Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Needham, MA has a Safety Score of 86/100 — safer than 86% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 698.6 per 100,000 residents, ranking #423 of 2,957 US cities and #67 of 185 in Massachusetts.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Needham, MA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Needham, Massachusetts Safe?
Needham, a suburban town in Norfolk County, is home to the first-ever American-made baseball. Located just west of Boston, it boasts a highly educated population and a charming town center.
Needham has a safety score of 86/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 698.6 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Needham ranks #67 out of 185 cities in Massachusetts and #423 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 86th percentile for safety — safer than 86% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Needham are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Needham's total crime rate decreased by 14.2%, with violent crime declining 33%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Needham Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 17 | 51.9 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 4 | 12.2 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 13 | 39.7 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 212 | 646.8 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 24 | 73.2 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 176 | 536.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 12 | 36.6 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Needham vs Massachusetts Average
How does Needham's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Needham | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 51.9 | 322.0 | -83.9% |
| Property Crime Rate | 646.8 | 1,123.7 | -42.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 1.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 698.6 | 1,445.7 | -51.7% |
Needham Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Needham, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 32,779 | 698.6 | 51.9 | 646.8 |
| 2023 | 32,309 | 814.0 | 77.4 | 736.6 |
| 2022 | 32,228 | 602.0 | 80.7 | 521.3 |
| 2021 | 32,159 | 426.0 | 43.5 | 382.5 |
| 2020 | 31,586 | 446.4 | 76.0 | 370.4 |
| 2019 | 31,275 | 463.6 | 32.0 | 431.7 |
Needham Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Needham 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 Needham, Massachusetts safe?
Needham has a safety score of 86/100, meaning it has less crime than about 86% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 698.6 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Needham is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Needham, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Needham has a violent crime rate of 51.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 646.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Needham compare to the national average?
Needham's total crime rate of 698.6 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 32,779 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Needham?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Needham are larceny-theft (176 reported incidents) and burglary (24 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 12.5x in the city.
Is Needham safe to visit?
Like any city, Needham has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 86/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.