Is Holyoke or Worcester Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Worcester is safer than Holyoke (Safety Score 100/100 vs 3/100), with a total crime rate of 16 per 100,000 versus 5,273 for Holyoke — 100% lower. Holyoke has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in property crime, where Worcester has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Worcester is 5.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Holyoke — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Worcester — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Holyoke, MA
Worcester, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Holyoke | Worcester | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 5,273.1 | 16.5 | +5,256.6 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,041.0 | 16.5 | +1,024.5 |
| Murder Rate | 7.9 | 7.5 | +0.3 |
| Rape Rate | 78.5 | 0.0 | +78.5 |
| Robbery Rate | 141.2 | 0.9 | +140.3 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 813.5 | 8.0 | +805.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 4,232.1 | 0.0 | +4,232.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 423.7 | 0.0 | +423.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 3,413.4 | 0.0 | +3,413.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 395.0 | 0.0 | +395.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Holyoke or Worcester safer?
Worcester is safer with a total crime rate of 16 per 100K vs 5,273 for Holyoke — a 100% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Holyoke has a violent crime rate of 1,041.0 per 100K while Worcester has 16.5. Worcester has lower violent crime.
About Holyoke, MA
Holyoke, "The Paper City," sits on the Connecticut River, a planned industrial city that once led the world in paper production. Over a third of its residents today identify as Hispanic or Latino. With a safety score of 3/100 and a population coverage of 38,232, Holyoke has a total crime rate of 5,273.1 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.