Is Chelsea or Houston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Chelsea is safer than Houston (Safety Score 30/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 2,415 per 100,000 versus 5,442 for Houston — 56% lower. Chelsea has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where Chelsea has a 67% lower rate.
Note: Houston is 60.5x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Chelsea — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Houston — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Chelsea, MA
Houston, TX
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Chelsea | Houston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,414.7 | 5,441.7 | -3,027.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 978.9 | 1,148.3 | -169.3 |
| Murder Rate | 5.2 | 13.8 | -8.6 |
| Rape Rate | 80.9 | 73.0 | +7.9 |
| Robbery Rate | 120.1 | 274.0 | -153.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 772.7 | 787.4 | -14.7 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,435.8 | 4,293.5 | -2,857.7 |
| Burglary Rate | 148.8 | 644.8 | -496.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,151.2 | 2,945.7 | -1,794.5 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 135.8 | 703.0 | -567.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chelsea or Houston safer?
Chelsea is safer with a total crime rate of 2,415 per 100K vs 5,442 for Houston — a 56% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Chelsea has a violent crime rate of 978.9 per 100K while Houston has 1,148.3. Chelsea has lower violent crime.
About Chelsea, MA
Chelsea, a dense urban gateway city across the Mystic River from Boston, boasts a rich immigrant history. Settled in 1624, it was once home to a vibrant industrial port and is now Massachusetts' smallest city by land area. With a safety score of 30/100 and a population coverage of 38,307, Chelsea has a total crime rate of 2,414.7 per 100,000 residents.
About Houston, TX
Houston, the "Space City," is a sprawling metropolis in Southeast Texas, home to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Its diverse population makes it one of the most multicultural cities in the U.S., with significant Hispanic and Asian communities. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 2,319,160, Houston has a total crime rate of 5,441.7 per 100,000 residents.