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Boston vs North Reading Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Boston crime rate · North Reading crime rate

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Is Boston or North Reading Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, North Reading is safer than Boston (Safety Score 93/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 472 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston — 82% lower. Boston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

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

Note: Boston is 39.9x 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

North Reading — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Boston, MA

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

North Reading, MA

North Reading, MA
Safety Score 93/100
Coverage 16,531
Total Crime Rate 471.8
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Boston North Reading Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,649.7 471.8 +2,177.9
Violent Crime Rate 628.0 66.5 +561.5
Murder Rate 3.6 0.0 +3.6
Rape Rate 25.6 6.1 +19.6
Robbery Rate 126.4 6.1 +120.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 472.2 54.4 +417.8
Property Crime Rate 2,021.7 405.3 +1,616.4
Burglary Rate 177.7 48.4 +129.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,687.4 338.8 +1,348.7
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 156.6 18.2 +138.4

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

Moving from Boston, MA to North Reading, 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 North Reading safer?

North Reading is safer with a total crime rate of 472 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston — a 82% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Boston has a violent crime rate of 628.0 per 100K while North Reading has 66.5. North Reading 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 North Reading, MA

North Reading, a Middlesex County town, is largely residential, with its center near the Ipswich River. Incorporated in 1853, it retains a semi-rural character, despite its proximity to Boston. With a safety score of 93/100 and a population coverage of 16,531, North Reading has a total crime rate of 471.8 per 100,000 residents.

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