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Boston vs Brookline Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Boston crime rate · Brookline crime rate

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Is Boston or Brookline Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Brookline is safer than Boston (Safety Score 75/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 995 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston — 62% lower. Boston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Boston is 10.3x 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 Boston, MA?

Boston — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Brookline — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Boston, MA

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

Brookline, MA

Brookline, MA
Safety Score 75/100
Coverage 64,122
Total Crime Rate 995.0
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Boston Brookline Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,649.7 995.0 +1,654.8
Violent Crime Rate 628.0 99.8 +528.2
Murder Rate 3.6 0.0 +3.6
Rape Rate 25.6 4.7 +21.0
Robbery Rate 126.4 15.6 +110.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 472.2 79.5 +392.7
Property Crime Rate 2,021.7 895.2 +1,126.5
Burglary Rate 177.7 85.8 +91.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,687.4 784.4 +903.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 156.6 25.0 +131.6

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

Moving from Boston, MA to Brookline, 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 Boston or Brookline safer?

Brookline is safer with a total crime rate of 995 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston — a 62% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Boston has a violent crime rate of 628.0 per 100K while Brookline has 99.8. Brookline has lower violent crime.

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.

About Brookline, MA

Brookline, Massachusetts, a town surrounded by Boston, is home to the historic Coolidge Corner Theatre. This affluent community, with a significant Jewish population, boasts tree-lined streets and a dense, educated populace. With a safety score of 75/100 and a population coverage of 64,122, Brookline has a total crime rate of 995.0 per 100,000 residents.

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