Moving from Boston, MA to Chelsea, 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 Boston or Chelsea Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Chelsea is safer than Boston (Safety Score 30/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 2,415 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston — 9% lower. Boston has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Boston has a 36% lower rate.
Note: Boston is 17.2x 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 SAFER than Boston, MA?
Boston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Chelsea — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Boston, MA
Chelsea, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Boston | Chelsea | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,649.7 | 2,414.7 | +235.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 628.0 | 978.9 | -350.9 |
| Murder Rate | 3.6 | 5.2 | -1.6 |
| Rape Rate | 25.6 | 80.9 | -55.3 |
| Robbery Rate | 126.4 | 120.1 | +6.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 472.2 | 772.7 | -300.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,021.7 | 1,435.8 | +585.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 177.7 | 148.8 | +28.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,687.4 | 1,151.2 | +536.2 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 156.6 | 135.8 | +20.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Boston, MA to Chelsea, 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 Boston or Chelsea safer?
Chelsea is safer with a total crime rate of 2,415 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston — a 9% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Boston has a violent crime rate of 628.0 per 100K while Chelsea has 978.9. Boston 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 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.