Is Bay City or Chelsea Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Chelsea is safer than Bay City (Safety Score 30/100 vs 30/100), with a total crime rate of 2,415 per 100,000 versus 2,432 for Bay City — 1% lower. Bay City has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Bay City has a 71% lower rate.
Bay City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Chelsea — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Bay City, MI
Chelsea, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Bay City | Chelsea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,432.0 | 2,414.7 | +17.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 564.1 | 978.9 | -414.8 |
| Murder Rate | 6.3 | 5.2 | +1.1 |
| Rape Rate | 106.6 | 80.9 | +25.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 34.5 | 120.1 | -85.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 416.8 | 772.7 | -355.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,867.9 | 1,435.8 | +432.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 247.6 | 148.8 | +98.8 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,388.4 | 1,151.2 | +237.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 231.9 | 135.8 | +96.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bay City or Chelsea safer?
Chelsea is safer with a total crime rate of 2,415 per 100K vs 2,432 for Bay City — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Bay City has a violent crime rate of 564.1 per 100K while Chelsea has 978.9. Bay City has lower violent crime.
About Bay City, MI
Bay City, Michigan, a port city on the Saginaw River near Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay, was once a major lumbering center. Its population is approximately 32,000, with a median age of around 40. With a safety score of 30/100 and a population coverage of 31,908, Bay City has a total crime rate of 2,432.0 per 100,000 residents.
About Chelsea, MA
Chelsea, a dense urban gateway city across the Mystic River from Boston, boasts a rich immigrant history. Settled in 1624, it was once home to a vibrant industrial port and is now Massachusetts' smallest city by land area. With a safety score of 30/100 and a population coverage of 38,307, Chelsea has a total crime rate of 2,414.7 per 100,000 residents.