Moving from Cambridge, MA to Melrose, 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 Cambridge, MA or Melrose, MA Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Melrose, MA is safer than Cambridge, MA (Safety Score 92/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 530 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — 83% lower. Cambridge has higher rates in 0 of 6 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Melrose has a 85% lower rate.
Note: Cambridge is 4.0x 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 SAFER than Cambridge, MA?
Cambridge — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Melrose — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Cambridge, MA
Melrose, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Cambridge | Melrose | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,081.0 | 530.5 | +2,550.5 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 436.7 | 100.7 | +336.0 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | +0.0 |
| Rape Rate | 34.0 | 0.0 | +34.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 91.3 | 13.4 | +77.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 311.3 | 87.3 | +224.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,644.3 | 429.8 | +2,214.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 236.6 | 40.3 | +196.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,323.0 | 335.8 | +1,987.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 84.7 | 53.7 | +31.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Cambridge, MA to Melrose, 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 Cambridge or Melrose safer?
Melrose, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 530 per 100K vs 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — a 83% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Cambridge has a violent crime rate of 436.7 per 100K while Melrose has 100.7. Melrose has lower violent crime.
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.
About Melrose, MA
Melrose is a small, affluent city north of Boston, known for its Victorian architecture. Bordered by the Middlesex Fells Reservation, it offers a suburban feel with easy access to urban amenities. With a safety score of 92/100 and a population coverage of 29,784, Melrose has a total crime rate of 530.5 per 100,000 residents.