Lawrence, MA Crime Rates: Stats & Map

C-

40%

Total crime NAT. AVG.

36%

Violent crime NAT. AVG.

54%

Property crime NAT. AVG.

Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.

Statistic	Reported_incidents	_{/100k people}	Lawrence_{/100k people}	Massachusetts_{/100k people}	National_{/100k people}
Total crime	1,243	n/a (estimate)	1,406	1,392	2,324
Murder	4	n/a	4.5	2.1	6.3
Rape	28	n/a	31.7	29.1	40.0
Robbery	49	n/a	55.4	37.7	66.1
Assault	363	n/a	410.5	253.1	268.2
Violent crime	444	n/a (estimate)	502	322	370
Burglary	75	n/a	84.8	142.8	269.8
Theft	628	n/a	710.2	827.6	1,401.9
Vehicle theft	96	n/a	108.6	99.7	282.7
Property crime	799	n/a (estimate)	904	1,070	1,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Lawrence, MA

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Lawrence is 39.5% lower than the national average. Specifically, there were 444 violent crimes reported in Lawrence, equivalent to 502 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 35.8%. Additionally, Lawrence recorded 799 property crimes, amounting to 904 per 100,000 people, lower than the national average by 53.8%.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Lawrence?

What do the local residents think about crime in Lawrence? Well, based on a recent survey of 55 people (conducted by AreaVibes), 15% of Lawrence residents said that there was virtually no crime and that they felt safe walking at night. Another 85% of respondents said that there was too much crime in the area and they did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Lawrence a Safe Place to Live?

To get a feel for the safety of living in Lawrence, it's essential to analyze both the overall crime rate and the daily incident count. Lawrence presents a total crime rate that is 40% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. Consequently, Lawrence experiences an average of 3.41 daily crimes, comprising 1.22 violent incidents and 2.19 property-related offenses. This evaluation offers a comprehensive understanding of the safety landscape, aiding individuals in making informed decisions when considering relocation.

Has Crime in Lawrence Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Lawrence has increased by 2.8%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Lawrence, aiding residents in assessing whether it is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. These crime rates are categorized into two primary groups: violent and property crimes. Year-over-year, violent crime has increased by 23.3%, while property crime has increased by 5.9%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Lawrence is a safe place to live.

Potential Causes for Crime in Lawrence

In Lawrence, the poverty rate currently stands at 21%, which contrasts with the national average of 15.1%. It's essential to recognize that the economic status of a city's inhabitants could be a pivotal factor influencing crime stats. Communities grappling with high poverty rates and income inequality are often susceptible to elevated crime levels, as some individuals may turn to unlawful activities to fulfill their essential needs. While lower poverty rates could lead to a reduction in Lawrence crime rates.

Highly populated regions typically encompass expansive urban hubs teeming with diverse economic prospects. Within these areas, income inequality can be exacerbated, giving rise to enclaves of poverty amid affluence. Communities marked by economic disparities may contend with heightened property crimes, and in certain instances, violent crimes. Conversely, regions characterized by low population density often exhibit lower Lawrence crime rates. For instance, in Lawrence, the population density stands at 11547.6 people per square mile, diverging from the national average of 90.6 people per square mile.

Rising cost of living expenses, including increased housing costs, grocery, utility and healthcare expenditures, can induce financial strain on individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. Such economic stress may propel individuals towards crime, including theft or burglary, as a means of addressing their financial hardships. Conversely, cities characterized by a lower cost of living may alleviate economic pressures, potentially resulting in a reduced crime rate. In Lawrence, the cost of living is 20.66% higher than the national average, reflecting a more affordable economic environment that could contribute to a decrease in crime levels.

Lawrence crime map

The Lawrence crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Lawrence as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Lawrence crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Lawrence crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.

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Crime Quick Facts

Lawrence crime rates are 40% lower than the national average
Violent crimes in Lawrence are 36% higher than the national average
In Lawrence you have a 1 in 72 chance of becoming a victim of crime
Lawrence is safer than 28% of the cities in the United States
Year over year crime in Lawrence has decreased by 6%

Lawrence, MA Crime Quiz

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Daily Crime In Lawrence (per 100,000 people)

The graph above illustrates the number of daily crimes in Lawrence, MA per 100,000 people. In Lawrence, the total number of daily crimes is 1.01 times more than the Massachusetts average and 1.65 times less than the national average. The number of daily violent crimes in Lawrence is 1.56 times more than the Massachusetts average and 1.36 times more than the national average. With regards to property crimes, Lawrence has a daily crime rate that is 1.18 times less than the Massachusetts average and 2.16 times less than the national average.

How Safe is Lawrence (higher is better)

Are people any safer living in Lawrence in comparison to other Massachusetts communities and all other areas throughout the United States? When we look at all cities across America, is Lawrence safe? The evidence provided by these graphs show Lawrence being safer than 12% of cities in Massachusetts and 28% of cities across the United States. This is evident by tracking Massachusetts cities as well as all US cities over a one year period to contrast crime statistics as they relate to Lawrence. In conclusion, Lawrence ranks below average compared to the rest of the United States.

Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Lawrence

The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Lawrence is 1 in 200

The chance of being a victim of property crime in Lawrence is 1 in 111

The chance of being a victim of crime in Lawrence is 1 in 72

How likely are you to become a victim of crime? In Lawrence, Massachusetts you have a 1 in 200 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 111 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 72 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Lawrence.

Year Over Year Crime In Lawrence (per 100,000 people)

The year over year change in crime per 100,000 people helps to understand whether crime in Lawrence, MA is on the rise or declining. The violent crime rate in Lawrence has increased by 13%, while the property crime rate in Lawrence has decreased by 14% year over year. Summing up the numbers, Lawrence has decreased by 6% with regards to total crimes year over year.

Lawrence police department

Item	Lawrence	Massachusetts	National
Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)	133	11,659	558,732
Police officers & civilians /1000 residents	1.7	2.2	3.3

There are a total of 133 Lawrence police officers. This results in 1.7 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 20.5% less than the Massachusetts average and 47.3% less than the National average.

Sex offenders in Massachusetts

State	Total offenders	Massachusetts_/100K	National_/100K
Massachusetts	4,551	72	266

There are a total of 4,551 sex offenders in Massachusetts. This yields a total of 72 sex offenders in Massachusetts per 100,000 residents which is 73% less than the national average.

Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Boxford, MA	2,925	12	49	61
Rowley, MA	1,803	65	245	310
Topsfield, MA	3,046	61	365	425
Wakefield, MA	27,041	150	440	591
Reading, MA	25,236	16	588	604
Andover, MA	8,821	117	500	617
Newburyport, MA	18,197	147	506	653
Lawrence, MA	80,022	502	904	1,406

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Pleasanton, CA	79,975	110	1,768	1,878
Mountain View, CA	80,104	277	2,961	3,237
Brooklyn Park, MN	80,173	381	3,298	3,679
Alameda, CA	79,827	312	4,299	4,610
Lakewood, CA	79,676	468	2,341	2,809
Lawrence, MA	80,022	502	904	1,406

Source: The Lawrence, MA crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.