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Brookline, MA vs Cambridge, MA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Brookline crime rate · Cambridge crime rate

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Is Brookline, MA or Cambridge, MA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Brookline, MA is safer than Cambridge, MA (Safety Score 75/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 995 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — 68% lower. Brookline has lower rates in 6 of 6 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Brookline has a 83% lower rate.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Brookline, MA?

Brookline — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Cambridge — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Brookline, MA

Brookline, MA
Safety Score 75/100
Coverage 64,122
Total Crime Rate 995.0
Category Wins 6/6

Cambridge, MA

Cambridge, MA
Safety Score 18/100
Coverage 120,447
Total Crime Rate 3,081.0
Category Wins 0/6

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Brookline Cambridge Difference
Total Crime Rate 995.0 3,081.0 -2,086.0
Violent Crime Rate 99.8 436.7 -336.9
Murder Rate 0.0 0.0 +0.0
Rape Rate 4.7 34.0 -29.4
Robbery Rate 15.6 91.3 -75.7
Aggravated Assault Rate 79.5 311.3 -231.8
Property Crime Rate 895.2 2,644.3 -1,749.2
Burglary Rate 85.8 236.6 -150.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 784.4 2,323.0 -1,538.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 25.0 84.7 -59.7

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

Moving from Brookline, MA to Cambridge, 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 Brookline or Cambridge safer?

Brookline, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 995 per 100K vs 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — a 68% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Brookline has a violent crime rate of 99.8 per 100K while Cambridge has 436.7. Brookline has lower violent crime.

About Brookline, MA

Brookline, Massachusetts, a town surrounded by Boston, is home to the historic Coolidge Corner Theatre. This affluent community, with a significant Jewish population, boasts tree-lined streets and a dense, educated populace. With a safety score of 75/100 and a population coverage of 64,122, Brookline has a total crime rate of 995.0 per 100,000 residents.

About Cambridge, MA

Nestled across the Charles River from Boston, Cambridge is a vibrant intellectual hub home to Harvard University. Its youthful, highly educated population, with a median age around 30, contributes to its dynamic character. With a safety score of 18/100 and a population coverage of 120,447, Cambridge has a total crime rate of 3,081.0 per 100,000 residents.

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