How safe is Massachusetts? (2023)

How safe is Massachusetts?

2022 Massachusetts crime rates

Massachusetts' violent crime rate this reporting year is 3.1 per 1,000 people (US 4.0), with a property crime rate of 10.5 (US 19.6).

Considered to have an average crime rate compared to other states in the country, Massachusetts is a relatively safe place to live. With a lower violent crime rate than the national average, residents tend to report that they feel safe and most have not had experiences with violent crime.

1 in every 154 people in Boston city becomes a victim of some form of violent crime. What is this? Boston City has higher violent crime rates than the national average from the above chart. However, it is still safer than about 19% of cities in the United States.

Boston, Massachusetts is ranked moderately safe as a tourist destination. If you stick close to tourist destinations, you won't experience any problems, but there are several neighborhoods you should avoid. Crime in Boston is usually gang related.

The safest city in Massachusetts is Wayland. Bosting a small population of around 13,000 residents, this city has the lowest property crime rate in the state at 0, and a violent crime rate of only 0.1 per 1,000 residents for 2021!

Massachusetts topped 2022's list, touting a score of 62.65 out of 100. New Jersey came in second, dropping from the top spot last year. New York, Idaho and Virginia fill out the rest of the top five states to live in, in that order.

Downtown is generally considered a very safe neighborhood in Boston! There are still areas you should avoid, such as Park St and Downtown Crossing. At night, these attract vagrants and addicts. Anywhere else, however, is safe enough to walk around at night.

While neither city is ranked among the safest cities in their own states, Boston neighborhoods have a much lower crime rate than Chicago. Boston has noticeably lower rates in everything from violent crime to property crimes such as burglary and motor vehicle theft.

Is Chicago a safe city?

Right now, Chicago is a safe place to visit. The high murder rate and rates of other crimes have dropped in recent years, somewhat because of the increased number of tourists visiting the city. Essentially, if you avoid the parts of Chicago that are known for high crime rates, it is safe to visit.

Boston is a wonderful, welcoming city for solo travelers. Here is a guide to help you find the best places to stay as well as what to do and eat.

Is Philadelphia safe? In Philadelphia, you have a 1 in 25 risk of becoming a victim of violent crime. However, the crime rate falls by 3% per year. As long as you avoid problematic neighbourhoods, Philadelphia is quite safe.

Back Bay along with Downtown is one of the safest neighborhood in Boston. It is a beautiful Parisian-style and affluent neighborhood on the banks of the Charles River, it is home to some of the most iconic events and locations such as Copley Square with its Trinity Church, Copley Place, Boston Public Library.

Both property crime and violent crime were 22% higher in these states than the national average. Washington, DC had the highest property crime rate in 2020, at 3,493 crimes per 100,000 residents. This was 21% higher than Louisiana, the state with the next-highest property crime rate.

Clinton, Holden, Hanover, and Charlton are new to the list this year. Wayland is new to the list and the SafeWise's new number 1 in Massachusetts. None of the safest cities reported murders, and nine reported 0 robberies. Property crime rates dropped from 11.8 per 1,000 to 10.5.

In 2020, New Hampshire had the lowest crime rate. There were about 1,245 crimes per 100,000 people, according to Statista data.

According to the report, the best state to live in the U.S. is Massachusetts. That isn't the only northern state to appear near the top of the rankings.

Which US state has the highest crime rate?

Both property crime and violent crime were 22% higher in these states than the national average. Washington, DC had the highest property crime rate in 2020, at 3,493 crimes per 100,000 residents. This was 21% higher than Louisiana, the state with the next-highest property crime rate.

In 2020, New Hampshire had the lowest crime rate. There were about 1,245 crimes per 100,000 people, according to Statista data.

The violent crime rate equates to 338 crimes per 100,000 people, which means that it is considered safer than the US as a whole. Below, we have listed 10 of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts for those cities with a population over 10,000.

With a cost of living index of 135, Massachusetts is the fourth most expensive state in the United States. Housing in Massachusetts costs 77% more than the national average, with the highest prices concentrated in Boston.

1. Maine. The state of Maine is ranked first on our list of the safest states in America. There are 63% fewer violent crimes per 100,000 people in Maine than in America as a whole, making it one of the safest states in the country.

The Least Safe States

The most unsafe of all the states is Alaska, coming last for personal safety and second-to-last for financial safety. Second-worst is Nevada, which ranks last overall for financial safety and comes in 46th for mental health.

The safest large city in the United States in our study was Virginia Beach, Virginia. This mostly suburban coastal city has the world's longest pleasure beach, which contributes to the city's tourism economy. Three of the safest large cities in the top 10 were cities in California.

Is Boston or Chicago safer?

While neither city is ranked among the safest cities in their own states, Boston neighborhoods have a much lower crime rate than Chicago. Boston has noticeably lower rates in everything from violent crime to property crimes such as burglary and motor vehicle theft.

Details: The 1.6% increase in the overall violent crime rate was driven by a slight uptick in aggravated assaults, from 1,138 by the middle of last year to 1,207 by June 2022. The homicide rate in Boston was down 38% from last year, with 13 reported through June, compared with 21 in the same time frame last year.

It's a lot of supply and demand. Really, there are just so many people that are looking to rent an apartment right now or just really find a place to live,” Carberry explained. Carberry told us that the housing market is the main driving force behind why rent is on the rise.

How much you need to live comfortably in Massachusetts: $45,510.40 to $65,728 per year. A single adult needs to earn at least $45,510 per year (or $21.88/hour) to live in Massachusetts. For a family of four, the required minimum annual income is $65,728 or $31.60/hour.