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Boston, MA vs Newton, MA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Boston crime rate · Newton crime rate

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Is Boston, MA or Newton, MA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Newton, MA is safer than Boston, MA (Safety Score 88/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 648 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston, MA — 76% lower. Boston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Boston is 7.3x 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

Newton — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing 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

Newton, MA

Newton, MA
Safety Score 88/100
Coverage 89,935
Total Crime Rate 648.3
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Boston Newton Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,649.7 648.3 +2,001.5
Violent Crime Rate 628.0 48.9 +579.1
Murder Rate 3.6 0.0 +3.6
Rape Rate 25.6 10.0 +15.6
Robbery Rate 126.4 1.1 +125.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 472.2 37.8 +434.4
Property Crime Rate 2,021.7 599.3 +1,422.4
Burglary Rate 177.7 63.4 +114.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,687.4 501.5 +1,186.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 156.6 34.5 +122.1

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

Moving from Boston, MA to Newton, 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 Newton safer?

Newton, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 648 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston, MA — a 76% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Boston has a violent crime rate of 628.0 per 100K while Newton has 48.9. Newton 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 Newton, MA

Newton, a suburban city in Middlesex County, is home to Boston College. Known for its distinct "villages," it's one of Massachusetts' wealthiest communities. With a safety score of 88/100 and a population coverage of 89,935, Newton has a total crime rate of 648.3 per 100,000 residents.

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