Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Medford, MA has a Safety Score of 61/100 — safer than 61% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,379.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,174 of 2,971 US cities and #142 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Medford, Massachusetts Safe?
Medford, home to Tufts University, is a historic city just north of Boston. Situated along the Mystic River, it's a densely populated community with a rich past, including its shipbuilding heritage.
Medford has a safety score of 61/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,379.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Medford ranks #142 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #1174 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 61st percentile for safety — safer than 61% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Medford are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Medford's total crime rate increased by 15%, with violent crime declining 5.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Medford Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 107 | 179.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 13 | 21.8 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 14 | 23.5 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 80 | 134.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 715 | 1,199.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 46 | 77.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 600 | 1,006.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 69 | 115.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Medford vs Massachusetts Average
How does Medford's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Medford | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 179.5 | 312.0 | -42.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,199.6 | 1,086.7 | +10.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,379.2 | 1,398.7 | -1.4% |
Medford Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Medford, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 59,601 | 1,379.2 | 179.5 | 1,199.6 |
| 2023 | 68,280 | 1,199.5 | 190.4 | 1,009.1 |
| 2022 | 64,122 | 1,118.2 | 174.7 | 943.5 |
| 2021 | 61,819 | 990.0 | 152.1 | 837.9 |
| 2020 | 57,137 | 1,067.6 | 126.0 | 941.6 |
| 2019 | 57,484 | 1,116.8 | 201.8 | 915.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medford, Massachusetts safe?
Medford has a safety score of 61/100, meaning it has less crime than about 61% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,379.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Medford is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Medford, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Medford has a violent crime rate of 179.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,199.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Medford compare to the national average?
Medford's total crime rate of 1,379.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 59,601 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Medford?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Medford include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Medford safe to visit?
Like any city, Medford has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 61/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.