Is Melrose or Oak Forest Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Oak Forest is safer than Melrose (Safety Score 91/100 vs 91/100), with a total crime rate of 527 per 100,000 versus 530 for Melrose — 1% lower. Melrose has higher rates in 3 of 6 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Melrose has a 42% lower rate.
Melrose — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Oak Forest — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Melrose, MA
Oak Forest, IL
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Melrose | Oak Forest | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 530.5 | 526.7 | +3.8 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 100.7 | 89.1 | +11.7 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 0.0 | +0.0 |
| Rape Rate | 0.0 | 7.8 | -7.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 13.4 | 23.2 | -9.8 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 87.3 | 58.1 | +29.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 429.8 | 437.6 | -7.8 |
| Burglary Rate | 40.3 | 127.8 | -87.5 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 335.8 | 271.1 | +64.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 53.7 | 38.7 | +15.0 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melrose or Oak Forest safer?
Oak Forest is safer with a total crime rate of 527 per 100K vs 530 for Melrose — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Melrose has a violent crime rate of 100.7 per 100K while Oak Forest has 89.1. Oak Forest 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 Oak Forest, IL
Oak Forest, a southwest suburb of Chicago, grew around the Oak Forest Hospital of Cook County established in 1910. Its residents are primarily white, with a notable Hispanic population. With a safety score of 91/100 and a population coverage of 25,823, Oak Forest has a total crime rate of 526.7 per 100,000 residents.