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Arlington, MA vs Boston, MA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Arlington crime rate · Boston crime rate

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Is Arlington, MA or Boston, MA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Arlington, MA is safer than Boston, MA (Safety Score 93/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 490 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston, MA — 82% lower. Arlington has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Arlington has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Boston is 14.0x 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 Arlington, MA?

Arlington — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Boston — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Arlington, MA

Arlington, MA
Safety Score 93/100
Coverage 46,956
Total Crime Rate 489.8
Category Wins 7/7

Boston, MA

Boston, MA
Safety Score 25/100
Coverage 659,049
Total Crime Rate 2,649.7
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Arlington Boston Difference
Total Crime Rate 489.8 2,649.7 -2,159.9
Violent Crime Rate 55.4 628.0 -572.7
Murder Rate 0.0 3.6 -3.6
Rape Rate 10.7 25.6 -15.0
Robbery Rate 0.0 126.4 -126.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 44.7 472.2 -427.5
Property Crime Rate 434.5 2,021.7 -1,587.3
Burglary Rate 59.6 177.7 -118.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 338.6 1,687.4 -1,348.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 36.2 156.6 -120.4

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

Moving from Arlington, 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 Arlington or Boston safer?

Arlington, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 490 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston, MA — a 82% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Arlington has a violent crime rate of 55.4 per 100K while Boston has 628.0. Arlington has lower violent crime.

About Arlington, MA

Arlington, MA, a historic suburb northwest of Boston, was once home to Uncle Sam. This densely populated town of over 46,000 residents features a mix of residential areas and commercial centers along Massachusetts Avenue. With a safety score of 93/100 and a population coverage of 46,956, Arlington has a total crime rate of 489.8 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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