Nantucket, MA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Nantucket Crime & Safety

Is Nantucket safe?

By the numbers, Nantucket earns an overall crime grade of A- — placing it among the safest communities in Massachusetts. With a population of just 11,212 spread across a low-density island (roughly 93 residents per square mile), the conditions that drive high urban crime rates simply don't apply here. The island's median household income of $112,306 and a poverty rate of only 6.3% are both associated with lower crime in peer research. While no community is entirely crime-free, Nantucket's data-backed A- grade reflects a genuinely low-risk environment for both full-time residents and seasonal visitors.

What is the crime rate in Nantucket?

Nantucket's crime profile earns an A- overall grade, which signals crime rates well below state and national medians. Property crime — including opportunistic theft and occasional burglary — represents the most common incident category on the island, particularly during the peak summer season when the population swells well beyond its year-round base of 11,212. Violent crime is comparatively rare, consistent with the island's low poverty rate of 6.3% and high median household income of $112,306. The unemployment rate of 5.8%, slightly elevated due to seasonal employment cycles, does not appear to meaningfully elevate crime levels here. Overall, residents experience a day-to-day safety profile that outperforms the vast majority of U.S. communities of similar or larger size.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Nantucket?

Nantucket's island-wide A- crime grade means safety is broadly distributed across its neighborhoods rather than concentrated in one or two pockets. Areas like Sconset (Siasconset) on the eastern shore are known for their quiet, low-traffic character and minimal incident reports. Brant Point, near the harbor entrance, benefits from consistent foot traffic and community visibility that naturally deters opportunistic crime. The historic downtown (Town of Nantucket) is well-patrolled and commercially active, though it can see minor property incidents during high-tourist periods in July and August. Madaket on the western end offers a more secluded residential setting with correspondingly low incident frequency. No neighborhood on the island posts a crime grade that would warrant significant concern — the A- rating reflects community-wide performance.

Is Nantucket a good place to live?

The data makes a compelling case. Nantucket combines an A- crime grade with a median household income of $112,306 and a poverty rate of just 6.3% — two economic indicators strongly correlated with stable, safe communities. The median home value of $1,152,210 reflects intense demand driven by quality of life, not just scarcity. Median rent of $1,781 is high by national standards, underscoring the real cost-of-living tradeoff residents accept for island living. The unemployment rate of 5.8% runs slightly above the national average but is largely a function of seasonal employment patterns rather than structural economic distress. For households that can absorb the cost of living, Nantucket offers a rare combination of very low crime, high incomes, strong community cohesion, and an exceptionally high quality of life — metrics that most mainland communities cannot match simultaneously.

How does Nantucket's crime compare to the rest of Massachusetts?

Nantucket's A- overall crime grade positions it favorably against the Massachusetts average. The state's larger cities — including areas with population densities many times Nantucket's 93 residents per square mile — pull the statewide crime average significantly higher. Nantucket's low poverty rate of 6.3% and high median household income of $112,306 are both well above state medians, and research consistently links those economic indicators to reduced crime. In practical terms, a resident or visitor in Nantucket faces materially lower exposure to both property and violent crime than they would in most Massachusetts urban centers. The A- grade (rather than a perfect A) reflects that even this idyllic island sees occasional property incidents, especially during the tourist-heavy summer months.

Does tourism affect crime in Nantucket?

Yes, seasonality is the most important contextual factor in understanding Nantucket's crime patterns. The island's year-round population of 11,212 can multiply several times over during peak summer weeks, bringing a corresponding uptick in opportunistic property crime — primarily theft from vehicles, bicycles, and vacation rentals. This seasonal pattern is reflected in incident data and is a known dynamic that the Nantucket Police Department actively manages with increased summer staffing. Importantly, violent crime does not follow the same seasonal spike, remaining rare across all months. The island's A- grade accounts for this seasonal property crime variability and still reflects an overall safety record that outperforms most comparable destinations. Visitors should take standard precautions — securing valuables, locking rental properties — particularly in busy areas like downtown and popular beach access points.