Top 10 most dangerous cities in Massachusetts

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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.

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North Adams Population: 13,232 1,194 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.27 chance of being a victim: 1 in 84 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,752

North Adams, MA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Massachusetts with 1,194 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,065), robbery (73), rape (56) and homicide (0) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 279% 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: 41,439 1,041 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 96 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,273

The second most dangerous city is Holyoke. With a population of 41,439 and a violent crime rate that is 231% 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 1,041 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 96 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Chelsea Population: 41,000 979 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.68 chance of being a victim: 1 in 102 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,415

Home to 41,000 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 979 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.68 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 211% higher than the Massachusetts violent crime rate.

Springfield Population: 156,858 891 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.44 chance of being a victim: 1 in 112 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,727

With a violent crime rate that is 183% higher than the Massachusetts average, it's not hard to see why Springfield made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (209), assault (624), rape (47) and homicide (11). 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 Springfield more vulnerable to high crime.

Fall River Population: 91,437 743 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.04 chance of being a victim: 1 in 135 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,134

The ongoing battle with crime in Fall River, 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 743 and a 1 in 135 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Fall River has a violent crime rate that is 136% 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 Fall River.

Ware Population: 6,147 695 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.90 chance of being a victim: 1 in 144 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,052

Ware, MA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 695 per 100,000 people, which is 121% higher than the Massachusetts average. Ware has a population of 6,147, which translates to 1.90 crimes per day and 1 in 144 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.

Webster Population: 11,961 638 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 157 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,438

A 1 in 157 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.75 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Webster makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 638 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 103% higher than the Massachusetts average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (565), robbery (17), rape (56) and homicide (0).

Boston Population: 715,604 628 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 159 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,650

Boston, MA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 715,604 and a violent crime rate of 628 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 472 counts of assault, 126 counts of robbery, 26 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. All told, the Boston violent crime rate is 100% higher than the Massachusetts average.

Brockton Population: 98,714 599 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 167 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,945

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, Brockton, MA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Massachusetts with a violent crime rate of 599 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.64 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 167 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Lynn Population: 97,235 575 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 174 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,745

Rounding out our list at #10 is Lynn, MA. With a population of 97,235 and a violent crime rate of 575 per 100,000 people (83% higher than the Massachusetts average), some parts of Lynn are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 463 counts of assault, 76 counts of robbery, 33 counts of rape and 3 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 174 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	13,232	1,194	3,752
2	Holyoke	41,439	1,041	5,273
3	Chelsea	41,000	979	2,415
4	Springfield	156,858	891	3,727
5	Fall River	91,437	743	2,134
6	Ware	6,147	695	1,052
7	Webster	11,961	638	1,438
8	Boston	715,604	628	2,650
9	Brockton	98,714	599	1,945
10	Lynn	97,235	575	1,745
11	Chicopee	56,658	567	2,327
12	Lowell	114,170	532	2,195
13	Pittsfield	44,143	511	1,751
14	Fitchburg	41,913	487	1,831
15	Leominster	42,480	484	1,799
16	Athol	8,568	452	1,184
17	Taunton	59,451	448	1,282
18	Northampton	29,383	445	1,717
19	Revere	54,523	445	1,980
20	Lawrence	82,025	440	1,439
21	Cambridge	121,456	437	3,081
22	Marlborough	40,753	421	1,457
23	West Springfield Town	29,626	415	3,588
24	Haverhill	65,500	411	1,335
25	Barnstable Town	45,771	410	1,196
26	Palmer Town	12,662	375	949
27	Southbridge Town	17,257	367	1,001
28	New Bedford	97,315	353	1,712
29	Everett	47,660	348	1,662
30	Quincy	96,803	335	1,668
31	Gardner	21,410	329	949
32	Framingham	74,706	325	1,380
33	Plymouth	7,166	323	1,018
34	Holbrook	11,361	314	1,693
35	Malden	62,735	292	1,472
36	Milford	26,685	286	1,188
37	Braintree Town	38,517	284	1,404
38	Foxborough	6,242	282	899
39	Gloucester	31,315	278	830
40	Adams	5,858	277	1,510
41	Dedham	26,137	272	1,597
42	Hull	10,722	262	727
43	Peabody	54,577	255	1,092
44	Waltham	64,477	252	951
45	Saugus	29,084	250	1,652
46	Maynard	11,308	242	985
47	Randolph	34,560	240	1,135
48	Oxford	6,053	236	900
49	Abington	17,033	232	1,593
50	Burlington	28,820	225	1,888

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.