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Cambridge, MA vs Norwood, MA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cambridge crime rate · Norwood crime rate

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Is Cambridge, MA or Norwood, MA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Norwood, MA is safer than Cambridge, MA (Safety Score 79/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 880 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — 71% lower. Cambridge has higher rates in 1 of 6 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Norwood has a 90% lower rate.

Note: Cambridge is 3.8x 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

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Norwood — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Flat Property Flat Total

Cambridge, MA

Cambridge, MA
Safety Score 18/100
Coverage 120,447
Total Crime Rate 3,081.0
Category Wins 1/6

Norwood, MA

Norwood, MA
Safety Score 79/100
Coverage 31,704
Total Crime Rate 880.0
Category Wins 5/6

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cambridge Norwood Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,081.0 880.0 +2,201.0
Violent Crime Rate 436.7 167.2 +269.5
Murder Rate 0.0 0.0 +0.0
Rape Rate 34.0 3.2 +30.9
Robbery Rate 91.3 9.5 +81.9
Aggravated Assault Rate 311.3 154.6 +156.8
Property Crime Rate 2,644.3 712.8 +1,931.5
Burglary Rate 236.6 53.6 +183.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,323.0 545.7 +1,777.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 84.7 113.6 -28.9

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

Moving from Cambridge, MA to Norwood, MA?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cambridge or Norwood safer?

Norwood, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 880 per 100K vs 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — a 71% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cambridge has a violent crime rate of 436.7 per 100K while Norwood has 167.2. Norwood 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 Norwood, MA

Norwood, a Middlesex County town, is home to the historic Norwood Theatre. This suburban community, once a hub for printing, lies just southwest of Boston. With a safety score of 79/100 and a population coverage of 31,704, Norwood has a total crime rate of 880.0 per 100,000 residents.

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