Is Cambridge or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, New York City is safer than Cambridge (Safety Score 19/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for Cambridge — 1% lower. Cambridge has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Cambridge has a 100% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 68.9x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Cambridge — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Cambridge, MA
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Cambridge | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,081.0 | 3,039.7 | +41.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 436.7 | 671.4 | -234.7 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 3.9 | -3.9 |
| Rape Rate | 34.0 | 23.4 | +10.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 91.3 | 187.5 | -96.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 311.3 | 456.2 | -144.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,644.3 | 2,368.3 | +276.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 236.6 | 154.7 | +81.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,323.0 | 2,015.0 | +308.0 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 84.7 | 198.5 | -113.9 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cambridge or New York City safer?
New York City is safer with a total crime rate of 3,040 per 100K vs 3,081 for Cambridge — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Cambridge has a violent crime rate of 436.7 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. Cambridge 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 New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.