Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Swampscott, MA has a Safety Score of 68/100 — safer than 68% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,156.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #938 of 2,957 US cities and #124 of 185 in Massachusetts.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Swampscott, MA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Swampscott, Massachusetts Safe?
Swampscott, a coastal town north of Boston, boasts a rich history as the birthplace of the modern lobster industry. Its scenic shoreline, with beaches and rocky outcrops, defines much of the affluent community.
Swampscott has a safety score of 68/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,156.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Swampscott ranks #124 out of 185 cities in Massachusetts and #938 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 68th percentile for safety — safer than 68% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Swampscott are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Swampscott's total crime rate increased by 56.4%, with violent crime rising 80%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Swampscott Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 13 | 81.7 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 1 | 6.3 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 1 | 6.3 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 11 | 69.2 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 171 | 1,075.0 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 19 | 119.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 145 | 911.6 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 7 | 44.0 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Swampscott vs Massachusetts Average
How does Swampscott's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Swampscott | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 81.7 | 322.0 | -74.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,075.0 | 1,123.7 | -4.3% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 1.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,156.7 | 1,445.7 | -20.0% |
Swampscott Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Swampscott, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15,907 | 1,156.7 | 81.7 | 1,075.0 |
| 2023 | 15,418 | 739.4 | 45.4 | 694.0 |
| 2022 | 15,268 | 943.2 | 78.6 | 864.6 |
| 2021 | 15,766 | 735.8 | 38.1 | 697.7 |
| 2020 | 15,391 | 1,026.6 | 130.0 | 896.6 |
| 2019 | 15,296 | 791.1 | 52.3 | 738.8 |
Swampscott Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Swampscott 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 Swampscott, Massachusetts safe?
Swampscott has a safety score of 68/100, meaning it has less crime than about 68% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,156.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Swampscott is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Swampscott, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Swampscott has a violent crime rate of 81.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,075.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Swampscott compare to the national average?
Swampscott's total crime rate of 1,156.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 15,907 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Swampscott?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Swampscott are larceny-theft (145 reported incidents) and burglary (19 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 13.2x in the city.
Is Swampscott safe to visit?
Like any city, Swampscott has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 68/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.