Boston, MA Crime Map
Explore crime rates, safest neighborhoods, and detailed crime statistics
Boston Crime Rate Statistics
Full Statistics100 = national average. Higher = more crime.
Violent Crime Risk
1 in 184
chance per year
43% higher than national avg
Property Crime Risk
1 in 35
chance per year
54% higher than national avg
Explore Boston's Crime Map: Your Guide to Navigating Safety
Boston, Massachusetts, renowned for its historical significance and vibrant culture, also faces the complexities of urban safety. Our comprehensive crime map provides essential insights to help residents and visitors navigate the city more securely.
Benefits of Using Boston's Crime Map
Utilizing a crime map equips you with knowledge and tools to enhance your safety:
- Identify High-Risk Areas: Understand which neighborhoods have higher crime rates.
- Make Informed Decisions: Choose safer areas for living, working, or visiting.
- Stay Updated: Receive timely information on crime incidents and trends.
- Engage with Community Safety Initiatives: Participate in local efforts to reduce crime.
How to Access Boston's Crime Map
Accessing the crime data for Boston is straightforward:
- Boston Police Department's Official Website: Their Crime Statistics and Reports section offers detailed maps and analyses.
- Reliable Third-Party Platforms: Websites like CrimeReports and NeighborhoodScout also provide comprehensive crime data.
Key Features of Boston's Crime Map
The crime map of Boston includes several beneficial features:
- Various Crime Types: Detailed categorization of crimes such as vandalism, theft, and assault.
- Temporal Analysis: Filter crimes by different time periods to observe patterns.
- Geographic Heat Maps: Visual representation of crime density across the city.
- Incident-Specific Information: Detailed reports on each recorded incident.
Current Crime Trends in Boston
Keeping an eye on crime trends is vital for understanding the safety landscape of Boston. Recent statistics indicate:
- Larceny and Theft: These are the most frequent offenses, especially in bustling areas.
- Violent Crimes: Although less common, they tend to cluster in specific neighborhoods.
- Drug-Related Offenses: These continue to influence the overall crime rate.
Tips for Enhancing Your Safety in Boston
While the crime map is a valuable resource, personal safety practices are equally important:
- Regular Updates: Keep abreast of the latest crime data and news.
- Report Anomalies: Inform the Boston Police Department about suspicious activities.
- Community Participation: Join or support neighborhood watches and community policing efforts.
- Secure Your Belongings: Take proactive steps to protect your property.
Conclusion
By leveraging Boston's crime map and implementing safety measures, you can contribute to making the city safer. Access the map through the Boston Police Department or trusted third-party sites and stay proactive about community safety.
For further information, visit the Boston Police Department website or engage with local community safety programs.
All 15 Neighborhoods in Boston
Ranked by safety (safest first)| Rank | Neighborhood | Score | Safety | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Longwood Medical Area | A | Very safe | $58,076 |
| #2 | North End | A | Very safe | $102,919 |
| #3 | Beacon Hill | A | Very safe | $112,055 |
| #4 | Seaport | A | Very safe | $120,308 |
| #5 | Waterfront | A | Very safe | $170,458 |
| #6 | South Station | A- | Very safe | $184,716 |
| #7 | Back Bay | A- | Very safe | $114,597 |
| #8 | Leather District | A- | Very safe | $175,509 |
| #9 | Fenway / Kenmore | A- | Very safe | $39,352 |
| #10 | West End | A- | Very safe | $104,827 |
| #11 | Downtown | B+ | Above average | $139,323 |
| #12 | Bay Village | B+ | Above average | $88,474 |
| #13 | South End | B | Safe area | $105,192 |
| #14 | Boston Common / Park Square | B- | Safe area | $58,580 |
| #15 | Chinatown | C | Average | $29,520 |
All 15 Neighborhoods by Crime Level
Ranked by crime (highest first)| Rank | Neighborhood | Score | Safety Level | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chinatown | C | Average | $29,520 |
| #2 | Boston Common / Park Square | B- | Safe area | $58,580 |
| #3 | South End | B | Safe area | $105,192 |
| #4 | Bay Village | B+ | Above average | $88,474 |
| #5 | Downtown | B+ | Above average | $139,323 |
| #6 | West End | A- | Very safe | $104,827 |
| #7 | Fenway / Kenmore | A- | Very safe | $39,352 |
| #8 | Leather District | A- | Very safe | $175,509 |
| #9 | Back Bay | A- | Very safe | $114,597 |
| #10 | South Station | A- | Very safe | $184,716 |
| #11 | Waterfront | A | Very safe | $170,458 |
| #12 | Seaport | A | Very safe | $120,308 |
| #13 | Beacon Hill | A | Very safe | $112,055 |
| #14 | North End | A | Very safe | $102,919 |
| #15 | Longwood Medical Area | A | Very safe | $58,076 |
Boston Demographics Overview
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Boston Crime
Is Boston safe?
Yes — Boston earns a city-wide Safety Rating of B (Safe) based on analysis of 15 neighborhoods. A striking 93% of neighborhoods fall into the safe A or B grade tiers, and 66.7% (10 out of 15 neighborhoods) achieved an A grade outright. Top-rated areas include Longwood Medical Area, North End, Beacon Hill, Seaport, and Waterfront, all earning a full A. No neighborhood in Boston received a D or F grade, which is a meaningful indicator of citywide stability. The one neighborhood graded C — Chinatown — is the outlier in an otherwise strong safety picture. That said, Boston's overall crime grade of C- reflects metro-wide factors including a poverty rate of 18% and an unemployment rate of 6.9%, so staying informed about specific neighborhood conditions remains worthwhile.
What is the crime rate in Boston?
Boston's 15 analyzed neighborhoods break down as follows: 66.7% earned an A grade, 26.7% earned a B grade, and just 6.7% (Chinatown) earned a C grade. No neighborhoods were graded D or F. The combined A+B share of 93% places Boston solidly in the "Safe" category at the neighborhood level. Higher-activity corridors include Boston Common / Park Square (B-) and Downtown (B+), which see more foot traffic and opportunistic incidents. In contrast, residential enclaves like Beacon Hill (median income $112,055) and Back Bay (median income $114,597) maintain A- grades. The city's median household income of $76,298 and median home value of $581,283 reflect an economically mixed metro where crime risk varies considerably block by block.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Boston?
Ten neighborhoods earned an A grade, making Boston one of the stronger-performing metros for neighborhood-level safety. Here's how the top tier stacks up:
- Waterfront — Grade A, median income $170,458 (smallest population at 682 residents, contributing to low incident volume)
- South Station — Grade A-, median income $184,716 (highest income of any analyzed neighborhood)
- Leather District — Grade A-, median income $175,509
- Seaport — Grade A, median income $120,308
- Back Bay — Grade A-, median income $114,597 (one of the largest safe neighborhoods at 21,060 residents)
- Beacon Hill — Grade A, median income $112,055
- North End — Grade A, median income $102,919
- West End — Grade A-, median income $104,827
- Longwood Medical Area — Grade A, median income $58,076 (demonstrates that safety isn't solely income-driven)
- Fenway / Kenmore — Grade A-, median income $39,352 (lowest income among A-tier neighborhoods, yet still highly rated)
Fenway / Kenmore is particularly notable: despite a median income of just $39,352 — the lowest among A-tier areas — it maintains an A- grade and houses 36,958 residents, making it the largest safe neighborhood by population in the dataset.
Which neighborhoods in Boston have higher crime?
Five neighborhoods fall below the A tier, though none reach D or F. Chinatown is the only C-grade neighborhood and represents the highest-concern area in the analysis. Boston Common / Park Square earned a B-, reflecting its role as a high-foot-traffic public space. South End received a straight B, while Bay Village and Downtown both sit at B+. Importantly, even these "higher crime" areas by Boston standards are still graded B or above in most cases — meaning they are not categorically unsafe, but residents and visitors should exercise standard urban awareness, particularly around public transit hubs and open park areas.
Is Boston a good place to live?
Boston offers a compelling case for urban living, backed by concrete data. The median household income of $76,298 outpaces many comparable metro areas, and the median home value of $581,283 signals strong long-term real estate demand. Median rent sits at $1,685, reflecting a competitive but navigable rental market. From a safety standpoint, 93% of analyzed neighborhoods grade out as safe (A or B), giving prospective residents a wide range of secure options. Neighborhoods like Fenway / Kenmore offer relative affordability (median income $39,352) with an A- safety grade, while areas like Back Bay and Beacon Hill combine high incomes with top-tier safety ratings. The unemployment rate of 6.9% and poverty rate of 18% are areas to watch, but the overall neighborhood-level safety data paints a positive picture for those choosing where to put down roots in Boston.
How does neighborhood income correlate with safety in Boston?
The Boston data reveals a nuanced relationship between income and safety. High-income neighborhoods like South Station ($184,716 median income, A-) and Waterfront ($170,458, A) do sit at the top of the safety rankings. However, the correlation is far from absolute. Fenway / Kenmore — with the lowest median income among A-tier neighborhoods at $39,352 — still earns an A- grade across its 36,958 residents. Meanwhile, Longwood Medical Area achieves a full A grade with a median income of $58,076, well below the city median of $76,298. On the other end, Chinatown (the only C-grade neighborhood) sits in a commercially dense corridor where foot traffic and density, rather than income alone, drive incident rates. This suggests that density, land use, and community infrastructure all play significant roles alongside income in shaping neighborhood safety.
Surrounding Cities
Boston Zip Codes
View crime statistics by zip code in Boston, MA