Top 10 most dangerous cities in Massachusetts

Massachusetts, known for its rich history and educational institutions, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Boston with its historic sites and world-renowned universities to the scenic beauty of Cape Cod, Massachusetts provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its museums, festivals, and historic landmarks. However, despite its many positives, Massachusetts faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Massachusetts are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between Massachusetts' cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Massachusetts involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Massachusetts' commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, educational opportunities, and natural beauty continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

North Adams Population: 12,897 1,079 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,598

North Adams, MA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Massachusetts with 1,079 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (961), robbery (55), rape (63) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 243% higher than the Massachusetts average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Holyoke Population: 40,161 989 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.71 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,572

The second most dangerous city is Holyoke. With a population of 40,161 and a violent crime rate that is 215% higher than the Massachusetts average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Holyoke are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 989 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 101 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Chelsea Population: 39,878 967 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 103 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,590

Home to 39,878 residents, Chelsea, MA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Massachusetts. Unfortunately for residents of Chelsea, crime is widespread, with more than 967 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.65 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 208% higher than the Massachusetts violent crime rate.

Fall River Population: 89,618 910 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 110 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,337

With a violent crime rate that is 190% higher than the Massachusetts average, it's not hard to see why Fall River made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (86), assault (753), rape (66) and homicide (4). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Fall River more vulnerable to high crime.

Springfield Population: 153,677 881 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.41 chance of being a victim: 1 in 114 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,867

The ongoing battle with crime in Springfield, MA, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 881 and a 1 in 114 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Springfield has a violent crime rate that is 180% higher than the Massachusetts average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Springfield.

Ware Population: 5,978 740 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.03 chance of being a victim: 1 in 135 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,092

Ware, MA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 740 per 100,000 people, which is 136% higher than the Massachusetts average. Ware has a population of 5,978, which translates to 2.03 crimes per day and 1 in 135 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Ware which are much safer than others.

Pittsfield Population: 42,514 648 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 154 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,943

A 1 in 154 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.77 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Pittsfield makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 648 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 106% higher than the Massachusetts average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (515), robbery (46), rape (86) and homicide (0).

Brockton Population: 95,740 640 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 156 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,628

Brockton, MA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 95,740 and a violent crime rate of 640 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 487 counts of assault, 71 counts of robbery, 75 counts of rape and 6 counts of homicide. All told, the Brockton violent crime rate is 104% higher than the Massachusetts average.

Boston Population: 689,326 627 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 160 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,571

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Boston, MA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Massachusetts with a violent crime rate of 627 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.72 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 160 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Webster Population: 11,719 619 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.70 chance of being a victim: 1 in 161 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,569

Rounding out our list at #10 is Webster, MA. With a population of 11,719 and a violent crime rate of 619 per 100,000 people (97% higher than the Massachusetts average), some parts of Webster are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 568 counts of assault, 34 counts of robbery, 17 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 161 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	North Adams	12,897	1,079	3,598
2	Holyoke	40,161	989	5,572
3	Chelsea	39,878	967	2,590
4	Fall River	89,618	910	2,337
5	Springfield	153,677	881	3,867
6	Ware	5,978	740	1,092
7	Pittsfield	42,514	648	1,943
8	Brockton	95,740	640	2,628
9	Boston	689,326	627	2,571
10	Webster	11,719	619	1,569
11	Chicopee	55,186	576	2,427
12	West Springfield Town	28,527	536	3,703
13	Haverhill	63,783	511	1,341
14	New Bedford	95,355	504	2,056
15	Lawrence	80,022	479	1,545
16	Cambridge	117,822	479	2,869
17	Taunton	57,327	474	1,352
18	Fitchburg	40,576	467	1,508
19	Lynn	94,201	461	1,448
20	Athol	8,323	445	1,208
21	Palmer Town	12,236	437	1,197
22	Barnstable Town	44,497	420	1,247
23	Revere	53,400	403	1,855
24	Southbridge Town	16,865	397	1,786
25	Leominster	41,581	389	1,545
26	Everett	46,275	384	1,735
27	Marlborough	39,663	363	1,555
28	Holbrook	11,051	363	1,531
29	Northampton	28,552	358	1,440
30	Abington	16,557	351	1,576
31	Bridgewater	8,544	347	954
32	Quincy	94,389	343	1,456
33	Weymouth Town	57,213	324	1,384
34	Plymouth	6,949	310	1,044
35	Braintree Town	37,196	304	1,733
36	Randolph	33,526	293	1,325
37	Framingham	72,846	289	1,389
38	Milford	26,072	278	877
39	Peabody	53,004	277	1,116
40	Malden	60,710	266	1,677
41	Gardner	20,605	264	1,028
42	Dedham	25,330	260	1,442
43	Gloucester	30,291	257	767
44	Waltham	62,597	251	1,088
45	Attleboro	45,023	250	1,354
46	Maynard	10,900	248	781
47	Somerville	81,175	247	1,669
48	Hudson	15,222	244	1,093
49	Salisbury	5,116	228	977
50	Adams	5,689	225	1,462

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Massachusetts cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.