Moving from Boston, MA to Salem, 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.
Is Boston, MA or Salem, MA Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Salem, MA is safer than Boston, MA (Safety Score 50/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 1,706 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston, MA — 36% lower. Boston has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Salem has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Boston is 14.3x 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
Violent
Property
Total
Salem — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Boston, MA
Salem, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Boston | Salem | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,649.7 | 1,706.0 | +943.7 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 628.0 | 152.3 | +475.7 |
| Murder Rate | 3.6 | 0.0 | +3.6 |
| Rape Rate | 25.6 | 13.1 | +12.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 126.4 | 34.8 | +91.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 472.2 | 104.5 | +367.8 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,021.7 | 1,553.7 | +468.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 177.7 | 106.6 | +71.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,687.4 | 1,347.0 | +340.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 156.6 | 100.1 | +56.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Boston, MA to Salem, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Boston or Salem safer?
Salem, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,706 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston, MA — a 36% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Boston has a violent crime rate of 628.0 per 100K while Salem has 152.3. Salem 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 Salem, MA
Salem, Massachusetts, renowned for the 1692 witch trials, is a small coastal city north of Boston. Its population is approximately 45,000, with a significant portion employed in tourism and education. With a safety score of 50/100 and a population coverage of 45,955, Salem has a total crime rate of 1,706.0 per 100,000 residents.