Moving from Arlington, 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 Arlington, MA or Cambridge, MA Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Arlington, MA is safer than Cambridge, MA (Safety Score 93/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 490 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — 84% lower. Arlington has lower rates in 6 of 6 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Arlington has a 100% 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 SAFER than Arlington, MA?
Arlington — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Cambridge — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Arlington, MA
Cambridge, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Arlington | Cambridge | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 489.8 | 3,081.0 | -2,591.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 55.4 | 436.7 | -381.3 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | +0.0 |
| Rape Rate | 10.7 | 34.0 | -23.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 0.0 | 91.3 | -91.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 44.7 | 311.3 | -266.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 434.5 | 2,644.3 | -2,209.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 59.6 | 236.6 | -177.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 338.6 | 2,323.0 | -1,984.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 36.2 | 84.7 | -48.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Arlington, 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 Arlington or Cambridge safer?
Arlington, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 490 per 100K vs 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — a 84% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Arlington has a violent crime rate of 55.4 per 100K while Cambridge has 436.7. 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 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.