Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, North Reading, MA has a Safety Score of 93/100 — safer than 93% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 471.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #196 of 2,957 US cities and #41 of 185 in Massachusetts.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than North Reading, MA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is North Reading, Massachusetts Safe?
North Reading, a Middlesex County town, is largely residential, with its center near the Ipswich River. Incorporated in 1853, it retains a semi-rural character, despite its proximity to Boston.
North Reading has a safety score of 93/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 471.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
North Reading ranks #41 out of 185 cities in Massachusetts and #196 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 93rd percentile for safety — safer than 93% of US cities.
All major crime categories in North Reading are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, North Reading's total crime rate increased by 5.2%, with violent crime declining 42.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
North Reading Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 11 | 66.5 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 1 | 6.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1 | 6.1 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 9 | 54.4 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 67 | 405.3 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 8 | 48.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 56 | 338.8 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 3 | 18.2 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
North Reading vs Massachusetts Average
How does North Reading's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | North Reading | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 66.5 | 322.0 | -79.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 405.3 | 1,123.7 | -63.9% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 1.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 471.8 | 1,445.7 | -67.4% |
North Reading Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for North Reading, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16,531 | 471.8 | 66.5 | 405.3 |
| 2023 | 15,607 | 448.5 | 115.3 | 333.2 |
| 2022 | 15,197 | 454.0 | 92.1 | 361.9 |
| 2021 | 16,134 | 440.1 | 93.0 | 347.1 |
| 2020 | 15,886 | 346.2 | 69.2 | 277.0 |
| 2019 | 15,687 | 484.5 | 102.0 | 382.5 |
North Reading Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for North Reading 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 North Reading, Massachusetts safe?
North Reading has a safety score of 93/100, meaning it has less crime than about 93% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 471.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, North Reading is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in North Reading, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, North Reading has a violent crime rate of 66.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 405.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does North Reading compare to the national average?
North Reading's total crime rate of 471.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 16,531 residents.
What types of crime are most common in North Reading?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in North Reading are larceny-theft (56 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (9 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 6.1x in the city.
Is North Reading safe to visit?
Like any city, North Reading has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 93/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.