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Crime rate in Boston, Massachusetts (MA): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map


City-Data.com crime index in Boston, MA compared to other U.S. cities

Crime rate in Boston, MA

The 2022 crime rate in Boston, MA is 250 (City-Data.com crime index), which is comparable to the U.S. average. It was higher than in 82.6% U.S. cities. The 2022 Boston crime rate rose by 9% compared to 2021. The number of homicides stood at 44 - an increase of 7 compared to 2021. In the last 5 years Boston has seen decreasing violent crime and decline of property crime.
See how dangerous Boston, MA is compared to the nearest cities:
(Note: Higher means more crime)
Boston:

250.0
Brookline:

66.7
Cambridge:

212.4
Milton:

27.6
Somerville:

133.5
Watertown:

80.9
Chelsea:

304.8
Quincy:

159.4
Newton:

50.2
City-Data.com crime index
Crime rates in Boston by year

Type

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022
Murders
(per 100,000)		50
(8.0)		73
(11.8)		63
(10.1)		57
(9.0)		39
(6.1)		53
(8.1)		38
(5.7)		49
(7.3)		57
(8.3)		56
(8.1)		42
(6.0)		58
(8.3)		37
(5.3)		44
(6.9)
Rapes
(per 100,000)		269
(43.1)		256
(41.5)		271
(43.6)		249
(39.5)		279
(43.3)		280
(42.8)		240
(36.1)		278
(41.3)		290
(42.5)		278
(40.0)		240
(34.3)		199
(28.5)		233
(33.1)		176
(27.5)
Robberies
(per 100,000)		2,277
(364.8)		1,926
(311.9)		1,904
(306.4)		1,910
(302.9)		1,868
(290.2)		1,680
(256.7)		1,551
(233.1)		1,530
(227.0)		1,404
(205.6)		1,172
(168.7)		1,041
(148.9)		923
(132.4)		772
(109.5)		770
(120.5)
Assaults
(per 100,000)		3,596
(576.1)		3,564
(577.1)		3,014
(485.1)		3,050
(483.6)		2,851
(442.8)		2,736
(418.1)		2,873
(431.9)		2,910
(431.8)		2,819
(412.8)		2,818
(405.7)		2,953
(422.5)		3,251
(466.2)		2,881
(408.8)		2,965
(464.1)
Burglaries
(per 100,000)		2,955
(473.4)		3,587
(580.8)		3,482
(560.4)		3,325
(527.2)		3,096
(480.9)		2,680
(409.5)		2,357
(354.3)		1,837
(272.6)		2,109
(308.8)		1,853
(266.7)		1,712
(244.9)		1,741
(249.7)		1,352
(191.8)		1,213
(189.9)
Thefts
(per 100,000)		15,507
(2,484)		15,004
(2,429)		14,064
(2,263)		13,400
(2,125)		13,147
(2,042)		13,077
(1,998)		11,772
(1,770)		11,429
(1,696)		10,952
(1,604)		11,000
(1,583)		10,680
(1,528)		10,163
(1,457)		9,179
(1,302)		9,116
(1,427)
Auto thefts
(per 100,000)		2,287
(366.4)		2,037
(329.8)		1,899
(305.6)		1,624
(257.5)		1,610
(250.1)		1,512
(231.0)		1,279
(192.3)		1,223
(181.5)		1,205
(176.5)		1,154
(166.1)		986
(141.1)		1,294
(185.6)		1,164
(165.2)		1,185
(185.5)
Arson
(per 100,000)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		0
(0.0)		4
(0.6)		44
(6.3)		26
(3.7)		32
(5.0)
City-Data.com crime index437.0430.0398.3379.7357.8338.1307.6303.5294.8275.2258.2263.0230.3250.0

The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 246.1. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities.

- means the value is smaller than the state average.
- means the value is about the same as the state average.
- means the value is bigger than the state average.
- means the value is much bigger than the state average.



According to our research of Massachusetts and other state lists, there were 334 registered sex offenders living in Boston, Massachusetts as of April 27, 2024.
The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Boston is 2,014 to 1.
The ratio of registered sex offenders to all residents in this city is lower than the state average.



Violent crime rate in 2022
Boston:

333.6
U.S. Average:

219.8

Violent crime rate in 2021
Boston:

302.7
U.S. Average:

224.8

Violent crime rate in 2020
Boston:

344.5
U.S. Average:

228.2

Violent crime rate in 2019
Boston:

332.1
U.S. Average:

219.9

Violent crime rate in 2018
Boston:

343.3
U.S. Average:

221.2

Violent crime rate in 2017
Boston:

368.4
U.S. Average:

226.2

Violent crime rate in 2016
Boston:

385.2
U.S. Average:

227.3

Violent crime rate in 2015
Boston:

380.0
U.S. Average:

219.3

Violent crime rate in 2014
Boston:

396.4
U.S. Average:

211.1

Violent crime rate in 2013
Boston:

421.9
U.S. Average:

214.2

Violent crime rate in 2012
Boston:

450.8
U.S. Average:

187.4

Violent crime rate in 2011
Boston:

459.6
U.S. Average:

187.1

Violent crime rate in 2010
Boston:

509.6
U.S. Average:

195.7

Violent crime rate in 2009
Boston:

529.5
U.S. Average:

208.9

Violent crime rate in 2008
Boston:

587.2
U.S. Average:

222.5

Violent crime rate in 2007
Boston:

486.7
U.S. Average:

229.1

Violent crime rate in 2006
Boston:

564.0
U.S. Average:

232.6

Violent crime rate in 2005
Boston:

554.2
U.S. Average:

227.0

Property crime rate in 2022
Boston:

137.1
U.S. Average:

166.5

Property crime rate in 2021
Boston:

128.3
U.S. Average:

157.8

Property crime rate in 2020
Boston:

150.6
U.S. Average:

169.6

Property crime rate in 2019
Boston:

146.6
U.S. Average:

179.7

Property crime rate in 2018
Boston:

157.4
U.S. Average:

190.2

Property crime rate in 2017
Boston:

168.4
U.S. Average:

206.4

Property crime rate in 2016
Boston:

166.5
U.S. Average:

216.6

Property crime rate in 2015
Boston:

188.2
U.S. Average:

221.5

Property crime rate in 2014
Boston:

216.5
U.S. Average:

230.8

Property crime rate in 2013
Boston:

235.8
U.S. Average:

250.4

Property crime rate in 2012
Boston:

250.3
U.S. Average:

267.3

Property crime rate in 2011
Boston:

271.1
U.S. Average:

273.5

Property crime rate in 2010
Boston:

287.1
U.S. Average:

276.4

Property crime rate in 2009
Boston:

273.8
U.S. Average:

285.6

Property crime rate in 2008
Boston:

312.0
U.S. Average:

302.2

Property crime rate in 2007
Boston:

285.8
U.S. Average:

309.2

Property crime rate in 2006
Boston:

320.2
U.S. Average:

317.3

Property crime rate in 2005
Boston:

335.5
U.S. Average:

322.3
Murders per 100,000 population
Rapes per 100,000 population
Robberies per 100,000 population
Assaults per 100,000 population
Burglaries per 100,000 population
Thefts per 100,000 population
Auto thefts per 100,000 population
Arson per 100,000 population

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2021, including police officers: 2,716 (2,184 officers - 1,873 male; 311 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.10
Massachusetts average:

2.53

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2020, including police officers: 2,715 (2,132 officers - 1,837 male; 295 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.06
Massachusetts average:

2.59

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2019, including police officers: 2,922 (2,143 officers - 1,865 male; 278 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.07
Massachusetts average:

2.59

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2018, including police officers: 2,715 (2,122 officers - 1,839 male; 283 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.05
Massachusetts average:

2.60

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2017, including police officers: 2,778 (2,205 officers - 1,909 male; 296 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.23
Massachusetts average:

2.60

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2016, including police officers: 2,678 (2,125 officers - 1,840 male; 285 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.15
Massachusetts average:

2.63

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2015, including police officers: 2,689 (2,139 officers - 1,850 male; 289 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.22
Massachusetts average:

2.54

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2014, including police officers: 2,710 (2,151 officers - 1,861 male; 290 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.29
Massachusetts average:

2.55

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2013, including police officers: 2,704 (2,131 officers - 1,842 male; 289 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.31
Massachusetts average:

2.51

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2012, including police officers: 2,700 (2,130 officers - 1,837 male; 293 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.38
Massachusetts average:

2.49

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2011, including police officers: 2,719 (2,156 officers - 1,860 male; 296 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.47
Massachusetts average:

2.52

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2010, including police officers: 2,680 (2,094 officers - 1,817 male; 277 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.39
Massachusetts average:

2.49

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2009, including police officers: 2,760 (2,177 officers - 1,888 male; 289 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.49
Massachusetts average:

2.18

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2008, including police officers: 2,862 (2,213 officers - 1,916 male; 297 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.66
Massachusetts average:

2.64

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2007, including police officers: 2,810 (2,170 officers - 1,876 male; 294 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.67
Massachusetts average:

2.64

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2006, including police officers: 2,625 (2,056 officers - 1,770 male; 286 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.66
Massachusetts average:

2.67

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2005, including police officers: 2,663 (2,075 officers - 1,787 male; 288 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.66
Massachusetts average:

2.62

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2004, including police officers: 2,673 (2,036 officers - 1,754 male; 282 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.51
Massachusetts average:

2.54

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2003, including police officers: 2,645 (2,053 officers - 1,773 male; 280 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

3.48
Massachusetts average:

2.56

Full-time Law Enforcement Employees in Boston, MA
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees - Officers
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees - Civilians

Zip codes: 02108, 02109, 02110, 02111, 02113, 02114, 02115, 02116, 02118, 02119, 02120, 02121, 02122, 02124, 02125, 02126, 02127, 02128, 02129, 02130, 02131, 02132, 02134, 02135, 02136, 02151, 02152, 02163, 02199, 02203, 02210, 02215, 02467.

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