New York City’s record-low crime levels last year have attracted a coveted designation: It is again the safest big city in the country, according to a preliminary FBI report released yesterday.

New York also earned the title in 2006, and in the five previous years. Last year marked a first for the city, with homicides dipping below 500, a record low.

The nearly 17% drop in the murder rate far outpaced the rest of the nation, where homicides fell 2.7%, according to the FBI.

Overall violent crime also decreased in the city — by 3.1%, compared to 1.4% nationwide.

Mayor Bloomberg praised the police department for bringing down crime even as its resources have been stretched.

“The numbers continue to go in the right direction, and it’s because of the impressive efforts of the men and women of the NYPD,” he said in a statement.

During the past few years, as crime has dropped in the city, the police department’s size has contracted due to a recruiting crisis. This year, with the police department workforce set to reach just more than 35,000 people, its smallest size in several years, some crime has begun to creep back up.

Murders are up by 5.2% so far this year compared to the same period last year, and robberies are also up.

In total, however, the major index crimes are down this year by nearly 3%.