Why does Washington State have so many more murders than Massachusetts? (best, rates)
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Both have similar populations (~7 million, with Washington's being slightly higher) and both are considered relatively safe states with high QOL. However, I was surprised to see that Washington has far more murders than Massachusetts - 236 in WA vs. 136 in MA in 2018.
Anyone have any thoughts as to why Washington's per capita murder rate is significantly higher than Massachusetts'?
MA is a much more developed state.... despite what people will say on here. Education, Healthcare and Mental Health education is top 5 easily in the country. That blended in with some of the best towns in the country make murders in highly developed states much lower.
Also strict gun laws.
Same with New Hampshire, New Jersey, Hawaii and Vermont which are also extremely low in murder rates.
2017 Murder rate was 2.5... 2018 was 2.0 ... 2019 was 1.7
Is Mass an older state? Fewer young people, esp young males, means less violence.
Mass has one of the highest millennial population and one of the fastest growing population for the age group.. which is the only reason the population is even growing still.
Mass has one of the highest millennial population and one of the fastest growing population for the age group.. which is the only reason the population is even growing still.
Even if this is true on every age bracket I’ve ever seen MA is still the youngest state in a region of Old States I.e compared tot he West it’s still older.
39.5 vs 38.3 isn’t that significant to explain the homicide difference.
It could also be the Western culture is more violent than NE culture (descendants of frontiersmen vs. City slickers) as well as colder weather in MA keeping criminals in longer.
It could also be a major difference in rural areas that gets masked in statistics I.e Massachusetts have some of the most prosperous rural areas in the country while Washington’s rural areas/smaller cities are more in line with the rest of the country and thus have higher murder rate.
MA is a much more developed state.... despite what people will say on here. Education, Healthcare and Mental Health education is top 5 easily in the country. That blended in with some of the best towns in the country make murders in highly developed states much lower.
Also strict gun laws.
Same with New Hampshire, New Jersey, Hawaii and Vermont which are also extremely low in murder rates.
2017 Murder rate was 2.5... 2018 was 2.0 ... 2019 was 1.7
Strict gun laws don't stop murder. Why would anyone think that. If a felon wants a firearm they will get one.
Transitional population States generally have higher crime rates in most statistics. Washington is transitional, Massachusetts not so much. That said, Washington State is not known especially for being a high-crime State.
Transitional population States generally have higher crime rates in most statistics. Washington is transitional, Massachusetts not so much. That said, Washington State is not known especially for being a high-crime State.
^ Great point. Washington at the murder rate it has, is not very high. Compared to the average. Your literally comparing a New England state's low murder rate to a Pacific Northwest's state low murder rate. Both states are really low in murders.
In 2018 MA had a murder rate of 2.0, and WAs wasnt much higher at 3.4sh.
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