Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Melrose, MA has a Safety Score of 92/100 — safer than 92% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 530.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #240 of 2,957 US cities and #48 of 185 in Massachusetts.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Melrose, MA?
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 92/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 530.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Melrose ranks #48 out of 185 cities in Massachusetts and #240 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 92nd percentile for safety — safer than 92% 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
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 30 | 100.7 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 0 | 0.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 4 | 13.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 26 | 87.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 128 | 429.8 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 12 | 40.3 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 100 | 335.8 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 16 | 53.7 | 358.0 |
| 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 | 322.0 | -68.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 429.8 | 1,123.7 | -61.8% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 1.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 530.5 | 1,445.7 | -63.3% |
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 |
Melrose Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Melrose and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Massachusetts crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melrose, Massachusetts safe?
Melrose has a safety score of 92/100, meaning it has less crime than about 92% 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 are larceny-theft (100 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (26 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.3x in the city.
Is Melrose safe to visit?
Like any city, Melrose has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 92/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.