Is Boston Safe? 2024 Crime Data & Safety Guide
A data-driven look at Boston, Massachusetts safety using FBI crime statistics. Last updated with 2024 data.
Key Insights
- →Boston's violent crime rate is 627.9 per 100K — 75% above the national average
- →Safety Grade: F — Safer than 8% of US cities
- →4,138 violent crimes and 13,324 property crimes reported in 2024
- →Violent crime increased 0.2% from 2023
- →Most common violent crime: Larceny-Theft (11,121 incidents)
Boston Crime Statistics (2024)
| Crime Type | Count | Rate per 100K |
|---|---|---|
| Total Violent Crime | 4,138 | 627.9 |
| Murder | 24 | 3.6 |
| Rape | 169 | 25.6 |
| Robbery | 833 | 126.4 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,112 | 472.2 |
| Total Property Crime | 13,324 | 2021.7 |
| Burglary | 1,171 | 177.7 |
| Larceny-Theft | 11,121 | 1687.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1,032 | 156.6 |
Violent Crime Breakdown
Year-over-Year Trend
Violent Crime
Property Crime
Neighborhood Safety Context
Like all major cities, Boston's crime is not evenly distributed. Crime tends to concentrate in specific neighborhoods — often those with higher poverty rates and fewer resources. Tourist areas, business districts, and affluent residential neighborhoods typically have significantly lower crime rates than the city average suggests.
The citywide crime rate of 627.9 per 100K is an average across a population of 659,049. Some neighborhoods may be 5-10x safer than the average, while others may be significantly more dangerous. Always research specific neighborhoods when evaluating safety.
Verdict: Is Boston Safe?
Boston has a higher-than-average crime rate. Visitors should research specific neighborhoods before visiting. Many areas are perfectly safe, but concentrated pockets of violence do exist. The city has been working on crime reduction initiatives.