Is Chelsea or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Chelsea is safer than New York City (Safety Score 30/100 vs 19/100), with a total crime rate of 2,415 per 100,000 versus 3,040 for New York City — 21% lower. Chelsea has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where Chelsea has a 39% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 216.7x 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
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Chelsea, MA
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Chelsea | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,414.7 | 3,039.7 | -625.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 978.9 | 671.4 | +307.5 |
| Murder Rate | 5.2 | 3.9 | +1.3 |
| Rape Rate | 80.9 | 23.4 | +57.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 120.1 | 187.5 | -67.4 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 772.7 | 456.2 | +316.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,435.8 | 2,368.3 | -932.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 148.8 | 154.7 | -5.9 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,151.2 | 2,015.0 | -863.8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 135.8 | 198.5 | -62.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chelsea or New York City safer?
Chelsea is safer with a total crime rate of 2,415 per 100K vs 3,040 for New York City — a 21% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Chelsea has a violent crime rate of 978.9 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. New York City 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 New York City, NY
New York City, a global financial hub, sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Home to the iconic Statue of Liberty, its five boroughs house over 8 million people, making it the most populous city in the United States. With a safety score of 19/100 and a population coverage of 8,299,271, New York City has a total crime rate of 3,039.7 per 100,000 residents.