Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Chelmsford, MA has a Safety Score of 65/100 — safer than 65% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,250.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,033 of 2,957 US cities and #131 of 185 in Massachusetts.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Chelmsford, MA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Chelmsford, Massachusetts Safe?
Chelmsford, incorporated in 1655, is a suburban town northwest of Boston. It's home to a diverse population, with a notable East Asian community.
Chelmsford has a safety score of 65/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,250.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Chelmsford ranks #131 out of 185 cities in Massachusetts and #1033 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 65th percentile for safety — safer than 65% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Chelmsford are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Chelmsford's total crime rate increased by 15.1%, with violent crime rising 6.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Chelmsford Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 45 | 122.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 6 | 16.3 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1 | 2.7 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 38 | 103.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 415 | 1,127.9 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 43 | 116.9 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 359 | 975.7 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 13 | 35.3 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Chelmsford vs Massachusetts Average
How does Chelmsford's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Chelmsford | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 122.3 | 322.0 | -62.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,127.9 | 1,123.7 | +0.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 1.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,250.2 | 1,445.7 | -13.5% |
Chelmsford Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 36,795 | 1,250.2 | 122.3 | 1,127.9 |
| 2023 | 35,807 | 1,086.4 | 114.5 | 971.9 |
| 2022 | 35,630 | 842.0 | 112.3 | 729.7 |
| 2021 | 35,985 | 761.4 | 100.0 | 661.4 |
| 2020 | 35,369 | 947.2 | 93.3 | 853.9 |
| 2019 | 35,218 | 1,223.8 | 96.5 | 1,127.3 |
Chelmsford Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Chelmsford 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 Chelmsford, Massachusetts safe?
Chelmsford has a safety score of 65/100, meaning it has less crime than about 65% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,250.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Chelmsford is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Chelmsford, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Chelmsford has a violent crime rate of 122.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,127.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Chelmsford compare to the national average?
Chelmsford's total crime rate of 1,250.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 36,795 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Chelmsford?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Chelmsford are larceny-theft (359 reported incidents) and burglary (43 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 9.2x in the city.
Is Chelmsford safe to visit?
Like any city, Chelmsford has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 65/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.