Moving from Amherst, 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.
Is Amherst, MA or Boston, MA Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Amherst, MA is safer than Boston, MA (Safety Score 94/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 466 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston, MA — 82% lower. Amherst has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Amherst has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Boston is 14.2x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Amherst, MA?
Amherst — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Boston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Amherst, MA
Boston, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Amherst | Boston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 466.5 | 2,649.7 | -2,183.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 159.8 | 628.0 | -468.2 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 3.6 | -3.6 |
| Rape Rate | 71.3 | 25.6 | +45.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 6.5 | 126.4 | -119.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 82.1 | 472.2 | -390.1 |
| Property Crime Rate | 306.7 | 2,021.7 | -1,715.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 34.6 | 177.7 | -143.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 263.5 | 1,687.4 | -1,424.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 8.6 | 156.6 | -148.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Amherst, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Amherst or Boston safer?
Amherst, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 466 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston, MA — a 82% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Amherst has a violent crime rate of 159.8 per 100K while Boston has 628.0. Amherst has lower violent crime.
About Amherst, MA
Amherst, Massachusetts, home to Emily Dickinson's homestead, is a college town in the Pioneer Valley. It's a predominantly white community with a significant student population. With a safety score of 94/100 and a population coverage of 46,304, Amherst has a total crime rate of 466.5 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.