Is Melrose or New York City Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Melrose is safer than New York City (Safety Score 91/100 vs 19/100), with a total crime rate of 530 per 100,000 versus 3,040 for New York City — 83% lower. Melrose has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Melrose has a 100% lower rate.
Note: New York City is 278.6x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Melrose — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
New York City — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Melrose, MA
New York City, NY
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Melrose | New York City | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 530.5 | 3,039.7 | -2,509.2 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 100.7 | 671.4 | -570.7 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 3.9 | -3.9 |
| Rape Rate | 0.0 | 23.4 | -23.4 |
| Robbery Rate | 13.4 | 187.5 | -174.0 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 87.3 | 456.2 | -368.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 429.8 | 2,368.3 | -1,938.5 |
| Burglary Rate | 40.3 | 154.7 | -114.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 335.8 | 2,015.0 | -1,679.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 53.7 | 198.5 | -144.8 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melrose or New York City safer?
Melrose is safer with a total crime rate of 530 per 100K vs 3,040 for New York City — a 83% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Melrose has a violent crime rate of 100.7 per 100K while New York City has 671.4. Melrose has lower violent crime.
About Melrose, MA
Melrose is a small, affluent city north of Boston, known for its Victorian architecture. Bordered by the Middlesex Fells Reservation, it offers a suburban feel with easy access to urban amenities. With a safety score of 91/100 and a population coverage of 29,784, Melrose has a total crime rate of 530.5 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.