Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Chelsea, MA has a Safety Score of 30/100 — higher crime than 70% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,414.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,079 of 2,971 US cities and #179 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Chelsea, Massachusetts Safe?
Chelsea, a dense urban gateway city across the Mystic River from Boston, boasts a rich immigrant history. Settled in 1624, it was once home to a vibrant industrial port and is now Massachusetts' smallest city by land area.
Chelsea has a safety score of 30/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,414.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Chelsea ranks #179 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #2079 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 30th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 70% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Chelsea is aggravated assault, at 772.7 per 100K — 2.3x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.4x the national rate.
Year over year, Chelsea's total crime rate decreased by 6.8%, with violent crime rising 1.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Chelsea Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 375 | 978.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 5.2 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 31 | 80.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 46 | 120.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 296 | 772.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 550 | 1,435.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 57 | 148.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 441 | 1,151.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 52 | 135.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Chelsea vs Massachusetts Average
How does Chelsea's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Chelsea | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 978.9 | 312.0 | +213.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,435.8 | 1,086.7 | +32.1% |
| Murder Rate | 5.2 | 2.0 | +163.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,414.7 | 1,398.7 | +72.6% |
Chelsea Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Chelsea, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 38,307 | 2,414.7 | 978.9 | 1,435.8 |
| 2023 | 37,837 | 2,590.1 | 967.3 | 1,622.8 |
| 2022 | 37,590 | 2,612.4 | 806.1 | 1,806.3 |
| 2021 | 39,971 | 2,379.2 | 730.5 | 1,648.7 |
| 2020 | 39,995 | 2,060.3 | 632.6 | 1,427.7 |
| 2019 | 40,496 | 2,133.5 | 666.7 | 1,466.8 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chelsea, Massachusetts safe?
Chelsea has a safety score of 30/100, meaning it has less crime than about 30% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,414.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Chelsea is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Chelsea, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Chelsea has a violent crime rate of 978.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,435.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Chelsea compare to the national average?
Chelsea's total crime rate of 2,414.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 38,307 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Chelsea?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Chelsea include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Chelsea safe to visit?
Like any city, Chelsea has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 30/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.