Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Reading, MA has a Safety Score of 90/100 — safer than 90% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 572.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #285 of 2,957 US cities and #52 of 185 in Massachusetts.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Reading, MA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Reading, Massachusetts Safe?
Reading, a Middlesex County town north of Boston, boasts a rich history, including the Parker Tavern, one of the oldest buildings in the US. With a population exceeding 25,000, it's a commuter-friendly community.
Reading has a safety score of 90/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 572.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Reading ranks #52 out of 185 cities in Massachusetts and #285 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 90th percentile for safety — safer than 90% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Reading are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Reading's total crime rate increased by 11.5%, with violent crime rising 38.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Reading Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 10 | 38.7 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 4 | 15.5 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 6 | 23.2 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 138 | 533.4 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 20 | 77.3 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 113 | 436.8 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 19.3 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Reading vs Massachusetts Average
How does Reading's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Reading | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 38.7 | 322.0 | -88.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 533.4 | 1,123.7 | -52.5% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 1.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 572.1 | 1,445.7 | -60.4% |
Reading Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Reading, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25,871 | 572.1 | 38.7 | 533.4 |
| 2023 | 25,135 | 513.2 | 27.9 | 485.4 |
| 2022 | 25,018 | 603.6 | 16.0 | 587.6 |
| 2021 | 25,900 | 501.9 | 34.8 | 467.2 |
| 2020 | 25,417 | 472.1 | 43.3 | 428.9 |
| 2019 | 25,305 | 470.3 | 11.9 | 458.4 |
Reading Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for 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 Reading, Massachusetts safe?
Reading has a safety score of 90/100, meaning it has less crime than about 90% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 572.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Reading is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Reading, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Reading has a violent crime rate of 38.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 533.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Reading compare to the national average?
Reading's total crime rate of 572.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 25,871 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Reading?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Reading are larceny-theft (113 reported incidents) and burglary (20 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 13.8x in the city.
Is Reading safe to visit?
Like any city, Reading has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 90/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.