Camden, N.J. ? For the second year in a row, Camden, N.J., has been named the nation’s most dangerous, according to a company’s annual ranking based on crime statistics.

Last year, the distinction seemed to hurt city boosters’ feelings more than it harmed revitalization efforts. This time, city leaders are offended by the ranking, calling it unfair.

“We’re doing so many nice things now. It’s unfortunate that somebody always wants to bad-mouth Camden,” Mayor Gwendolyn Faison said.

The city took the top spot last year from Detroit, which remained No. 2 in the most dangerous city rankings, to be released today by Morgan Quitno Press. The Lawrence, Kan.-based company publishes “City Crime Rankings,” an annual reference book.

New Jersey has poured $175 million into the city to spur development projects and take over parts of its government, the city’s aquarium doubled in size and a new library and technology center were built.

But about 100 fewer prospective students than expected attended Rutgers University’s downtown campus last year, something Provost Roger Dennis attributes to the crime ranking and a serial rapist who assaulted women near and on campus last fall.