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 1,005 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 100 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,397

North Adams, MA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Massachusetts with 1,005 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (888), robbery (55), rape (47) and homicide (16) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 212% 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.

Fall River Population: 89,618 991 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 101 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,223

The second most dangerous city is Fall River. With a population of 89,618 and a violent crime rate that is 208% higher than the Massachusetts average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Fall River are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 991 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.

Holyoke Population: 40,161 959 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.63 chance of being a victim: 1 in 104 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,678

Home to 40,161 residents, Holyoke, MA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Massachusetts. Unfortunately for residents of Holyoke, crime is widespread, with more than 959 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.63 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 198% higher than the Massachusetts violent crime rate.

Springfield Population: 153,677 862 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.36 chance of being a victim: 1 in 116 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,232

With a violent crime rate that is 168% 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 (171), assault (629), rape (53) and homicide (9). 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.

Chelsea Population: 39,878 803 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.20 chance of being a victim: 1 in 124 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,607

The ongoing battle with crime in Chelsea, 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 803 and a 1 in 124 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Chelsea has a violent crime rate that is 150% 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 Chelsea.

Pittsfield Population: 42,514 749 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.05 chance of being a victim: 1 in 133 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,343

Pittsfield, MA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 749 per 100,000 people, which is 133% higher than the Massachusetts average. Pittsfield has a population of 42,514, which translates to 2.05 crimes per day and 1 in 133 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 Pittsfield which are much safer than others.

Webster Population: 11,719 691 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.89 chance of being a victim: 1 in 145 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,875

A 1 in 145 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.89 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 691 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 115% higher than the Massachusetts average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (567), robbery (28), rape (91) and homicide (6).

Lynn Population: 94,201 655 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.79 chance of being a victim: 1 in 153 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,846

Lynn, MA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 94,201 and a violent crime rate of 655 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 521 counts of assault, 90 counts of robbery, 37 counts of rape and 7 counts of homicide. All told, the Lynn violent crime rate is 103% higher than the Massachusetts average.

Brockton Population: 95,740 647 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.77 chance of being a victim: 1 in 155 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,376

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 647 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.77 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 155 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

New Bedford Population: 95,355 626 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.72 chance of being a victim: 1 in 160 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,186

Rounding out our list at #10 is New Bedford, MA. With a population of 95,355 and a violent crime rate of 626 per 100,000 people (94% higher than the Massachusetts average), some parts of New Bedford are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 464 counts of assault, 109 counts of robbery, 48 counts of rape and 4 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 160 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	1,005	3,397
2	Fall River	89,618	991	2,223
3	Holyoke	40,161	959	4,678
4	Springfield	153,677	862	3,232
5	Chelsea	39,878	803	2,607
6	Pittsfield	42,514	749	2,343
7	Webster	11,719	691	1,875
8	Lynn	94,201	655	1,846
9	Brockton	95,740	647	2,376
10	New Bedford	95,355	626	2,186
11	Ware	5,978	622	1,000
12	Boston	689,326	619	2,421
13	Worcester	185,186	603	2,270
14	Haverhill	63,783	579	1,376
15	Athol	8,323	578	1,357
16	Chicopee	55,186	545	2,412
17	Lawrence	80,022	502	1,406
18	West Springfield Town	28,527	492	4,024
19	Taunton	57,327	484	1,399
20	Barnstable Town	44,497	463	1,257
21	Fitchburg	40,576	445	1,184
22	Leominster	41,581	428	1,854
23	Marlborough	39,663	425	1,380
24	Cambridge	117,822	406	2,646
25	Lowell	111,311	402	2,149
26	Quincy	94,389	397	1,488
27	Northampton	28,552	391	1,636
28	Southbridge Town	16,865	379	1,278
29	Bridgewater	8,544	363	1,032
30	Adams	5,689	359	1,623
31	Everett	46,275	350	1,703
32	Plymouth	6,949	348	1,184
33	Holbrook	11,051	344	1,524
34	Palmer Town	12,236	339	1,291
35	Revere	53,400	339	1,561
36	Framingham	72,846	284	1,684
37	Salisbury	5,116	281	1,082
38	Nantucket	8,606	270	1,978
39	Weymouth Town	57,213	264	991
40	Randolph	33,526	259	1,472
41	Somerville	81,175	253	1,636
42	Attleboro	45,023	251	1,329
43	Foxborough	6,119	248	922
44	Braintree Town	37,196	242	1,540
45	Gloucester	30,291	241	792
46	Oxford	5,926	240	984
47	Malden	60,710	233	1,481
48	Somerset	18,160	229	1,059
49	Westfield	41,303	226	1,121
50	Maynard	10,900	220	822

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.