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Boston vs Gloucester Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Boston crime rate · Gloucester crime rate

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Is Boston or Gloucester Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Gloucester is safer than Boston (Safety Score 81/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 830 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston — 69% lower. Boston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Boston is 21.5x 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

Gloucester — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Increasing Total

Boston, MA

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

Gloucester, MA

Gloucester, MA
Safety Score 81/100
Coverage 30,599
Total Crime Rate 830.1
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Boston Gloucester Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,649.7 830.1 +1,819.6
Violent Crime Rate 628.0 277.8 +350.2
Murder Rate 3.6 0.0 +3.6
Rape Rate 25.6 36.0 -10.3
Robbery Rate 126.4 3.3 +123.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 472.2 238.6 +233.6
Property Crime Rate 2,021.7 552.3 +1,469.4
Burglary Rate 177.7 98.0 +79.6
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,687.4 415.1 +1,272.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 156.6 39.2 +117.4

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

Moving from Boston, MA to Gloucester, 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 Gloucester safer?

Gloucester is safer with a total crime rate of 830 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston — a 69% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Boston has a violent crime rate of 628.0 per 100K while Gloucester has 277.8. Gloucester 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 Gloucester, MA

Gloucester, Massachusetts, a historic fishing port on Cape Ann, is home to the iconic "Man at the Wheel" statue. This city of roughly 30,000 residents boasts a significant Portuguese-American population. With a safety score of 81/100 and a population coverage of 30,599, Gloucester has a total crime rate of 830.1 per 100,000 residents.

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