F
4%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
67%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
8%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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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.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleBoston/100k peopleMassachusetts/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime15,469n/a (estimate)2,4211,3922,324
Murder44n/a6.92.16.3
Rape176n/a27.529.140.0
Robbery770n/a120.537.766.1
Assault2,965n/a464.1253.1268.2
Violent crime3,955n/a (estimate)619322370
Burglary1,213n/a189.9142.8269.8
Theft9,116n/a1,426.8827.61,401.9
Vehicle theft1,185n/a185.599.7282.7
Property crime11,514n/a (estimate)1,8021,0701,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Boston, MA

The Boston crime rates are 4.2% higher than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 3955 violent crimes in Boston (619 per 100,000 people), which is 67.4% higher than the national average and there were a total of 11514 property crimes (1802 per 100,000 residents) which is 7.8% lower than average.

In terms of the total Boston crime rate per 100,000 people, it falls within the midrange when compared to other cities across the United States. Our analysis of total crimes, encompassing both violent and property offenses in Boston, revealed that the reported crime rates closely align with the nationwide average reported by other areas.

The property crime rate per 100,000 people in Boston is very similar to the national average. Boston had a property crime rate of 1802, while the national average was 1954. Based on these numbers, you could expect an average amount of property crime in this area.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Boston?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Boston. Based on the results of the surveys (233 responses), 57% of people felt that there was very little crime in Boston and felt safe walking alone at night. While 43% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Boston a Safe Place to Live?

Determining whether Boston is a place to live may not always yield a simple answer, given the city's varying safety levels across different areas. Nonetheless, comprehending the city's overall crime rate can be a valuable asset. In broad terms, Boston has an overall crime rate that is 4% higher than the national average. When we take a look at crime on a daily basis, this translates into 42.38 daily occurrences, comprising 10.84 violent crimes and 31.55 property crimes. Scrutinizing these statistics provides a foundation for a more informed assessment of the suitability of Boston as a potential place to establish residency.

Has Crime in Boston Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Boston has decreased by 0.2%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Boston, 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 1.8%, while property crime has decreased by 0.9%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Boston is a safe place to live.

Boston Neighborhood Crime Rates

There are more than 16 different neighborhoods in the Boston area. Depending on their location and other socioeconomic factors, the rate of crime in each neighborhood is vastly different. Areas that are located near the center or downtown core, tend to be more densely populated and typically see higher crime rates. While neighborhoods in the outskirts of the city tend to be less densely populated and have lower unemployment and poverty rates. Some of the safer neighborhoods in Boston include West Roxbury, Allston-Brighton and Roslindale. While Central, Roxbury and South End have a reported crime rate that is higher than average. This reinforces the need to do a quality check on multiple neighborhoods as their crime rates can be quite different.

Potential Causes for Crime in Boston

In Boston, the poverty rate currently stands at 18%, 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 Boston 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 Boston crime rates. For instance, in Boston, the population density stands at 14259.9 people per square mile, diverging from the national average of 90.6 people per square mile.

The level of education within a community can impact crime rates. Higher educational attainment often correlates with lower crime rates, as it provides individuals with better job opportunities and alternatives to criminal behavior. While lower educational achievement rates tend to lead to higher crime rates. In Boston, 82.8% of people have completed high school, while 83% of people have completed high school nationally.

Boston crime map



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

  • Boston crime rates are 4% higher than the national average
  • Violent crimes in Boston are 67% higher than the national average
  • In Boston you have a 1 in 42 chance of becoming a victim of crime
  • Boston is safer than 16% of the cities in the United States
  • Year over year crime in Boston has increased by 10%

Boston, MA Crime Quiz

     

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        Daily Crime In Boston (per 100,000 people)

        The above illustration depicts the number of crimes committed daily in Boston, per 100,000 residents. In Boston, the total number of daily crimes is 1.74 times more than the Massachusetts average and 1.04 times more than the national average. Violent daily crime statistics in Boston are 1.92 times more than the Massachusetts average and 1.67 times more than the national average. For property crime, Boston has a daily crime rate that is 1.68 times more than the Massachusetts average and 1.08 times less than the daily national average.

        How Safe is Boston (higher is better)

        Compared to the other cities in Massachusetts and all other cities across the US, is Boston safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that Boston is safer than 5% of other cities in the state of Massachusetts. In addition, Boston is safer than 16% of cities in the entire United States. To achieve these results, all Massachusetts and United States cities were analyzed to determine how many locations had a lower crime rate than Boston. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that Boston is below average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Boston

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Boston is 1 in 162
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Boston is 1 in 56
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Boston is 1 in 42
        How likely are you to become a victim of crime? In Boston, Massachusetts you have a 1 in 162 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 56 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 42 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Boston.

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

        An analysis of year to year crime rates in Boston, 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 Boston has increased by 12%, the amount of property crime in Boston has increased by 9%, and the total amount of crime in Boston has increased by 10% year over year.

        Boston police department

        Item Boston Massachusetts National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)2,70011,659558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents4.32.23.3
        There are a total of 2,700 Boston police officers. This results in 4.3 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 98.7% greater than the Massachusetts average and 31.7% greater than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Massachusetts

        State Total offenders Massachusetts /100K National /100K
        Massachusetts4,55172266
        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, MA2,51885119203
        Nahant, MA3,51230211241
        Winchester, MA22,76040271311
        Lexington, MA33,30444286330
        Medfield, MA6,66876267343
        Wellesley, MA28,74761376437
        Cochituate, MA6,730105348453
        Boston, MA689,3266191,8022,421

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        El Paso, TX679,8793131,3791,692
        Washington, DC701,9747453,4844,229
        Detroit, MI672,3512,0284,4786,506
        Nashville, TN667,0701,1023,8254,927
        Denver, CO715,8781,0706,4287,498
        Boston, MA689,3266191,8022,421
        Source: The Boston, 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.