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Chelsea, MA vs Lowell, MA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chelsea crime rate · Lowell crime rate

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Is Chelsea, MA or Lowell, MA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Lowell, MA is safer than Chelsea, MA (Safety Score 35/100 vs 30/100), with a total crime rate of 2,195 per 100,000 versus 2,415 for Chelsea, MA — 9% lower. Chelsea has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Lowell has a 53% lower rate.

Note: Lowell is 3.0x 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 Chelsea, MA?

Chelsea — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Flat Property Increasing Total

Lowell — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Chelsea, MA

Chelsea, MA
Safety Score 30/100
Coverage 38,307
Total Crime Rate 2,414.7
Category Wins 4/7

Lowell, MA

Lowell, MA
Safety Score 35/100
Coverage 116,062
Total Crime Rate 2,195.4
Category Wins 3/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chelsea Lowell Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,414.7 2,195.4 +219.3
Violent Crime Rate 978.9 532.5 +446.5
Murder Rate 5.2 4.3 +0.9
Rape Rate 80.9 6.9 +74.0
Robbery Rate 120.1 56.9 +63.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 772.7 464.4 +308.3
Property Crime Rate 1,435.8 1,662.9 -227.1
Burglary Rate 148.8 149.9 -1.1
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,151.2 1,309.6 -158.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 135.8 203.3 -67.6

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

Moving from Chelsea, MA to Lowell, 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 Chelsea or Lowell safer?

Lowell, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 2,195 per 100K vs 2,415 for Chelsea, MA — a 9% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chelsea has a violent crime rate of 978.9 per 100K while Lowell has 532.5. Lowell 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 Lowell, MA

Lowell, a historic mill city on the Merrimack River, was a birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Its diverse population includes a significant Cambodian American community. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 116,062, Lowell has a total crime rate of 2,195.4 per 100,000 residents.

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