Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Worcester, MA has a Safety Score of 100/100 — safer than 100% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 16.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #4 of 2,971 US cities and #1 of 186 in Massachusetts.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Worcester, Massachusetts Safe?
Worcester, a city of hills in Central Massachusetts, boasts a rich industrial past, home to the first American-made Valentine's Day cards. It's the second-most populous city in New England outside of Boston.
Worcester has a safety score of 100/100 (Safer Than Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 16.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Worcester ranks #1 out of 186 cities in Massachusetts and #4 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 100th percentile for safety — safer than 100% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Worcester is murder, at 7.5 per 100K — 1.2x the national average. Conversely, rape is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Worcester's total crime rate decreased by 10.9%, with violent crime declining 6.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Worcester Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 35 | 16.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 16 | 7.5 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 0 | 0.0 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.9 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 17 | 8.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 0 | 0.0 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 0 | 0.0 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 0 | 0.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 0 | 0.0 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Worcester vs Massachusetts Average
How does Worcester's crime rate compare to the Massachusetts state average?
| Metric | Worcester | Massachusetts Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 16.5 | 312.0 | -94.7% |
| Property Crime Rate | 0.0 | 1,086.7 | -100.0% |
| Murder Rate | 7.5 | 2.0 | +280.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 16.5 | 1,398.7 | -98.8% |
Worcester Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Worcester, Massachusetts.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 206,575 | 2,270.9 | 603.2 | 1,667.7 |
| 2021 | 186,365 | 2,547.7 | 647.7 | 1,900.0 |
| 2020 | 184,850 | 2,636.2 | 633.5 | 2,002.7 |
| 2019 | 184,945 | 2,680.3 | 629.9 | 2,050.3 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Worcester, Massachusetts safe?
Worcester has a safety score of 100/100, meaning it has less crime than about 100% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 16.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Worcester is relatively safe.
What is the crime rate in Worcester, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2024, Worcester has a violent crime rate of 16.5 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 0.0 per 100,000 residents.
How does Worcester compare to the national average?
Worcester's total crime rate of 16.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 212,425 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Worcester?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Worcester include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Worcester safe to visit?
Like any city, Worcester has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 100/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.