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Bedford, MA vs Boston, MA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Bedford crime rate · Boston crime rate

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Is Bedford, MA or Boston, MA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Bedford, MA is safer than Boston, MA (Safety Score 94/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 457 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston, MA — 83% lower. Bedford has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Bedford has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Boston is 45.0x 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 SAFER than Bedford, MA?

Bedford — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Boston — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Bedford, MA

Bedford, MA
Safety Score 94/100
Coverage 14,659
Total Crime Rate 457.1
Category Wins 6/7

Boston, MA

Boston, MA
Safety Score 25/100
Coverage 659,049
Total Crime Rate 2,649.7
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Bedford Boston Difference
Total Crime Rate 457.1 2,649.7 -2,192.7
Violent Crime Rate 13.6 628.0 -614.4
Murder Rate 13.6 3.6 +10.0
Rape Rate 0.0 25.6 -25.6
Robbery Rate 0.0 126.4 -126.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 0.0 472.2 -472.2
Property Crime Rate 443.4 2,021.7 -1,578.3
Burglary Rate 40.9 177.7 -136.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 375.2 1,687.4 -1,312.2
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 27.3 156.6 -129.3

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

Moving from Bedford, 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 Bedford or Boston safer?

Bedford, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 457 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston, MA — a 83% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Bedford has a violent crime rate of 13.6 per 100K while Boston has 628.0. Bedford has lower violent crime.

About Bedford, MA

Bedford, MA, home to Hanscom Air Force Base and a significant tech industry presence, sits northwest of Boston. This Middlesex County town, a bedroom community, maintains a suburban character with a notable historical district. With a safety score of 94/100 and a population coverage of 14,659, Bedford has a total crime rate of 457.1 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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