Cambridge, MA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Cambridge, MA

Is Cambridge, MA safe in 2026?

Cambridge earns an overall crime grade of C-, which places it in the moderate-risk category nationally. That said, the picture varies significantly by neighborhood: 67% of Cambridge's 15 analyzed neighborhoods are rated A or B, meaning the majority of the city's roughly 117,822 residents live in areas considered safe or very safe. Four neighborhoods — West Cambridge, Harvard Square, Agassiz, and MIT — hold Grade A or A- ratings, while six others including Mid-Cambridge, Cambridgeport, and East Cambridge score in the B range. No neighborhood in Cambridge received a D or F grade, which is a meaningful indicator of citywide baseline safety. Visitors and new residents should focus on neighborhood-level grades rather than the city average alone.

What is the crime rate in Cambridge, MA?

Cambridge's crime environment is best understood through its grade distribution across 15 neighborhoods. 26.7% of neighborhoods earned an A grade, 40% earned a B grade, and 33.3% landed in the C range (C+, C, or C-). No neighborhoods received a D or F. The higher-crime areas — Kendall Square (C-), Strawberry Hill (C), The Port/Area Four (C+), North Cambridge (C+), and Riverside (C+) — account for the remaining third of analyzed neighborhoods. Property crimes such as theft tend to be the most prevalent category citywide, consistent with dense urban environments. Cambridge's 4% unemployment rate and median household income of $107,490 contribute to a relatively stable economic foundation, which correlates with its moderate overall crime profile.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Cambridge?

Based on 2026 crime data, the five safest neighborhoods in Cambridge are:

• West Cambridge — Grade A: The top-ranked neighborhood, with a median household income of $160,869 and a population of 7,385. It consistently records the lowest crime activity in the city.
• Harvard Square — Grade A-: Home to 7,730 residents and a median income of $95,269, this iconic area benefits from high foot traffic, strong lighting, and active community presence.
• Agassiz — Grade A-: A quieter residential enclave of 4,968 residents with a median income of $125,488, offering low crime rates across all categories.
• MIT — Grade A-: Despite its smaller residential population of 4,634, this area maintains an A- safety grade, supported by campus security infrastructure and a median income of $79,104.
• Cambridge Highlands — Grade B+: The smallest of the top-five by population (1,146), but with a median income of $105,379 and consistently low incident rates.

Peabody/Neighborhood Nine (B+, pop. 11,542) and Mid-Cambridge (B, pop. 12,451) are also strong choices for safety-conscious residents.

Which Cambridge neighborhoods have higher crime rates?

Five neighborhoods fall into the C tier in 2026: Kendall Square (C-) is the lowest-rated area in the city, followed by Strawberry Hill (C). The Port/Area Four, North Cambridge, and Riverside each hold a C+ grade, meaning they sit just below the citywide median in safety. It's worth noting that even these neighborhoods did not receive D or F grades — Cambridge has no truly high-danger zones by national standards. Incidents in these areas tend to skew toward property crime and opportunistic theft rather than violent crime, though residents should still exercise standard urban precautions such as securing vehicles and avoiding isolated areas late at night.

Is Cambridge a good place to live?

For most residents, yes. Cambridge combines strong economic indicators — a median household income of $107,490, a 4% unemployment rate, and a median home value of $842,521 — with a crime landscape where 67% of neighborhoods are rated A or B. The city's 12% poverty rate reflects real economic diversity, and median rent of $2,293 signals a high cost of living, but the tradeoff includes world-class universities, a robust tech and biotech sector, and dense walkable neighborhoods. Families and professionals who prioritize safety should focus their search on West Cambridge, Agassiz, Harvard Square, or the Peabody/Neighborhood Nine area, all of which carry B+ or better grades. Those drawn to the energy of Kendall Square or North Cambridge should factor in their C-range grades and take appropriate precautions.

How does Cambridge's crime compare to other Massachusetts cities?

Cambridge's overall C- crime grade reflects its status as a dense, urban university city — comparable in profile to other mid-sized northeastern college towns. Its population density of 7,115 people per square mile is among the highest in Massachusetts, which naturally elevates the frequency of opportunistic property crimes. However, the absence of any D- or F-rated neighborhoods across all 15 analyzed areas distinguishes Cambridge from higher-crime urban centers. The concentration of Grade A and B neighborhoods (67% of the city) suggests that Cambridge's crime challenges are geographically contained rather than systemic, making neighborhood selection the single most important safety decision for anyone moving to or visiting the city.