Share

Cambridge, MA vs Watertown, MA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Cambridge crime rate · Watertown crime rate

Moving from Cambridge, MA to Watertown, 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.

Get the planner →

Is Cambridge, MA or Watertown, MA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Watertown, MA is safer than Cambridge, MA (Safety Score 40/100 vs 18/100), with a total crime rate of 2,012 per 100,000 versus 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — 35% lower. Cambridge has higher rates in 0 of 6 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Watertown has a 91% lower rate.

Note: Cambridge is 3.4x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Cambridge, MA?

Cambridge — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Watertown — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Cambridge, MA

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

Watertown, MA

Watertown, MA
Safety Score 40/100
Coverage 35,885
Total Crime Rate 2,012.0
Category Wins 6/6

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Cambridge Watertown Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,081.0 2,012.0 +1,069.0
Violent Crime Rate 436.7 153.3 +283.4
Murder Rate 0.0 0.0 +0.0
Rape Rate 34.0 25.1 +9.0
Robbery Rate 91.3 8.4 +83.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 311.3 119.8 +191.5
Property Crime Rate 2,644.3 1,858.7 +785.6
Burglary Rate 236.6 53.0 +183.7
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,323.0 1,780.7 +542.3
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 84.7 25.1 +59.6

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

Moving from Cambridge, MA to Watertown, 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.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Cambridge or Watertown safer?

Watertown, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,012 per 100K vs 3,081 for Cambridge, MA — a 35% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Cambridge has a violent crime rate of 436.7 per 100K while Watertown has 153.3. Watertown 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 Watertown, MA

Watertown, a historic Middlesex County town, sits along the Charles River just west of Boston. It was home to the Perkins School for the Blind, where Helen Keller studied. The town has a diverse population, including a notable Armenian community. With a safety score of 40/100 and a population coverage of 35,885, Watertown has a total crime rate of 2,012.0 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons