Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Salem, MA has a Safety Score of 50/100 — safer than 50% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,706.0 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,492 of 2,957 US cities and #160 of 185 in Massachusetts.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Salem, MA?
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 50/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,706.0 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Salem ranks #160 out of 185 cities in Massachusetts and #1492 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 50th percentile for safety — safer than 50% 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
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 70 | 152.3 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 6 | 13.1 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 16 | 34.8 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 48 | 104.5 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 714 | 1,553.7 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 49 | 106.6 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 619 | 1,347.0 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 46 | 100.1 | 358.0 |
| 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 | 322.0 | -52.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,553.7 | 1,123.7 | +38.3% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 1.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,706.0 | 1,445.7 | +18.0% |
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 |
Salem Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Salem 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 Salem, Massachusetts safe?
Salem has a safety score of 50/100, meaning it has less crime than about 50% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,706.0 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Salem is about average for a US city.
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 are larceny-theft (619 reported incidents) and burglary (49 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 10.2x in the city.
Is Salem safe to visit?
Like any city, Salem has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 50/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.