Violent
Property
Total
New Bedford, MA Crime Rate & Safety
FBI-verified crime statistics for 2024 | Population: 102,491
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is New Bedford, Massachusetts Safe?
New Bedford has a safety score of 68/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,712.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
New Bedford ranks #162 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #1516 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 49th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 51% of US cities.
Year over year, New Bedford's total crime rate decreased by 16.7%, with violent crime declining 29.9%.
New Bedford Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 362 | 353.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 7 | 6.8 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 45 | 43.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 80 | 78.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 230 | 224.4 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,393 | 1,359.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 189 | 184.4 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 954 | 930.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 250 | 243.9 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Bedford vs Massachusetts Average
How does New Bedford's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | New Bedford | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 353.2 | 312.0 | +13.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,359.1 | 1,086.7 | +25.1% |
| Murder Rate | 6.8 | 2.0 | +244.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,712.4 | 1,398.7 | +22.4% |
New Bedford Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for New Bedford, Massachusetts.
| Year | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 102,491 | 1,712.4 | 353.2 | 1,359.1 |
| 2023 | 100,876 | 2,056.0 | 503.6 | 1,552.4 |
| 2022 | 101,402 | 2,186.4 | 626.2 | 1,560.1 |
| 2021 | 96,346 | 2,353.0 | 640.4 | 1,712.6 |
| 2020 | 94,886 | 2,398.7 | 627.1 | 1,771.6 |
| 2019 | 94,613 | 2,911.9 | 663.8 | 2,248.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New Bedford, Massachusetts safe?
New Bedford has a safety score of 68/100. With a total crime rate of 1,712.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, New Bedford is about average compared to the national average.
What is the crime rate in New Bedford, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, New Bedford has a violent crime rate of 353.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,359.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does New Bedford compare to the national average?
New Bedford's total crime rate of 1,712.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The city has a population of 102,491.
What types of crime are most common in New Bedford?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in New Bedford include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is New Bedford safe to visit?
Like any city, New Bedford has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 68/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.