Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Wellesley, MA has a Safety Score of 91/100 — safer than 91% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 531.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #259 of 2,971 US cities and #51 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Wellesley, Massachusetts Safe?
Wellesley, a affluent Boston suburb known for Wellesley College, occupies a tree-lined landscape with a median household income exceeding $200,000. Its population of around 29,000 residents reflects a highly educated community, with over 80% holding a bachelor's degree or higher.
Wellesley has a safety score of 91/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 531.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Wellesley ranks #51 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #259 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 91st percentile for safety — safer than 91% of US cities.
All major crime categories in Wellesley are below the national average, with murder particularly low at 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Wellesley's total crime rate increased by 16%, with violent crime rising 83%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Wellesley Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 15 | 46.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 3 | 9.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 0 | 0.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 12 | 37.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 155 | 484.8 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 21 | 65.7 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 121 | 378.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 13 | 40.7 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Wellesley vs Massachusetts Average
How does Wellesley's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Wellesley | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 46.9 | 312.0 | -85.0% |
| Property Crime Rate | 484.8 | 1,086.7 | -55.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 2.0 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 531.7 | 1,398.7 | -62.0% |
Wellesley Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Wellesley, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 31,973 | 531.7 | 46.9 | 484.8 |
| 2023 | 31,209 | 458.2 | 25.6 | 432.6 |
| 2022 | 31,354 | 437.0 | 60.6 | 376.4 |
| 2021 | 29,088 | 440.0 | 17.2 | 422.9 |
| 2020 | 28,687 | 411.3 | 34.9 | 376.5 |
| 2019 | 29,651 | 428.3 | 23.6 | 404.7 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wellesley, Massachusetts safe?
Wellesley has a safety score of 91/100, meaning it has less crime than about 91% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 531.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Wellesley is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Wellesley, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Wellesley has a violent crime rate of 46.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 484.8 per 100,000 residents.
How does Wellesley compare to the national average?
Wellesley's total crime rate of 531.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 31,973 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Wellesley?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Wellesley include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Wellesley safe to visit?
Like any city, Wellesley has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 91/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.