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Bedford, MA vs Cambridge, MA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Bedford crime rate · Cambridge crime rate

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Is Bedford, MA or Cambridge, MA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Bedford, MA is safer than Cambridge, MA (Safety Score 94/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 457 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — 85% lower. Bedford has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Cambridge is 8.2x 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 Bedford, MA?

Bedford — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Cambridge — 5-Year Trend

Increasing 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

Cambridge, MA

Cambridge, MA
Safety Score 18/100
Coverage 120,447
Total Crime Rate 3,081.0
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Bedford Cambridge Difference
Total Crime Rate 457.1 3,081.0 -2,624.0
Violent Crime Rate 13.6 436.7 -423.1
Murder Rate 13.6 0.0 +13.6
Rape Rate 0.0 34.0 -34.0
Robbery Rate 0.0 91.3 -91.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 0.0 311.3 -311.3
Property Crime Rate 443.4 2,644.3 -2,200.9
Burglary Rate 40.9 236.6 -195.7
Larceny-Theft Rate 375.2 2,323.0 -1,947.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 27.3 84.7 -57.4

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

Moving from Bedford, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bedford or Cambridge safer?

Bedford, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 457 per 100K vs 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — a 85% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Bedford has a violent crime rate of 13.6 per 100K while Cambridge has 436.7. 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 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.

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