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Acton vs Boston Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Acton crime rate · Boston crime rate

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Is Acton or Boston Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Acton is safer than Boston (Safety Score 95/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 416 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston — 84% lower. Acton has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Acton has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Boston is 26.9x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Acton, MA?

Acton — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Boston — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Acton, MA

Acton, MA
Safety Score 95/100
Coverage 24,506
Total Crime Rate 416.2
Category Wins 6/7

Boston, MA

Boston, MA
Safety Score 25/100
Coverage 659,049
Total Crime Rate 2,649.7
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Acton Boston Difference
Total Crime Rate 416.2 2,649.7 -2,233.5
Violent Crime Rate 65.3 628.0 -562.7
Murder Rate 4.1 3.6 +0.4
Rape Rate 12.2 25.6 -13.4
Robbery Rate 0.0 126.4 -126.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 49.0 472.2 -423.2
Property Crime Rate 350.9 2,021.7 -1,670.8
Burglary Rate 77.5 177.7 -100.2
Larceny-Theft Rate 261.2 1,687.4 -1,426.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 12.2 156.6 -144.4

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Acton, MA to Boston, MA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Acton or Boston safer?

Acton is safer with a total crime rate of 416 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston — a 84% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Acton has a violent crime rate of 65.3 per 100K while Boston has 628.0. Acton has lower violent crime.

About Acton, MA

Acton, a Middlesex County town established in 1735, boasts a rich history including Minutemen participation. Located about 20 miles west-northwest of Boston, it is primarily residential with a highly educated population. With a safety score of 95/100 and a population coverage of 24,506, Acton has a total crime rate of 416.2 per 100,000 residents.

About Boston, MA

Boston, a city steeped in American Revolution history, sits on Massachusetts Bay. This densely populated urban center is home to a diverse population and numerous universities. With a safety score of 25/100 and a population coverage of 659,049, Boston has a total crime rate of 2,649.7 per 100,000 residents.

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