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Cambridge, MA vs Waltham, MA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cambridge crime rate · Waltham crime rate

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Is Cambridge, MA or Waltham, MA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Waltham, MA is safer than Cambridge, MA (Safety Score 77/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 951 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — 69% lower. Cambridge has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Cambridge has a 100% lower rate.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Cambridge, MA?

Cambridge — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Waltham — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Flat Total

Cambridge, MA

Cambridge, MA
Safety Score 18/100
Coverage 120,447
Total Crime Rate 3,081.0
Category Wins 1/7

Waltham, MA

Waltham, MA
Safety Score 77/100
Coverage 65,488
Total Crime Rate 951.3
Category Wins 6/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cambridge Waltham Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,081.0 951.3 +2,129.7
Violent Crime Rate 436.7 252.0 +184.8
Murder Rate 0.0 1.5 -1.5
Rape Rate 34.0 18.3 +15.7
Robbery Rate 91.3 22.9 +68.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 311.3 209.2 +102.1
Property Crime Rate 2,644.3 699.4 +1,945.0
Burglary Rate 236.6 125.2 +111.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,323.0 519.2 +1,803.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 84.7 55.0 +29.7

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

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

Waltham, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 951 per 100K vs 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — a 69% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cambridge has a violent crime rate of 436.7 per 100K while Waltham has 252.0. Waltham 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 Waltham, MA

Waltham, "Watch City," is a historic industrial suburb of Boston along the Charles River. Home to Brandeis University, its diverse population includes a significant immigrant community. With a safety score of 77/100 and a population coverage of 65,488, Waltham has a total crime rate of 951.3 per 100,000 residents.

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