Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Fitchburg, MA has a Safety Score of 46/100 — higher crime than 54% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,830.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,617 of 2,971 US cities and #168 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Fitchburg, Massachusetts Safe?
Fitchburg, a city in northern Worcester County, was a major mill town known for its paper industry. It sits along the Nashua River and has a diverse, working-class population.
Fitchburg has a safety score of 46/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,830.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Fitchburg ranks #168 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #1617 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 46th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 54% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Fitchburg is aggravated assault, at 408.7 per 100K — 1.2x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Fitchburg's total crime rate increased by 21.4%, with violent crime rising 4.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Fitchburg Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 206 | 486.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 2.4 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 17 | 40.2 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 15 | 35.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 173 | 408.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 569 | 1,344.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 115 | 271.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 403 | 952.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 51 | 120.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Fitchburg vs Massachusetts Average
How does Fitchburg's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Fitchburg | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 486.6 | 312.0 | +56.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,344.1 | 1,086.7 | +23.7% |
| Murder Rate | 2.4 | 2.0 | +19.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,830.8 | 1,398.7 | +30.9% |
Fitchburg Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 42,332 | 1,830.8 | 486.6 | 1,344.1 |
| 2023 | 41,566 | 1,508.4 | 466.7 | 1,041.7 |
| 2022 | 41,791 | 1,186.9 | 447.5 | 739.4 |
| 2021 | 40,626 | 1,449.8 | 462.8 | 987.1 |
| 2020 | 40,443 | 1,995.4 | 551.4 | 1,444.0 |
| 2019 | 40,621 | 1,858.6 | 534.2 | 1,324.4 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fitchburg, Massachusetts safe?
Fitchburg has a safety score of 46/100, meaning it has less crime than about 46% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,830.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Fitchburg is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Fitchburg, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Fitchburg has a violent crime rate of 486.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,344.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Fitchburg compare to the national average?
Fitchburg's total crime rate of 1,830.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 42,332 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Fitchburg?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Fitchburg include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Fitchburg safe to visit?
Like any city, Fitchburg has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 46/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.