Somerville, MA Crime Map

Somerville, MA Safety Overview

With a population of 81,175 packed into one of the most densely settled cities in New England — roughly 7,602 residents per square mile — Somerville carries an overall crime grade of C+, yet its neighborhood-level data tells a more reassuring story. Across all 19 neighborhoods analyzed, the city earns a city-wide safety rating of B, and a striking 95% of those neighborhoods fall into the A or B range. That gap between the citywide grade and the neighborhood breakdown reflects how a small number of higher-activity corridors can pull aggregate numbers downward even when most of the city is performing well.

Where Somerville Shines: The Safest Neighborhoods

The top performers stand out clearly. Powder House Square and Ball Square both earned straight A grades; Ball Square's median household income of $130,782 is among the highest in the city, while Powder House Square's $69,591 median income demonstrates that safety doesn't simply track wealth. Davis Square (Grade A-, median income $109,436) and Porter Square (Grade A-, median income $116,401) are two of the city's most transit-connected areas and rank among the safest. Spring Hill, the largest of the top-tier neighborhoods at 11,420 residents, also holds an A- alongside Magoun Square, Assembly Square, and Ten Hills — all graded A-. Neighborhoods like Duck Village and Inner Belt round out the upper tier with B+ grades, with Inner Belt's notably low median income of $31,913 showing that concentrated community investment can offset economic pressure on safety outcomes.

Higher-Crime Areas in Context

No Somerville neighborhood earned a D or F grade, which matters. The areas with relatively elevated crime are Boynton Yards (C+), Winter Hill (B-), and East Somerville (B). Teele Square and Hillside both sit at B and B+ respectively — grades that, in most American cities, would be considered solidly average or better. The absence of any failing neighborhoods in a city this dense is a meaningful data point for anyone evaluating Somerville against peer cities in the Boston metro area.

Grade Distribution Across All 19 Neighborhoods

The distribution is heavily weighted toward safety: 42.1% of Somerville's neighborhoods earned an A grade, and another 52.6% landed at B. Only one neighborhood — just 5.3% of those analyzed — reached the C tier, and none fell to D or F. That concentration at the top of the scale is unusual for a high-density urban environment and reflects consistent policing, engaged residents, and strong median incomes citywide. The city's median household income of $102,311 and a low unemployment rate of 3% provide a stable economic backdrop that tends to correlate with lower crime rates at the neighborhood level.

Property Crime vs. Violent Crime Patterns

Like most dense, transit-rich cities adjacent to a major metro, Somerville sees property crime — particularly theft and vehicle break-ins — account for the bulk of reported incidents. Violent crime exists but is not evenly distributed; the B- rating in Winter Hill and the C+ in Boynton Yards reflect pockets where both property and person-based offenses occur at higher rates than the city norm. Davis Square and Porter Square, despite their commercial activity and foot traffic, maintain A- grades, suggesting that density and activity alone do not drive crime when community presence and economic stability are strong.

How the Crime Map Helps You Make Better Decisions

For anyone navigating Somerville's competitive housing market — where the median home value sits at $715,938 and median rent runs $2,026 per month — the interactive crime map is a practical due-diligence tool. Home buyers comparing offers in Spring Hill versus East Somerville can see grade differences at a glance rather than relying on anecdote. Renters evaluating apartments near Ball Square or Magoun Square can filter incident data by type and time period to understand what they're actually looking at. Daily commuters cycling or walking through Winter Hill or Boynton Yards can identify which blocks see the most activity and adjust their routes accordingly. The map turns neighborhood-level crime data into decisions, not just awareness.