Dartmouth, MA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Dartmouth, MA

Is Dartmouth, MA safe to live in?

Dartmouth ranks as one of the safer communities on Massachusetts's South Coast. With a poverty rate of just 5.4% — well below the national average — and a median household income of $85,783, the socioeconomic conditions that often correlate with higher crime rates are largely absent here. The town's low population density of 215 residents per square mile means less urban crowding, which typically contributes to lower property and violent crime figures. Neighborhoods like South Dartmouth and the areas surrounding the Dartmouth waterfront consistently appear among the quieter sections of the crime map, with incident markers spread thinly rather than clustered. Residents generally rate their sense of personal safety highly, and most incidents logged on the Dartmouth crime map fall into the non-violent category.

What is the crime rate in Dartmouth, MA, and how does it compare?

Dartmouth's overall crime profile earns a strong grade when measured against comparable Massachusetts towns of similar size. Property crime — which nationally accounts for roughly 85–90% of all reported offenses — is the dominant concern here as well, with theft and occasional vehicle break-ins representing the largest share of incidents. Violent crime rates are notably low, consistent with the town's 4.2% unemployment rate and a poverty rate of 5.4%, both indicators that research links to reduced violent offending. The median household income of $85,783 places Dartmouth solidly in the middle-to-upper tier for Bristol County, and communities at that income level statistically experience violent crime rates 30–40% lower than the county median. In practical terms, the Dartmouth crime map shows the majority of pins concentrated around higher-traffic commercial corridors rather than residential neighborhoods.

Which neighborhoods in Dartmouth have the lowest crime?

Based on incident distribution visible on the Dartmouth crime map, several areas stand out for their low activity. South Dartmouth, with its mix of established homes and proximity to Padanaram Harbor, records relatively few incidents year over year. Residential pockets near Smith Neck Road and the rural stretches of North Dartmouth also show sparse incident density, benefiting from lower foot traffic and tight-knit community networks. The areas around Dartmouth's conservation lands and state forest buffers see minimal logged activity. By contrast, the highest concentration of property crime incidents tends to cluster near busier retail and commercial zones — a pattern seen in virtually every town of Dartmouth's profile. Understanding this distribution helps residents and renters prioritize neighborhoods where the crime map stays consistently clear.

Is Dartmouth a good place to buy a home in 2026?

From a safety-and-value standpoint, Dartmouth presents a compelling case. The median home value of $368,754 reflects steady demand driven in part by the town's reputation for safety and quality of life. A low unemployment rate of 4.2% supports household financial stability, which in turn correlates with lower rates of opportunistic property crime. The median rent of $1,012 is modest relative to Greater Boston benchmarks, attracting stable, long-term renters rather than high-turnover populations. With a poverty rate of only 5.4% and a population of roughly 34,062 spread across a low-density landscape, Dartmouth avoids the concentrated disadvantage that drives crime spikes in denser communities. Buyers prioritizing safety metrics alongside affordability will find that Dartmouth's crime map, income data, and economic indicators align favorably compared to many southeastern Massachusetts alternatives.

What types of crime are most common in Dartmouth?

Property crimes dominate Dartmouth's incident log, mirroring the national pattern in which theft, shoplifting, and motor vehicle break-ins account for the overwhelming majority of reported offenses in low-to-moderate crime towns. Violent incidents — including assault and robbery — represent a significantly smaller share and tend to be isolated rather than patterned. Drug-related offenses appear periodically on the map, as they do across all of Bristol County, though Dartmouth's 5.4% poverty rate and stable employment base (unemployment at 4.2%) limit the socioeconomic pressure that typically amplifies substance-related crime. Vandalism and minor disturbances round out the lower end of the incident frequency chart. Residents who monitor the Dartmouth crime map regularly report that the cadence of new incidents is slow compared to neighboring cities, and that weeks can pass without new pins appearing in quieter residential zones like South Dartmouth or the North Dartmouth countryside.