Massachusetts Crime Statistics
46 years of data (1979–2024)
Key Insights
- →Massachusetts ranks #27 out of 51 states for violent crime rate (314.7 per 100K).
- →Violent crime decreased 1.9% from 2023 to 2024.
- →322 cities report crime data. Safest: Northborough (12.5/100K). Most dangerous: North Adams (1194.0/100K).
- →127 murders in 2024 — a rate of 1.8 per 100K residents.
- →Since 1979, Massachusetts's violent crime rate has changed by -41%.
Violent Crime Rate
314.7
-1.9% YoY
Murder Rate
1.8
127 total
Property Crime Rate
1112.1
79,362 total
Population
7,136,171
2024
2024 Crime Breakdown
Violent Crime: 22,457
Murder127
Rape1,967
Robbery2,570
Aggravated Assault17,793
Property Crime: 79,362
Burglary9,301
Larceny-Theft62,533
Motor Vehicle Theft7,528
Violent Crime Rate Trend
Homicide Rate Trend
Violent Crime Breakdown (2024)
Most Dangerous Cities
| City | Violent Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|
| North Adams | 1194.0 | 12,395 |
| Holyoke | 1041.0 | 38,232 |
| Chelsea | 978.9 | 38,307 |
| Springfield | 891.4 | 155,491 |
| Fall River | 742.9 | 95,573 |
| Ware | 694.7 | 10,076 |
| Greenfield | 694.6 | 17,419 |
| Webster | 637.7 | 17,876 |
| Boston | 627.9 | 659,049 |
| Worcester | 602.7 | 206,575 |
Safest Cities
| City | Violent Rate | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Northborough | 12.5 | 15,975 |
| Bedford | 13.6 | 14,659 |
| Winchester | 17.2 | 23,238 |
| Shrewsbury | 30.1 | 39,837 |
| Holliston | 32.7 | 15,309 |
| Sharon | 37.3 | 18,754 |
| Reading | 38.7 | 25,871 |
| Scituate | 40.5 | 19,735 |
| Westwood | 42.3 | 16,551 |
| Groton | 43.5 | 11,487 |
Crime Velocity — Which Cities Are Changing Fastest
Fastest Improving
Fastest Worsening
Velocity scores measure the direction and speed of crime changes. Negative = improving, positive = worsening. Full methodology →
Hate Crimes in Massachusetts
539 incidents reported
Top bias motivations: Sexual Orientation (79)
Explore full hate crime data →All StatesSafest Cities in MassachusettsMost Dangerous in MassachusettsCompare CitiesArrest DataHate Crimes
Arrest Demographics (National)
The FBI publishes state-level total arrest counts but does not break down arrest demographics by race at the state level in the same detail as national data. For national arrest demographic patterns, see our dedicated pages:
Related Analysis
More for Massachusetts
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer. Rates per 100,000 residents. City data from Table 8.