Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Worcester, MA has a Safety Score of 42/100 — higher crime than 58% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,270.9 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,651 of 2,860 US cities and #171 of 181 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 42/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,270.9 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 3,120.6 per 100,000.
Worcester ranks #171 out of 181 cities in Massachusetts and #1651 out of 2860 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 42nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 58% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Worcester is aggravated assault, at 496.2 per 100K — 1.4x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.4x 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
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,246 | 603.2 | 525.7 |
| Murder | 11 | 5.3 | 8.6 |
| Rape | 44 | 21.3 | 49.2 |
| Robbery | 166 | 80.4 | 106.7 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,025 | 496.2 | 360.5 |
| Property Crime | 3,445 | 1,667.7 | 2,595.0 |
| Burglary | 696 | 336.9 | 342.2 |
| Larceny-Theft | 2,409 | 1,166.2 | 1,849.6 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 340 | 164.6 | 403.1 |
| 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 | 603.2 | 340.6 | +77.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,667.7 | 1,105.8 | +50.8% |
| Murder Rate | 5.3 | 2.3 | +128.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,270.9 | 1,446.5 | +57.0% |
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 |
Worcester Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Worcester 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 Worcester, Massachusetts safe?
Worcester has a safety score of 42/100, meaning it has less crime than about 42% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,270.9 per 100,000 residents in 2022, Worcester is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Worcester, Massachusetts?
According to FBI data for 2022, Worcester has a violent crime rate of 603.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,667.7 per 100,000 residents.
How does Worcester compare to the national average?
Worcester's total crime rate of 2,270.9 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 206,575 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Worcester?
Based on FBI 2022 data, the most reported crimes in Worcester are larceny-theft (2,409 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (1,025 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 2.8x in the city.
Is Worcester safe to visit?
Like any city, Worcester has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 42/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.