MA · 9 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Massachusetts
Massachusetts recorded 301 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 9% below the national rate and down 8% since 2022. Of the 9 cities we cover, Springfield, Worcester and Boston have the highest rates and Quincy the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Boston
Brockton
Cambridge
Lowell
Lynn
New Bedford
Quincy
Springfield
WorcesterFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Massachusetts, ranked
The 9 Massachusetts cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 9 of 9 run above the state average of 301. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Springfield
871 violent crimes per 100k
2.9× the state average
- 2
Worcester
602 violent crimes per 100k
2.0× the state average
- 3
Boston
583 violent crimes per 100k
1.9× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield | 871 | 2,468 | 154,390 |
| 2 | Worcester | 602 | 1,433 | 212,985 |
| 3 | Boston | 583 | 1,931 | 671,262 |
| 4 | Lynn | 561 | 1,110 | 103,819 |
| 5 | Brockton | 538 | 1,404 | 105,571 |
| 6 | Lowell | 505 | 1,393 | 121,283 |
| 7 | Cambridge | 436 | 2,600 | 121,634 |
| 8 | New Bedford | 345 | 1,558 | 101,139 |
| 9 | Quincy | 302 | 1,198 | 103,649 |
| Massachusetts average | 301 | 1,037 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Safest cities in Massachusetts we cover
At the other end of the list, these have the lowest violent crime rates of the 9 cities in this ranking.
- Quincy302 per 100k · near the state average
- New Bedford345 per 100k · near the state average
- Cambridge436 per 100k · 1.4× the state average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2025 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
Massachusetts crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Massachusetts?
Of the 9 Massachusetts cities in our ranking, Springfield has the highest violent crime rate: 871 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 2.9 times the state average. Worcester and Boston come next. Even in Springfield, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Springfield guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Massachusetts?
Among the cities we rank, Quincy has the lowest violent crime rate, at 302 per 100,000 residents in 2025, close to the state average. New Bedford follows with 345. All 9 are large cities with rates above the Massachusetts average, so many smaller towns in the state are safer still.
Is Massachusetts safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Massachusetts recorded 301 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 9% below the national rate of 330. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 9 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Massachusetts cities have above-average crime?
9 of the 9 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Massachusetts average of 301 per 100,000 residents: Springfield, Worcester, Boston, Lynn, Brockton, Lowell, Cambridge, New Bedford and 1 more. The other 0 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Massachusetts?
Violent crime in Massachusetts went from 326 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 301 in 2025, down 8%. Property crime went from 1,086 to 1,037 over 2022–2025, down 5%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.