Top 10 most dangerous cities in Massachusetts

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Massachusetts, known for its rich history and educational institutions, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Boston with its historic sites and world-renowned universities to the scenic beauty of Cape Cod, Massachusetts provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its museums, festivals, and historic landmarks. However, despite its many positives, Massachusetts faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Massachusetts are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Massachusetts' cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Massachusetts involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Massachusetts' commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, educational opportunities, and natural beauty continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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North Adams Population: 12,897 1,194 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 84 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,752

North Adams, MA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Massachusetts with 1,194 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,065), robbery (73), rape (56) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 279% higher than the Massachusetts average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Holyoke Population: 40,161 1,041 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 96 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,273

The second most dangerous city is Holyoke. With a population of 40,161 and a violent crime rate that is 231% higher than the Massachusetts average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Holyoke are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,041 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 96 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Chelsea Population: 39,878 979 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 102 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,415

Home to 39,878 residents, Chelsea, MA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Massachusetts. Unfortunately for residents of Chelsea, crime is widespread, with more than 979 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.68 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 211% higher than the Massachusetts violent crime rate.

Springfield Population: 153,677 891 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 112 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,727

With a violent crime rate that is 183% higher than the Massachusetts average, it's not hard to see why Springfield made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (209), assault (624), rape (47) and homicide (11). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Springfield more vulnerable to high crime.

Fall River Population: 89,618 743 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 135 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,134

The ongoing battle with crime in Fall River, MA, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 743 and a 1 in 135 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Fall River has a violent crime rate that is 136% higher than the Massachusetts average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Fall River.

Ware Population: 5,978 695 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.90 chance of being a victim: 1 in 144 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,052

Ware, MA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 695 per 100,000 people, which is 121% higher than the Massachusetts average. Ware has a population of 5,978, which translates to 1.90 crimes per day and 1 in 144 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Ware which are much safer than others.

Webster Population: 11,719 638 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 157 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,438

A 1 in 157 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.75 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Webster makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 638 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 103% higher than the Massachusetts average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (565), robbery (17), rape (56) and homicide (0).

Boston Population: 689,326 628 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 159 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,650

Boston, MA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 689,326 and a violent crime rate of 628 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 472 counts of assault, 126 counts of robbery, 26 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. All told, the Boston violent crime rate is 100% higher than the Massachusetts average.

Brockton Population: 95,740 599 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 167 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,945

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Brockton, MA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Massachusetts with a violent crime rate of 599 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.64 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 167 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Lynn Population: 94,201 575 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 174 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,745

Rounding out our list at #10 is Lynn, MA. With a population of 94,201 and a violent crime rate of 575 per 100,000 people (83% higher than the Massachusetts average), some parts of Lynn are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 463 counts of assault, 76 counts of robbery, 33 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 174 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	North Adams	12,897	1,194	3,752
2	Holyoke	40,161	1,041	5,273
3	Chelsea	39,878	979	2,415
4	Springfield	153,677	891	3,727
5	Fall River	89,618	743	2,134
6	Ware	5,978	695	1,052
7	Webster	11,719	638	1,438
8	Boston	689,326	628	2,650
9	Brockton	95,740	599	1,945
10	Lynn	94,201	575	1,745
11	Chicopee	55,186	567	2,327
12	Lowell	111,311	532	2,195
13	Pittsfield	42,514	511	1,751
14	Fitchburg	40,576	487	1,831
15	Leominster	41,581	484	1,799
16	Athol	8,323	452	1,184
17	Taunton	57,327	448	1,282
18	Northampton	28,552	445	1,717
19	Revere	53,400	445	1,980
20	Lawrence	80,022	440	1,439
21	Cambridge	117,822	437	3,081
22	Marlborough	39,663	421	1,457
23	West Springfield Town	28,527	415	3,588
24	Haverhill	63,783	411	1,335
25	Barnstable Town	44,497	410	1,196
26	Palmer Town	12,236	375	949
27	Southbridge Town	16,865	367	1,001
28	New Bedford	95,355	353	1,712
29	Everett	46,275	348	1,662
30	Quincy	94,389	335	1,668
31	Gardner	20,605	329	949
32	Framingham	72,846	325	1,380
33	Plymouth	6,949	323	1,018
34	Holbrook	11,051	314	1,693
35	Malden	60,710	292	1,472
36	Milford	26,072	286	1,188
37	Braintree Town	37,196	284	1,404
38	Foxborough	6,119	282	899
39	Gloucester	30,291	278	830
40	Adams	5,689	277	1,510
41	Dedham	25,330	272	1,597
42	Hull	10,478	262	727
43	Peabody	53,004	255	1,092
44	Waltham	62,597	252	951
45	Saugus	28,326	250	1,652
46	Maynard	10,900	242	985
47	Randolph	33,526	240	1,135
48	Oxford	5,926	236	900
49	Abington	16,557	232	1,593
50	Burlington	28,077	225	1,888

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Massachusetts cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.