Is Los Angeles or Waltham Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Waltham is safer than Los Angeles (Safety Score 76/100 vs 35/100), with a total crime rate of 951 per 100,000 versus 2,212 for Los Angeles — 57% lower. Los Angeles has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Waltham has a 89% lower rate.
Note: Los Angeles is 58.0x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Los Angeles — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Waltham — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Los Angeles, CA
Waltham, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Los Angeles | Waltham | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,212.5 | 951.3 | +1,261.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 728.5 | 252.0 | +476.6 |
| Murder Rate | 7.0 | 1.5 | +5.4 |
| Rape Rate | 40.3 | 18.3 | +22.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 209.9 | 22.9 | +187.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 471.4 | 209.2 | +262.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,483.9 | 699.4 | +784.6 |
| Burglary Rate | 372.8 | 125.2 | +247.6 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 851.5 | 519.2 | +332.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 259.6 | 55.0 | +204.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Los Angeles or Waltham safer?
Waltham is safer with a total crime rate of 951 per 100K vs 2,212 for Los Angeles — a 57% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Los Angeles has a violent crime rate of 728.5 per 100K while Waltham has 252.0. Waltham has lower violent crime.
About Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles, a sprawling Southern California metropolis, is a major Pacific Rim gateway, home to Hollywood's film industry. Its diverse population of nearly 4 million people resides across a vast urban landscape bordered by mountains and the Pacific Ocean. With a safety score of 35/100 and a population coverage of 3,796,352, Los Angeles has a total crime rate of 2,212.5 per 100,000 residents.
About Waltham, MA
Waltham, "Watch City," is a historic industrial suburb of Boston along the Charles River. Home to Brandeis University, its diverse population includes a significant immigrant community. With a safety score of 76/100 and a population coverage of 65,488, Waltham has a total crime rate of 951.3 per 100,000 residents.