Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Lowell, MA has a Safety Score of 35/100 — higher crime than 65% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,195.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,925 of 2,971 US cities and #177 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Lowell, Massachusetts Safe?
Lowell, a historic mill city on the Merrimack River, was a birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Its diverse population includes a significant Cambodian American community.
Lowell has a safety score of 35/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,195.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Lowell ranks #177 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #1925 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 35th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 65% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Lowell is aggravated assault, at 464.4 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, rape is relatively low at just 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Lowell's total crime rate increased by 2.1%, with violent crime rising 32.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Lowell Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 618 | 532.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 5 | 4.3 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 8 | 6.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 66 | 56.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 539 | 464.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,930 | 1,662.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 174 | 149.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,520 | 1,309.6 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 236 | 203.3 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Lowell vs Massachusetts Average
How does Lowell's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Lowell | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 532.5 | 312.0 | +70.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,662.9 | 1,086.7 | +53.0% |
| Murder Rate | 4.3 | 2.0 | +117.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,195.4 | 1,398.7 | +57.0% |
Lowell Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Lowell, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 116,062 | 2,195.4 | 532.5 | 1,662.9 |
| 2022 | 113,277 | 2,150.5 | 401.7 | 1,748.8 |
| 2021 | 112,230 | 1,676.9 | 326.1 | 1,350.8 |
| 2020 | 110,876 | 1,787.6 | 315.7 | 1,471.9 |
| 2019 | 111,423 | 1,846.1 | 363.5 | 1,482.6 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lowell, Massachusetts safe?
Lowell has a safety score of 35/100, meaning it has less crime than about 35% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,195.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Lowell is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Lowell, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Lowell has a violent crime rate of 532.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,662.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Lowell compare to the national average?
Lowell's total crime rate of 2,195.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 116,062 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Lowell?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Lowell include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Lowell safe to visit?
Like any city, Lowell has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 35/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.