Moving from Lowell, MA to Salem, 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.
Is Lowell, MA or Salem, MA Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Salem, MA is safer than Lowell, MA (Safety Score 50/100 vs 35/100), with a total crime rate of 1,706 per 100,000 versus 2,195 for Lowell, MA — 22% lower. Lowell has higher rates in 1 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Salem has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Lowell is 2.5x 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 Lowell, MA?
Lowell — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Salem — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Lowell, MA
Salem, MA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Lowell | Salem | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 2,195.4 | 1,706.0 | +489.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 532.5 | 152.3 | +380.2 |
| Murder Rate | 4.3 | 0.0 | +4.3 |
| Rape Rate | 6.9 | 13.1 | -6.2 |
| Robbery Rate | 56.9 | 34.8 | +22.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 464.4 | 104.5 | +360.0 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,662.9 | 1,553.7 | +109.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 149.9 | 106.6 | +43.3 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,309.6 | 1,347.0 | -37.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 203.3 | 100.1 | +103.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Lowell, MA to Salem, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lowell or Salem safer?
Salem, MA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,706 per 100K vs 2,195 for Lowell, MA — a 22% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Lowell has a violent crime rate of 532.5 per 100K while Salem has 152.3. Salem has lower violent crime.
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.
About Salem, MA
Salem, Massachusetts, renowned for the 1692 witch trials, is a small coastal city north of Boston. Its population is approximately 45,000, with a significant portion employed in tourism and education. With a safety score of 50/100 and a population coverage of 45,955, Salem has a total crime rate of 1,706.0 per 100,000 residents.