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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Melrose, MA has a Safety Score of 91/100 — safer than 91% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 530.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #257 of 2,971 US cities and #49 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Melrose, Massachusetts Safe?
Melrose is a small, affluent city north of Boston, known for its Victorian architecture. Bordered by the Middlesex Fells Reservation, it offers a suburban feel with easy access to urban amenities.
Melrose has a safety score of 91/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 530.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Melrose ranks #49 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #257 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 91st percentile for safety — safer than 91% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Melrose are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Melrose's total crime rate decreased by 22.7%, with violent crime declining 28.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Melrose Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 30 | 100.7 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 0 | 0.0 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 4 | 13.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 26 | 87.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 128 | 429.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 12 | 40.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 100 | 335.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 16 | 53.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Melrose vs Massachusetts Average
How does Melrose's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Melrose | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 100.7 | 312.0 | -67.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 429.8 | 1,086.7 | -60.5% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 530.5 | 1,398.7 | -62.1% |
Melrose Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Melrose, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 29,784 | 530.5 | 100.7 | 429.8 |
| 2023 | 28,982 | 686.6 | 141.5 | 545.2 |
| 2022 | 29,013 | 554.9 | 58.6 | 496.3 |
| 2021 | 28,094 | 630.0 | 106.8 | 523.2 |
| 2020 | 27,975 | 564.8 | 92.9 | 471.9 |
| 2019 | 28,120 | 725.5 | 113.8 | 611.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melrose, Massachusetts safe?
Melrose has a safety score of 91/100, meaning it has less crime than about 91% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 530.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Melrose is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Melrose, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Melrose has a violent crime rate of 100.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 429.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Melrose compare to the national average?
Melrose's total crime rate of 530.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 29,784 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Melrose?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Melrose include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Melrose safe to visit?
Like any city, Melrose has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 91/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.