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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Newton, MA has a Safety Score of 87/100 — safer than 87% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 648.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #387 of 2,971 US cities and #60 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Newton, Massachusetts Safe?
Newton, a suburban city in Middlesex County, is home to Boston College. Known for its distinct "villages," it's one of Massachusetts' wealthiest communities.
Newton has a safety score of 87/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 648.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Newton ranks #60 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #387 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 87th percentile for safety — safer than 87% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Newton are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Newton's total crime rate increased by 5.4%, with violent crime declining 16.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Newton Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 44 | 48.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 9 | 10.0 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 1.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 34 | 37.8 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 539 | 599.3 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 57 | 63.4 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 451 | 501.5 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 31 | 34.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Newton vs Massachusetts Average
How does Newton's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Newton | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 48.9 | 312.0 | -84.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 599.3 | 1,086.7 | -44.9% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 648.3 | 1,398.7 | -53.7% |
Newton Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Newton, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 89,935 | 648.3 | 48.9 | 599.3 |
| 2023 | 86,996 | 615.0 | 58.6 | 556.4 |
| 2022 | 86,710 | 722.0 | 65.7 | 656.2 |
| 2021 | 88,769 | 632.0 | 63.1 | 568.9 |
| 2020 | 88,281 | 604.9 | 54.4 | 550.5 |
| 2019 | 88,658 | 630.5 | 55.3 | 575.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newton, Massachusetts safe?
Newton has a safety score of 87/100, meaning it has less crime than about 87% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 648.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Newton is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Newton, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Newton has a violent crime rate of 48.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 599.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Newton compare to the national average?
Newton's total crime rate of 648.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 89,935 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Newton?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Newton include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Newton safe to visit?
Like any city, Newton has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 87/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.