Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Boston, MA has a Safety Score of 25/100 — higher crime than 75% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,649.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,220 of 2,971 US cities and #180 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Boston, Massachusetts Safe?
Boston, a city steeped in American Revolution history, sits on Massachusetts Bay. This densely populated urban center is home to a diverse population and numerous universities.
Boston has a safety score of 25/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,649.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Boston ranks #180 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #2220 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 25th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 75% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Boston is aggravated assault, at 472.2 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Boston's total crime rate increased by 3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Boston Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 4,139 | 628.0 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 24 | 3.6 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 169 | 25.6 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 833 | 126.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 3,112 | 472.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 13,324 | 2,021.7 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 1,171 | 177.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 11,121 | 1,687.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1,032 | 156.6 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Boston vs Massachusetts Average
How does Boston's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Boston | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 628.0 | 312.0 | +101.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,021.7 | 1,086.7 | +86.0% |
| Murder Rate | 3.6 | 2.0 | +83.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,649.7 | 1,398.7 | +89.4% |
Boston Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Boston, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 659,049 | 2,649.7 | 628.0 | 2,021.7 |
| 2023 | 642,823 | 2,571.9 | 627.5 | 1,944.4 |
| 2022 | 638,925 | 2,458.8 | 633.7 | 1,825.1 |
| 2021 | 704,758 | 2,219.1 | 558.6 | 1,660.4 |
| 2020 | 697,323 | 2,528.8 | 636.0 | 1,892.8 |
| 2019 | 698,941 | 2,497.6 | 607.2 | 1,890.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boston, Massachusetts safe?
Boston has a safety score of 25/100, meaning it has less crime than about 25% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,649.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Boston is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Boston, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Boston has a violent crime rate of 628.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,021.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Boston compare to the national average?
Boston's total crime rate of 2,649.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 659,049 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Boston?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Boston include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Boston safe to visit?
Like any city, Boston has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 25/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.