Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Salem, MA has a Safety Score of 49/100 — higher crime than 51% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,706.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,509 of 2,971 US cities and #161 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Salem, Massachusetts Safe?
Salem, Massachusetts, renowned for the 1692 witch trials, is a small coastal city north of Boston. Its population is approximately 45,000, with a significant portion employed in tourism and education.
Salem has a safety score of 49/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,706.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Salem ranks #161 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #1509 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, Salem's total crime rate decreased by 2.3%, with violent crime declining 20.3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Salem Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 70 | 152.3 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 6 | 13.1 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 16 | 34.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 48 | 104.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 714 | 1,553.7 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 49 | 106.6 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 619 | 1,347.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 46 | 100.1 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Salem vs Massachusetts Average
How does Salem's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Salem | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 152.3 | 312.0 | -51.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,553.7 | 1,086.7 | +43.0% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,706.0 | 1,398.7 | +22.0% |
Salem Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Salem, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 45,955 | 1,706.0 | 152.3 | 1,553.7 |
| 2023 | 45,005 | 1,746.5 | 191.1 | 1,555.4 |
| 2022 | 45,345 | 1,362.9 | 180.8 | 1,182.1 |
| 2021 | 44,120 | 1,561.7 | 226.7 | 1,335.0 |
| 2020 | 43,154 | 1,756.5 | 250.3 | 1,506.2 |
| 2019 | 43,443 | 1,922.1 | 248.6 | 1,673.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salem, Massachusetts safe?
Salem has a safety score of 49/100, meaning it has less crime than about 49% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,706.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Salem is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Salem, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Salem has a violent crime rate of 152.3 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,553.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Salem compare to the national average?
Salem's total crime rate of 1,706.0 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 45,955 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Salem?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Salem include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Salem safe to visit?
Like any city, Salem has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 49/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.