Medford, MA Crime Rates: Stats & Map

A

52%

Total crime NAT. AVG.

53%

Violent crime NAT. AVG.

52%

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}	Medford_{/100k people}	Massachusetts_{/100k people}	National_{/100k people}
Total crime	717	n/a (estimate)	1,118	1,392	2,324
Murder	1	n/a	1.6	2.1	6.3
Rape	14	n/a	21.8	29.1	40.0
Robbery	8	n/a	12.5	37.7	66.1
Assault	89	n/a	138.8	253.1	268.2
Violent crime	112	n/a (estimate)	175	322	370
Burglary	57	n/a	88.9	142.8	269.8
Theft	475	n/a	740.8	827.6	1,401.9
Vehicle theft	73	n/a	113.8	99.7	282.7
Property crime	605	n/a (estimate)	944	1,070	1,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Medford, MA

Crime is typically categorized into two main types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. Based on the most recent report, the Medford crime rate is lower than the national average by 51.9%. Specifically, there were 112 violent crimes in Medford, equivalent to 175 per 100,000 individuals, lower than the national average by 52.8%. Furthermore, Medford recorded 605 property crimes, amounting to 944 per 100,000 residents, which was lower than the average by 51.7%.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Medford?

What do the local residents think about crime in Medford? Well, based on a recent survey of 26 people (conducted by AreaVibes), 96% of Medford residents said that there was virtually no crime and that they felt safe walking at night. Another 4% of respondents said that there was too much crime in the area and they did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Medford a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Medford is a safe place to live, let's take a look at the overall crime rate of the area, as well as the number of daily crimes. Medford has a total crime rate that is 52% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 1.96 daily crimes (0.31 violent daily crimes and 1.66 daily property crimes) in Medford.

Has Crime in Medford Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime rates in Medford has increased by 17.2% in the last reported crime report. Comparing crime rates from one year to another offers some insight into whether or not Medford is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. Crime rates are categorized by violent and property crime. Year-over-year violent crime has increased by 19.2%, while property crime has increased by 16.8%. This analysis equips individuals with crucial information for making informed decisions about living in Medford.

Potential Causes for Crime in Medford

The economic prosperity of a city's inhabitants exerts substantial influence on crime stats. Elevated poverty rates and income inequality can precipitate heightened criminal activity, as individuals may turn to illicit means to fulfill their fundamental requirements. While lower poverty rates could lead to lower Medford crime rates. In Medford, the poverty rate stands at 8.6%, diverging from the national average of 15.1%.

The effectiveness of law enforcement and community policing initiatives can influence crime rates. A strong and collaborative relationship between the police and the community can deter criminal activity and improve safety. In Medford, there are 1.64 police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents, compared to the national average of 3.25. The effectiveness of law enforcement often depends on community policing strategies that emphasize building trust and cooperation between the police and the community. It's not just about the number of officers but also how they engage with the community.

In Medford, the average rental rates are $2,003 per month, compared to the national average of $949. Rapid increases in rental costs can lead to neighborhood instability as residents are forced to move frequently in search of more affordable housing. This transience can weaken community bonds and hinder the establishment of social support networks, which can indirectly contribute to crime. While affordable rent and areas with higher income per capita, allow for long term renters and community bonds to the formed, therefore reducing crime rates on the long term.

Medford crime map

The Medford crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Medford 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 Medford crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Medford 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.

New Real Estate Listings in Medford Area

For Sale For Rent

Search

Search Homes for Sale in Medford, MA

Compare Medford, MA Crime

See How Much House You Can Afford. Get Pre-Approved Today

Crime Quick Facts

Medford crime rates are 52% lower than the national average
Violent crimes in Medford are 53% lower than the national average
In Medford you have a 1 in 90 chance of becoming a victim of crime
Medford is safer than 61% of the cities in the United States
Year over year crime in Medford has increased by 13%

Medford, MA Crime Quiz

Safest Places to Live in and Around Medford

See all the best places to live around Medford

Write a review to give others more information about this area.

See all Medford poll results

The best places in Massachusetts

Here are the best places to live in Massachusetts

Check out the 10 safest cities in Massachusetts

These are the 10 most affordable cities in Massachusetts

Top 10 cities in Massachusetts with the best education system

Daily Crime In Medford (per 100,000 people)

The number of daily crimes per 100,000 residents in Medford, Massachusetts is displayed in the graph above. As you can see, the daily crimes for Medford are 1.24 times less than the Massachusetts average and 2.08 times less than the national level. Daily violent crimes in Medford are 1.84 times less than than Massachusetts and 2.12 times less than the national mean. While daily property crimes in Medford are 1.13 times less than than Massachusetts and 2.07 times less than the national average.

How Safe is Medford (higher is better)

Is Medford safe in comparison to other cities in the state of Massachusetts as well as in comparison to the rest of the areas across the United States. Using the gauges above, which compare crime in Medford to other cities in the state and across the country, Medford is 45% safer than other cities of Massachusetts and 61% safer than other cities in the nation. Medford has a ranks above average in comparison to other cities in the country.

Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Medford

The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Medford is 1 in 573

The chance of being a victim of property crime in Medford is 1 in 106

The chance of being a victim of crime in Medford is 1 in 90

Are you curious to know the likelihood of suffering from a crime in Medford? If you reside in Medford, the likelihood that you will become a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 573. Violent crimes include: murder, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. There is a 1 in 106 change that you will become a victim of a property crime. These sorts of crimes against personal property include: burglary, theft, and auto theft. In total, the likelihood of being victimized by a crime in Medford, is 1 in 90.

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

An analysis of year to year crime rates in Medford, Massachusetts (per 100,000 people) is a useful indicator of whether the area is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live. The amount of violent crime in Medford has increased by 15%, the amount of property crime in Medford has increased by 13%, and the total amount of crime in Medford has increased by 13% year over year.

Medford police department

Item	Medford	Massachusetts	National
Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)	94	11,659	558,732
Police officers & civilians /1000 residents	1.6	2.2	3.3

There are a total of 94 Medford police officers. This results in 1.6 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 23.8% less than the Massachusetts average and 49.5% 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}
Dover, MA	2,518	85	119	203
Nahant, MA	3,512	30	211	241
Winchester, MA	22,760	40	271	311
Lexington, MA	33,304	44	286	330
Topsfield, MA	3,046	61	365	425
Wellesley, MA	28,747	61	376	437
Cochituate, MA	6,730	105	348	453
Medford, MA	58,290	175	944	1,118

Cities with similar population

City	Population	Violent crime_{/100k people}	Property crime_{/100k people}	Total crime_{/100k people}
Casper, WY	58,287	235	1,906	2,141
Des Plaines, IL	58,316	118	1,212	1,330
Orland Park, IL	58,380	184	1,080	1,264
White Plains, NY	58,171	114	1,273	1,387
Bowie, MD	58,158	109	1,204	1,312
Medford, MA	58,290	175	944	1,118

Source: The Medford, 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.