Survey: Those in New Jersey Need to Avoid These 2 Cities ‘At all costs’

We're lucky to live not only in a state where there are limitless things to do, but we are surrounded by major cities that offer never-ending entertainment, dining, and culture.

But there's also a bad side: those big cities are a magnet for crime.

Regardless of what the actual statistics are, every shocking crime gets shown on the nightly news and that paints a picture that these cities are cesspools that need to be avoided at costs.

But what to people who travel really think?

Eric Jones, a Mathematics and Statistics Professor at Rowan University in Glassboro, recently conducted some research for thevacationer.com and he released a list of the top 10 major American cities that people avoid "at all costs."

Just over 1,000 Americans over the age of 18 were sampled with a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of +/- 3.134%.

So, let's dive in and take a look at the two cities around New Jersey that people don't go near. But first, a bit of a surprise.

A surprise not in the top 5

Editors at thevacationer.com were quick to point out that for all of the bad press that the city receives, San Francisco is not ranked in the top five major cities Americans avoid traveling to at all costs. The Golden City ranked 7th.

If you wish to find out what life in San Francisco is really like, within the past month, CNN took a deep live into the metropolis of some 800,000 people. It's a pretty interesting read.

Meanwhile, closer to home, New Jersey is surrounded by two big cities that make people uncomfortable.

4. New York City

While San Francisco is out of the top 5, New York City is. The Big Apple ranked 4th with 18% of survey respondents saying they don't go anywhere near the city.

Is crime an issue? Is it the perception that crime is rampant? Or is that crimes are actually down due to lack of arrests and prosecutions?

According to statistics at nyc.com, since the beginning of the year through October 1st:

• Murders: 304 (down 10.9% from this point last year)
• Rapes: 1098 (down 12.2%)
• Robberies: 12,390 (down 5.9%)
• Felony Assaults: 21,133 (up 5.9%)
• Burglaries: 10,394 (down 12.5%)

19. Philadelphia

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Garden State, Philadelphia ranked 19th as a major city that people stay away from.

If you watch the news on TV any given day or night, you'll see nothing but stories about shootings and murders, carjackings, ATVs and dirt bikes taking over the city, armed robberies, and, lately, widespread looting.

According to data posted by the Philadelphia Police Department, since the beginning of the year through October 1st:

• Homicides: 305 (down 24.3% compared to this point last year)
• Rapes: 416 (down 10.3%)
• Robberies Involving Guns: 1982 (down 12.6%)
• Commercial Burglaries: 1430 (down 11.4)
• Retail Theft: 13,666 (up nearly 32%)
• Stolen Vehicles: 18,816 (up 100.2%)

Again, is Philadelphia a safe city? Official statistics, which may be impacted by a lack of prosecutions, say one thing while the perception is totally different.

And, yes, there has been a 100% increase in stolen vehicles in Philadelphia compared to this point last year.

Top 5 avoided major cities

1. Detroit, MI
2. Chicago, IL
3. Atlanta, GA
4. New York City, NY
5. Baltimore, MD