Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Somerville, MA has a Safety Score of 43/100 — higher crime than 57% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,920.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,697 of 2,971 US cities and #171 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Somerville, Massachusetts Safe?
Somerville, MA, a densely populated city immediately north of Boston, is known for its vibrant arts scene and diverse neighborhoods. Historically home to many working-class immigrants, it's now a hub for young professionals and students.
Somerville has a safety score of 43/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,920.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Somerville ranks #171 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #1697 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 43rd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 57% of US cities.
Year over year, Somerville's total crime rate increased by 15.1%, with violent crime declining 10.2%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Somerville Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 181 | 221.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 13 | 15.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 20 | 24.5 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 148 | 181.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,389 | 1,698.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 237 | 289.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,046 | 1,279.3 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 106 | 129.6 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Somerville vs Massachusetts Average
How does Somerville's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Somerville | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 221.4 | 312.0 | -29.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,698.8 | 1,086.7 | +56.3% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,920.1 | 1,398.7 | +37.3% |
Somerville Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Somerville, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 81,766 | 1,920.1 | 221.4 | 1,698.8 |
| 2023 | 79,513 | 1,668.9 | 246.5 | 1,422.4 |
| 2022 | 79,178 | 1,635.6 | 252.6 | 1,383.0 |
| 2021 | 82,123 | 1,309.0 | 185.1 | 1,123.9 |
| 2020 | 81,552 | 1,372.1 | 187.6 | 1,184.5 |
| 2019 | 81,668 | 1,458.3 | 203.3 | 1,255.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Somerville, Massachusetts safe?
Somerville has a safety score of 43/100, meaning it has less crime than about 43% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,920.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Somerville is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Somerville, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Somerville has a violent crime rate of 221.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,698.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Somerville compare to the national average?
Somerville's total crime rate of 1,920.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 81,766 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Somerville?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Somerville include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Somerville safe to visit?
Like any city, Somerville has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 43/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.