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Boston, MA vs Lawrence, MA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Boston crime rate · Lawrence crime rate

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Is Boston, MA or Lawrence, MA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Lawrence, MA is safer than Boston, MA (Safety Score 59/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 1,439 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston, MA — 46% lower. Boston has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Lawrence has a 58% lower rate.

Note: Boston is 7.4x 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

Flat Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Lawrence — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Boston, MA

Boston, MA
Safety Score 25/100
Coverage 659,049
Total Crime Rate 2,649.7
Category Wins 1/7

Lawrence, MA

Lawrence, MA
Safety Score 59/100
Coverage 89,600
Total Crime Rate 1,438.6
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Boston Lawrence Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,649.7 1,438.6 +1,211.1
Violent Crime Rate 628.0 439.7 +188.3
Murder Rate 3.6 7.8 -4.2
Rape Rate 25.6 31.3 -5.6
Robbery Rate 126.4 52.5 +73.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 472.2 348.2 +124.0
Property Crime Rate 2,021.7 998.9 +1,022.8
Burglary Rate 177.7 72.5 +105.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,687.4 851.6 +835.9
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 156.6 74.8 +81.8

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

Moving from Boston, MA to Lawrence, MA?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Boston or Lawrence safer?

Lawrence, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,439 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston, MA — a 46% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Boston has a violent crime rate of 628.0 per 100K while Lawrence has 439.7. Lawrence 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 Lawrence, MA

Lawrence, a Merrimack Valley city, was once a thriving textile hub, home to the historic Bread and Roses Strike. Today, it is a diverse community with a significant Hispanic population. With a safety score of 59/100 and a population coverage of 89,600, Lawrence has a total crime rate of 1,438.6 per 100,000 residents.

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