Moving from Amherst, MA to Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, MA Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Amherst, MA is safer than Cambridge, MA (Safety Score 94/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 466 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — 85% lower. Amherst has lower rates in 6 of 6 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Amherst has a 93% lower rate.
Note: Cambridge is 2.6x 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
Cambridge — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Amherst, MA
Cambridge, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Amherst | Cambridge | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 466.5 | 3,081.0 | -2,614.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 159.8 | 436.7 | -276.9 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | +0.0 |
| Rape Rate | 71.3 | 34.0 | +37.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 6.5 | 91.3 | -84.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 82.1 | 311.3 | -229.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 306.7 | 2,644.3 | -2,337.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 34.6 | 236.6 | -202.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 263.5 | 2,323.0 | -2,059.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 8.6 | 84.7 | -76.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Amherst, MA to Cambridge, 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 Cambridge safer?
Amherst, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 466 per 100K vs 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — a 85% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Amherst has a violent crime rate of 159.8 per 100K while Cambridge has 436.7. 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 Cambridge, MA
Nestled across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge is a vibrant intellectual hub home to Harvard University. Its youthful, highly educated population, with a median age around 30, contributes to its dynamic character. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 120,447, Cambridge has a total crime rate of 3,081.0 per 100,000 residents.