Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Amherst, MA has a Safety Score of 94/100 — safer than 94% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 466.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #186 of 2,957 US cities and #39 of 185 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Amherst, Massachusetts Safe?
Amherst, Massachusetts, home to Emily Dickinson's homestead, is a college town in the Pioneer Valley. It's a predominantly white community with a significant student population.
Amherst has a safety score of 94/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 466.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Amherst ranks #39 out of 185 cities in Massachusetts and #186 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 94th percentile for safety — safer than 94% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Amherst is rape, at 71.3 per 100K — 1.6x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Amherst's total crime rate increased by 9.7%, with violent crime rising 47.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Amherst Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 74 | 159.8 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 33 | 71.3 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 3 | 6.5 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 38 | 82.1 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 142 | 306.7 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 16 | 34.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 122 | 263.5 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 8.6 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Amherst vs Massachusetts Average
How does Amherst's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Amherst | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 159.8 | 322.0 | -50.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 306.7 | 1,123.7 | -72.7% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 1.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 466.5 | 1,445.7 | -67.7% |
Amherst Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Amherst, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 46,304 | 466.5 | 159.8 | 306.7 |
| 2023 | 48,936 | 425.0 | 108.3 | 316.7 |
| 2022 | 39,267 | 532.3 | 198.6 | 333.6 |
| 2021 | 40,843 | 506.8 | 166.5 | 340.3 |
| 2020 | 40,061 | 414.4 | 154.8 | 259.6 |
| 2019 | 39,603 | 689.3 | 252.5 | 436.8 |
Amherst Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Amherst and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Massachusetts crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amherst, Massachusetts safe?
Amherst has a safety score of 94/100, meaning it has less crime than about 94% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 466.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Amherst is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Amherst, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Amherst has a violent crime rate of 159.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 306.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Amherst compare to the national average?
Amherst's total crime rate of 466.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 46,304 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Amherst?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Amherst are larceny-theft (122 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (38 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 1.9x in the city.
Is Amherst safe to visit?
Like any city, Amherst has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 94/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.