Salem, MA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Salem, MA Crime & Safety

Is Salem, MA safe?

Yes — Salem earns a city-wide safety rating of A (Very Safe) based on analysis of all 15 neighborhoods. A full 100% of neighborhoods scored in the safe range, with 80% (12 out of 15) earning a Grade A and the remaining 20% (3 out of 15) earning a Grade B. No neighborhood in Salem received a C, D, or F. The city's overall crime grade is B-, which accounts for citywide factors like population density (2,018 per sq mi) and a poverty rate of 15.9%. Neighborhoods like Witchcraft Heights, Vinnin Square, and North Salem all hold Grade A ratings, reflecting consistently low crime activity. By comparison, even the highest-crime areas — Castle Hill (B-) and The Point (B) — still fall within the broadly safe range, making Salem one of the more uniformly safe small cities in Massachusetts.

What is the crime rate in Salem, MA?

Salem's crime profile is notably strong across its 15 analyzed neighborhoods. 80% of neighborhoods received a Grade A, and the remaining 20% received a Grade B — meaning not a single neighborhood fell below a B- rating. The areas with the highest relative crime levels are Castle Hill (Grade B-), The Point (Grade B), and South Salem (Grade B+). In contrast, areas like Salem Common, Derby Street/Waterfront District, and Bridge Street Neck all hold Grade A ratings despite being in or near the city's busy core. Salem's median household income of $66,428 and unemployment rate of 4.6% reflect a relatively stable economic environment, which correlates with its broadly low crime rates. The city's overall grade of B- reflects aggregate citywide data rather than any single dangerous hotspot.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Salem, MA?

The top-rated neighborhoods in Salem all carry Grade A designations. Here's how they break down by median household income, which often tracks closely with safety outcomes:

• Vinnin Square — Grade A | Median income: $102,081 | Pop: 5,489
• Witchcraft Heights — Grade A | Median income: $95,655 | Pop: 2,881
• Bridge Street Neck — Grade A | Median income: $90,968 | Pop: 1,575
• Central Business District — Grade A- | Median income: $87,325 | Pop: 1,622
• Salem Common — Grade A | Median income: $84,343 | Pop: 1,211
• McIntire Historic District — Grade A- | Median income: $83,413 | Pop: 1,757
• North Salem — Grade A | Median income: $83,033 | Pop: 6,001
• Gallows Hill — Grade A | Median income: $71,468 | Pop: 2,526

Notably, North Salem is both one of the safest and most populous neighborhoods at 6,001 residents, suggesting that safety in Salem is not limited to small or isolated enclaves. Even Derby Street/Waterfront District — a high-traffic tourist area — holds a Grade A rating, a strong indicator that Salem manages visitor-heavy zones effectively.

Which areas of Salem have higher crime?

While no Salem neighborhood scores below a B-, three areas stand out as having relatively higher crime compared to the city average. Castle Hill holds the lowest grade at B-, followed by The Point at B and South Salem at B+. These neighborhoods still fall well within the safe range — a B- nationally still indicates a below-average crime environment in most benchmarking frameworks. Mill Hill and West Salem both carry Grade A- ratings, placing them just a step below the top tier but still firmly in safe territory. For context, 80% of Salem's neighborhoods are Grade A, so even the B-rated areas represent the lower end of a high-performing city rather than genuinely dangerous zones.

Is Salem a good place to live in 2026?

Salem presents a compelling case for residents in 2026. With a population of 43,350, a median home value of $380,003, and a median rent of $1,325, the city offers a range of housing options relative to the broader Massachusetts market. The unemployment rate of 4.6% is in line with national averages, and while the poverty rate of 15.9% is a factor worth noting, it hasn't translated into widespread crime — as evidenced by 100% of neighborhoods scoring B or better. Families and professionals drawn to areas like Witchcraft Heights (median income $95,655) or Vinnin Square (median income $102,081) will find Grade A safety ratings alongside higher-income communities. Meanwhile, renters and younger residents in neighborhoods like The Point or South Salem still benefit from Grade B-level safety in more affordable pockets of the city. Salem's combination of historic character, cultural draw, and strong safety metrics make it a well-rounded choice for a wide range of residents.

How does Salem's safety compare across its neighborhoods?

Salem's neighborhood safety distribution is unusually top-heavy in a positive sense. Of the 15 neighborhoods analyzed: 12 (80%) earned a Grade A and 3 (20%) earned a Grade B. The grade spread from the safest to the highest-crime neighborhood runs only from A to B- — a remarkably narrow range that reflects citywide consistency rather than stark disparities. For comparison, many cities of similar size see 20–30% of neighborhoods fall into C or D territory. Salem's worst-graded area, Castle Hill at B-, would rank as a safe neighborhood in many other U.S. cities. The McIntire Historic District and Central Business District, both graded A-, demonstrate that even Salem's denser, more central areas maintain strong safety profiles. This consistency suggests that Salem's safety is structural and community-wide rather than concentrated in a few wealthy enclaves.