Moving from Boston, MA to Watertown, 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 Watertown, MA Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Watertown, MA is safer than Boston, MA (Safety Score 40/100 vs 25/100), with a total crime rate of 2,012 per 100,000 versus 2,650 for Boston, MA — 24% lower. Boston has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Watertown has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Boston is 18.4x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Boston, MA?
Boston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Watertown — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Boston, MA
Watertown, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Boston | Watertown | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,649.7 | 2,012.0 | +637.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 628.0 | 153.3 | +474.8 |
| Murder Rate | 3.6 | 0.0 | +3.6 |
| Rape Rate | 25.6 | 25.1 | +0.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 126.4 | 8.4 | +118.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 472.2 | 119.8 | +352.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,021.7 | 1,858.7 | +163.0 |
| Burglary Rate | 177.7 | 53.0 | +124.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,687.4 | 1,780.7 | -93.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 156.6 | 25.1 | +131.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Boston, MA to Watertown, 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 Watertown safer?
Watertown, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,012 per 100K vs 2,650 for Boston, MA — a 24% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Boston has a violent crime rate of 628.0 per 100K while Watertown has 153.3. Watertown 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 Watertown, MA
Watertown, a historic Middlesex County town, sits along the Charles River just west of Boston. It was home to the Perkins School for the Blind, where Helen Keller studied. The town has a diverse population, including a notable Armenian community. With a safety score of 40/100 and a population coverage of 35,885, Watertown has a total crime rate of 2,012.0 per 100,000 residents.