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Data on this report is based on areas within the legal city boundary, outlined in black on the map. Any additional neighborhoods shown on the map are associated with the city by name and are included for reference only.



Boston, MA crime analytics

Source & Methodology

Analytics built by:   Location, Inc.

Raw data sources:   18,000 local law enforcement agencies in the U.S.

Date(s) & Update Frequency:   Reflects 2022 calendar year; released from FBI in Oct. 2023 (latest available). Updated annually. Where is 2023 data?

Methodology:   Our nationwide meta-analysis overcomes the issues inherent in any crime database, including non-reporting and reporting errors. This is possible by associating the 9.4 million reported crimes in the U.S, including over 2 million geocoded point locations…. Read more about Scout's Crime Data

The crime rate in Boston is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 26 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Boston is 1 in 38. Based on FBI crime data, Boston is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to Massachusetts, Boston has a crime rate that is higher than 98% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

However, compared to other communities of similar population size, Boston has a crime rate that is noticeably lower than the average. This means that for comparably sized cities all across America, Boston is actually safer than most according to NeighborhoodScout's exclusive analysis of FBI crime data.

Now let us turn to take a look at how Boston does for violent crimes specifically, and then how it does for property crimes. This is important because the overall crime rate can be further illuminated by understanding if violent crime or property crimes (or both) are the major contributors to the general rate of crime in Boston.

For Boston, we found that the violent crime rate is one of the highest in the nation, across communities of all sizes (both large and small). Violent offenses tracked included rape, murder and non-negligent manslaughter, armed robbery, and aggravated assault, including assault with a deadly weapon. According to NeighborhoodScout's analysis of FBI reported crime data, your chance of becoming a victim of one of these crimes in Boston is one in 152.

NeighborhoodScout's analysis also reveals that Boston's rate for property crime is 20 per one thousand population. This makes Boston a place where there is an above average chance of becoming a victim of a property crime, when compared to all other communities in America of all population sizes. Property crimes are motor vehicle theft, arson, larceny, and burglary. Your chance of becoming a victim of any of these crimes in Boston is one in 51.

Boston Crime Data

total Crime Index

14

(100 is safest)


Safer than 14% of U.S. cities.

Boston Annual Crimes

  Violent Property Total

Number of Crimes

4,293

12,750

17,043

Crime Rate
(per 1,000 residents)

6.60

19.59

26.19

Violent Crime

Violent Crime Comparison (per 1,000 residents)

20 15 10 5 0
6.6
3.22
National Median: 4
    Boston
    Massachusetts

Chances of Becoming a Victim of a Violent Crime

1 in 152

in Boston

1 in 311

in Massachusetts

Boston Violent Crimes

Population: 650,706
Murder Rape Robbery Assault
Report Total 46 191 850 3,206
Rate per 1,000 0.07 0.29 1.31 4.93

United States Violent Crimes

Population: 333,287,557
Murder Rape Robbery Assault
Report Total 21,156 133,294 220,450 893,980
Rate per 1,000 0.06 0.40 0.66 2.68

Property Crime

Property Crime Comparison (per 1,000 residents)

100 75 50 25 0
19.59
10.7
National Median: 20
    Boston
    Massachusetts

Chances of Becoming a Victim of a Property Crime

1 in 51

in Boston

1 in 93

in Massachusetts

Property Crimes

Population: 650,706
burglary theft motor vehicle theft
Report Total 1,271 10,263 1,216
Rate per 1,000 1.95 15.77 1.87

United States Property Crimes

Population: 333,287,557
burglary theft motor vehicle theft
Report Total 899,293 4,672,363 942,173
Rate per 1,000 2.70 14.02 2.83

Boston Crimes Per Square Mile

200 150 100 50 0
345
19
National Median: 27.0
    Boston
    Massachusetts