Is Boston or Holyoke Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Boston is safer than Holyoke (Safety Score 25/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 2,650 per 100,000 versus 5,273 for Holyoke — 50% lower. Boston has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Boston has a 54% 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.
Boston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Holyoke — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Boston, MA
Holyoke, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Boston | Holyoke | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,649.7 | 5,273.1 | -2,623.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 628.0 | 1,041.0 | -413.0 |
| Murder Rate | 3.6 | 7.9 | -4.2 |
| Rape Rate | 25.6 | 78.5 | -52.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 126.4 | 141.2 | -14.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 472.2 | 813.5 | -341.3 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,021.7 | 4,232.1 | -2,210.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 177.7 | 423.7 | -246.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,687.4 | 3,413.4 | -1,725.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 156.6 | 395.0 | -238.4 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boston or Holyoke safer?
Boston is safer with a total crime rate of 2,650 per 100K vs 5,273 for Holyoke — a 50% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Boston has a violent crime rate of 628.0 per 100K while Holyoke has 1,041.0. 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 Holyoke, MA
Holyoke, "The Paper City," sits on the Connecticut River, a planned industrial city that once led the world in paper production. Over a third of its residents today identify as Hispanic or Latino. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 38,232, Holyoke has a total crime rate of 5,273.1 per 100,000 residents.