Is Fall River or Worcester Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Worcester is safer than Fall River (Safety Score 100/100 vs 37/100), with a total crime rate of 16 per 100,000 versus 2,137 for Fall River — 99% lower. Fall River has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where Worcester has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Worcester is 2.2x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Fall River — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Worcester — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Fall River, MA
Worcester, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Fall River | Worcester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,136.6 | 16.5 | +2,120.1 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 745.0 | 16.5 | +728.5 |
| Murder Rate | 3.1 | 7.5 | -4.4 |
| Rape Rate | 60.7 | 0.0 | +60.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 100.5 | 0.9 | +99.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 578.6 | 8.0 | +570.6 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,391.6 | 0.0 | +1,391.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 231.2 | 0.0 | +231.2 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 996.1 | 0.0 | +996.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 164.3 | 0.0 | +164.3 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fall River or Worcester safer?
Worcester is safer with a total crime rate of 16 per 100K vs 2,137 for Fall River — a 99% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Fall River has a violent crime rate of 745.0 per 100K while Worcester has 16.5. Worcester has lower violent crime.
About Fall River, MA
Fall River, site of the infamous Lizzie Borden case, is a South Coast Massachusetts city nestled along the Taunton River. Once a major textile center, its population is now largely working-class, with a significant Portuguese heritage. With a safety score of 37/100 and a population coverage of 95,573, Fall River has a total crime rate of 2,136.6 per 100,000 residents.
About Worcester, MA
Worcester, a city of hills in Central Massachusetts, boasts a rich industrial past, home to the first American-made Valentine's Day cards. It's the second-most populous city in New England outside of Boston. With a safety score of 100/100 and a population coverage of 212,425, Worcester has a total crime rate of 16.5 per 100,000 residents.