Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Waltham, MA has a Safety Score of 76/100 — safer than 76% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 951.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #709 of 2,971 US cities and #99 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Waltham, Massachusetts Safe?
Waltham, "Watch City," is a historic industrial suburb of Boston along the Charles River. Home to Brandeis University, its diverse population includes a significant immigrant community.
Waltham has a safety score of 76/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 951.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Waltham ranks #99 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #709 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 76th percentile for safety — safer than 76% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Waltham are below the national average, with motor vehicle theft particularly low at 0.2x the national rate.
Year over year, Waltham's total crime rate decreased by 12.5%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Waltham Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 165 | 252.0 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 1 | 1.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 12 | 18.3 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 15 | 22.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 137 | 209.2 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 458 | 699.4 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 82 | 125.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 340 | 519.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 36 | 55.0 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Waltham vs Massachusetts Average
How does Waltham's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Waltham | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 252.0 | 312.0 | -19.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 699.4 | 1,086.7 | -35.6% |
| Murder Rate | 1.5 | 2.0 | -22.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 951.3 | 1,398.7 | -32.0% |
Waltham Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Waltham, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 65,488 | 951.3 | 252.0 | 699.4 |
| 2023 | 63,797 | 1,087.8 | 250.8 | 837.0 |
| 2022 | 63,525 | 703.7 | 151.1 | 552.5 |
| 2021 | 62,693 | 590.2 | 119.6 | 470.6 |
| 2020 | 62,339 | 753.9 | 136.4 | 617.6 |
| 2019 | 62,737 | 978.7 | 162.6 | 816.1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Waltham, Massachusetts safe?
Waltham has a safety score of 76/100, meaning it has less crime than about 76% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 951.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Waltham is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Waltham, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Waltham has a violent crime rate of 252.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 699.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Waltham compare to the national average?
Waltham's total crime rate of 951.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 65,488 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Waltham?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Waltham include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Waltham safe to visit?
Like any city, Waltham has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 76/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.