Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Cambridge, MA has a Safety Score of 18/100 — higher crime than 82% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,081.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,415 of 2,957 US cities and #181 of 185 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Cambridge, Massachusetts Safe?
Nestled across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge is a vibrant intellectual hub home to Harvard University. Its youthful, highly educated population, with a median age around 30, contributes to its dynamic character.
Cambridge has a safety score of 18/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,081.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Cambridge ranks #181 out of 185 cities in Massachusetts and #2415 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 18th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 82% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Cambridge is larceny-theft, at 2,323.0 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Cambridge's total crime rate increased by 7.4%, with violent crime declining 8.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Cambridge Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 526 | 436.7 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 41 | 34.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 110 | 91.3 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 375 | 311.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 3,185 | 2,644.3 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 285 | 236.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,798 | 2,323.0 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 102 | 84.7 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Cambridge vs Massachusetts Average
How does Cambridge's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Cambridge | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 436.7 | 322.0 | +35.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,644.3 | 1,123.7 | +135.3% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 1.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,081.0 | 1,445.7 | +113.1% |
Cambridge Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Cambridge, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 120,447 | 3,081.0 | 436.7 | 2,644.3 |
| 2023 | 118,960 | 2,869.0 | 479.2 | 2,389.9 |
| 2022 | 117,044 | 2,645.2 | 405.0 | 2,240.2 |
| 2021 | 121,699 | 2,247.4 | 305.7 | 1,941.7 |
| 2020 | 119,938 | 2,116.1 | 284.3 | 1,831.8 |
| 2019 | 119,908 | 1,932.3 | 278.6 | 1,653.8 |
Cambridge Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Cambridge 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 Cambridge, Massachusetts safe?
Cambridge has a safety score of 18/100, meaning it has less crime than about 18% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,081.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Cambridge is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Cambridge, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Cambridge has a violent crime rate of 436.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,644.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Cambridge compare to the national average?
Cambridge's total crime rate of 3,081.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 120,447 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Cambridge?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Cambridge are larceny-theft (2,798 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (375 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.1x in the city.
Is Cambridge safe to visit?
Like any city, Cambridge has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 18/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.