break-ins rose from 22 to 34. In 2025 as a whole, its assault rate was 1,281.6 per 100,000 residents, well above the city rate. Many safety questions here are about the building, not only the street. Buyers and renters often evaluate:

• Building maintenance
• Elevator reliability
• Fire safety
• Lobby access
• Overcrowding
• Emergency response complexity
• Tenant turnover
• Package theft and shared-space security

For renters, building quality matters greatly. Two buildings in the same neighbourhood can feel completely different depending on management, security, maintenance, and resident mix.

In St. James Town, check the specific building before you decide.

6. Weston-Mount Dennis

Weston-Mount Dennis has seen growing interest because of transit investment and west-end affordability. Line 5 Eglinton began service in February 2026, with its western end at Mount Dennis station. The 2026 data is mixed. From January to September, Weston’s numbers were close to last year (151 assaults compared with 141, and 44 auto thefts compared with 43). Mount Dennis had no shootings, down from 2, but assaults rose from 58 to 85.

For buyers and investors, this is an area where trend analysis matters.

Some neighbourhoods with safety concerns may also see long-term upside if infrastructure, transit, housing investment, and community improvements continue.

That does not mean every property is a good opportunity.

Evaluate:

• Auto theft patterns
• Parking setup
• Building security
• Street lighting
• Transit proximity
• Current development activity
• Comparable sales trends
• Rental demand

To understand broader market movement, review current Toronto real estate market trends alongside safety and lifestyle factors.

7. Kingston-Galloway

Kingston-Galloway often comes up in conversations about property crime and neighbourhood safety. TPS does not report it as its own neighbourhood; much of the area falls within West Hill. From January to September 2026, West Hill recorded 308 assaults, about the same as 304 a year earlier.

Break-ins fell from 49 to 33, while auto thefts rose from 37 to 46 and shootings or firearm discharges from 5 to 8. In 2025 as a whole, West Hill’s assault rate was 1,328.2 per 100,000 residents, one of the 10 highest in the city.

Like many large residential areas, the experience can vary widely by street, building type, and proximity to major roads or transit.

Buyers and renters should pay attention to:

• Break-and-enter trends
• Vehicle security
• Building access controls
• Nearby commercial corridors
• Walkability at night
• Local amenities
• Community investment

Here, local research tells you more than the area’s name.

Violent Crime vs Property Crime: Why the Difference Matters

When people ask “how safe is Toronto” or “is Toronto dangerous,” they often combine all crime types into one concern.

That can create confusion.

Violent crime usually includes offences such as assault, robbery, shootings, and homicide.

Property crime includes:

• Break-and-enter
• Auto theft
• Theft from vehicles
• Package theft
• Vandalism

For real estate decisions, the difference matters.

A neighbourhood may have higher property crime but lower random violent crime. Another area may have isolated violent incidents but strong residential stability. A downtown location may show more reported incidents simply because of higher foot traffic, nightlife, shelters, commercial activity, and density.

Buyers should ask:

• What kind of crime is more common?
• Is crime concentrated near specific streets or buildings?
• Is the trend improving or worsening?
• Does the property itself have strong security?
• How does the area feel during the day versus night?

This is more useful than simply asking whether an entire neighbourhood is safe or unsafe.

Is Downtown Toronto Safe?

Downtown Toronto is generally active, walkable and heavily used by residents, workers, students and visitors. However, safety varies by location and time of day. In 2025, the latest full year with official rates, Yonge-Bay Corridor (3,361.1 assaults per 100,000 residents) and Downtown Yonge East (2,360.8) had two of the highest assault rates in the city. These rates are based on the number of people who live there, so areas with few residents and large daily crowds of shoppers, workers and nightlife visitors will look high.

Some downtown pockets may feel less comfortable because of:

• Nightlife activity
• Public intoxication
• Shelter proximity
• Visible drug use
• Theft from vehicles
• High pedestrian traffic
• Limited lighting on certain side streets

If you are considering a downtown condo or rental, focus on micro-location.

Review the exact building, nearby intersections, parking setup, lobby security, concierge presence, elevator access, and walking routes to transit.

Downtown living can be excellent, but the building matters as much as the neighbourhood name.

Safety Checklist for Buyers and Renters

Before choosing a home in an area with higher reported crime, use this checklist.

1. Visit at Different Times

Do not visit only on a sunny afternoon. Visit:

• morning
• evening
• after dark
• weekday
• weekend

The same street can feel different depending on timing.

2. Check Official Crime Data

Use the Toronto Police Service Public Safety Data Portal (data.tps.ca). Its incident maps include 2026 data, and the Neighbourhood Crime Rates dataset shows rates per 100,000 residents for all 158 neighbourhoods from 2014 to 2025. Look at crime type, not just total numbers, and compare at least three years before you decide.

3. Review Building Security

For condos and apartments, check:

• lobby access
• cameras
• concierge or security presence
• garage access
• package storage
• visitor entry controls
• elevator condition

4. Look at the Street, Not Just the Area

A neighbourhood may have both strong and weak pockets. Walk the nearby blocks before deciding.

5. Ask About Auto Theft and Parking

If you own a vehicle, review:

• garage security
• street parking risks
• lighting
• camera coverage
• recent auto theft reports

6. Compare Lifestyle and Resale Value

Safety matters, but so do:

• schools
• transit
• amenities
• parks
• commute
• future development
• buyer demand

For comparison, explore the best areas to live in Toronto to understand how lifestyle, safety, schools, and accessibility shape neighbourhood choice.

Neighbourhood Revitalization Can Change the Story

Some areas with older safety reputations are actively changing.

Regent Park is the clearest example. Redevelopment, mixed-income housing, public space upgrades, and community programming have changed how many buyers and renters evaluate the area.

Jane and Finch has also seen continued investment in youth programming, public realm improvements, and community-led initiatives.

Revitalization does not erase safety concerns overnight, but it can change long-term buyer perception and property demand.

Investors should be careful here. A neighbourhood with improvement potential is not automatically a good investment. You still need to evaluate:

• current crime data
• infrastructure plans
• housing supply
• rental demand
• resale liquidity
• community services
• affordability trends

If you are also comparing high-end lifestyle areas, review Toronto’s most affluent neighbourhoods to see how pricing, amenities, schools, privacy, and prestige influence buyer decisions.

What a Local Real Estate Advisor Can Help You Understand

Online crime searches can provide useful starting points, but they do not replace local guidance.

A real estate advisor can help you compare:

• street-by-street differences
• building quality
• condo security
• local resale demand
• school access
• transit convenience
• rental potential
• neighbourhood improvement plans
• buyer perception
• property value trends

An experienced local agent can help buyers, sellers and investors evaluate neighbourhoods with context instead of relying only on reputation or headlines. A local agent can also walk you through recent sales, rental demand and building details for the exact street you are considering.

This is especially important when a neighbourhood is changing. Safety, affordability, development, and buyer demand often move at different speeds.

What This Means for Real Estate Agents

Safety questions come up at almost every Toronto showing. Agents who can pull up the latest TPS numbers, explain the difference between assault and auto theft rates and point clients to building-level checks earn trust faster than agents who repeat old reputations.

Be careful with how you answer. Share official data, let clients draw their own conclusions, and avoid describing an area or its residents in ways that could steer buyers toward or away from a community.

RE/MAX Millennium does not have an office in Toronto, but agents who work the city can do so from our nearby GTA offices. Agents focused on north-west Toronto, including Jane and Finch and Weston-Mount Dennis, can work from our Vaughan office, and agents serving Scarborough areas such as Malvern and West Hill can work from our Markham office. Both give new and experienced agents hands-on training, marketing and admin support.

Final Thoughts: Is Toronto Dangerous?

Toronto is not a dangerous city overall, and most major crime categories are still falling in 2026, but some areas report higher crime, and car theft is rising.

The smarter question is not simply:

Instead of asking which areas to avoid, ask which neighbourhoods need more research before you buy, rent, invest, or visit.

Areas such as Regent Park, Moss Park, Jane and Finch, Malvern, St. James Town, Weston-Mount Dennis, and Kingston-Galloway deserve careful review, but none should be judged by reputation alone.

Safety changes from street to street, building to building, and day to night.

Before making a decision, review official crime data, visit the area personally, compare nearby communities, and speak with someone who understands Toronto real estate at the neighbourhood level.

A careful, data-informed approach will help you choose a location that fits your lifestyle, budget, comfort level, and long-term property goals.

Frequently Asked Questions