F
39%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
133%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
21%
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 peopleSpringfield/100k peopleMassachusetts/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime5,011n/a (estimate)3,2321,3922,324
Murder14n/a9.02.16.3
Rape82n/a52.929.140.0
Robbery265n/a170.937.766.1
Assault976n/a629.5253.1268.2
Violent crime1,337n/a (estimate)862322370
Burglary579n/a373.4142.8269.8
Theft2,590n/a1,670.5827.61,401.9
Vehicle theft505n/a325.799.7282.7
Property crime3,674n/a (estimate)2,3701,0701,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Springfield, 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 Springfield is 39.1% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 1337 violent crimes reported in Springfield, equivalent to 862 per 100,000 residents, which is higher than the national average by 133.2%. Additionally, Springfield recorded 3674 property crimes, amounting to 2370 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 21.3%.

Springfield is one of the most dangerous cities in America with a violent crime rate of 862 per 100,000 people - this ranks in the bottom 10% of all U.S. cities that reported crime. Your chance of being a victim of violent crime in Springfield is 1 in 116.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Springfield?

AreaVibes has conducted polls asking local residents if they feel safe living in Springfield. Based on the results of the surveys (102 responses), 16% of people felt that there was very little crime in Springfield and felt safe walking alone at night. While 84% of people felt that it was not a safe place to live and did not feel safe walking alone at night.

Is Springfield a Safe Place to Live?

Is Springfield a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Springfield has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 39%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 13.73 daily incidents, encompassing 3.66 violent crimes and 10.07 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Springfield as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Springfield Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Springfield has decreased by 0.7%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Springfield, 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 decreased by 7.5%, while property crime has decreased by 2%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Springfield is a safe place to live.

Springfield Neighborhood Crime Rates

There are more than 17 different neighborhoods in the Springfield 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 Springfield include East Forest Park, Sixteen Acres and East Springfield. While Metro Center, Bay and Old Hill 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 Springfield

High cost of living can lead to economic stress for individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. When people struggle to make ends meet due to high housing costs, healthcare expenses, or other basic necessities, they may be more inclined to engage in criminal activities, such as theft or fraud, as a means of financial survival. On the flipside, cities that have a lower cost of living, could see a reduced crime rate. In Springfield, the cost of living is 1.45% higher than the national average.

In Springfield, the ratio of police officers and civilians stands at 2.67 per 1,000 residents, contrasting with the national average of 3.25. This discrepancy highlights the potential impact of law enforcement and community policing on crime rates. The strength of their collaboration can serve as a deterrent to criminal behavior, fostering a safer environment. Effective law enforcement leans heavily on community policing strategies that prioritize the cultivation of trust and cooperation between police and residents. It's essential to recognize that the effectiveness of these efforts isn't solely tied to the quantity of officers but also hinges on the quality of their engagement with the community.

In areas where housing affordability is an issue, crime can become a significant concern. Some individuals and families may be forced to live in overcrowded or substandard housing conditions, which can increase stress and potentially contribute to domestic disputes and related crimes. The median home price in Springfield is $162,900, compared to a national average of $184,700.

Springfield crime map



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

      • Springfield crime rates are 39% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Springfield are 133% higher than the national average
      • In Springfield you have a 1 in 31 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Springfield is safer than 7% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Springfield has decreased by 1%

      Springfield, MA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around Springfield

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        How would you rate the amount of crime in Springfield?
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        Do you feel safe walking alone at night in Springfield?
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        See all Springfield poll results

        Daily Crime In Springfield (per 100,000 people)

        The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Springfield, MA per 100,000 people. In Springfield, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 2.32 times more than the Massachusetts average and 1.39 times more than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Springfield is 2.68 times more than the Massachusetts average and 2.33 times more than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Springfield has a daily crime rate that is 2.21 times more than the Massachusetts average and 1.21 times more than the overall daily national average.

        How Safe is Springfield (higher is better)

        When comparing the safety of Springfield to every other city in Massachusetts, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Springfield safe? The gauges above illustrate that Springfield is safer than 1% of every city located within Massachusetts along with 7% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in Massachusetts and in the United States as a whole. As a result, Springfield, MA is ranked above average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Springfield

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Springfield is 1 in 116
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Springfield is 1 in 43
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Springfield is 1 in 31
        Are you curious to know the likelihood of suffering from a crime in Springfield? If you reside in Springfield, the likelihood that you will become a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 116. Violent crimes include: murder, sexual assault, robbery, and physical assault. There is a 1 in 43 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 Springfield, is 1 in 31.

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

        An ideal indicator of whether Springfield is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live can be done by analyzing the year over year crime rates per 100,000 people. Year over year violent crime in Springfield has decreased by 8% and the rate of property crime in Springfield has increased by 1%. The total crime rate in Springfield has decreased by 1% year to year.

        Springfield police department

        Item Springfield Massachusetts National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)41311,659558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents2.72.23.3
        There are a total of 413 Springfield police officers. This results in 2.7 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 24.1% greater than the Massachusetts average and 17.8% less 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
        North Granby, CT1,42540395435
        Granby, MA1,18366414480
        Suffield Depot, CT2,02050495544
        Crystal Lake, CT2,56752518570
        Somers, CT2,34358576634
        Tariffville, CT1,81059591651
        Belchertown, MA3,037124537661
        Springfield, MA153,6778622,3703,232

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Hollywood, FL153,8342721,6461,918
        Palmdale, CA153,2405571,5502,107
        Macon-Bibb County, GA153,0265952,7403,334
        Kansas City, KS153,0146423,0793,721
        Sunnyvale, CA152,5692192,4572,676
        Springfield, MA153,6778622,3703,232
        Source: The Springfield, 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.