Worcester, MA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Worcester, MA Crime

Is Worcester, MA safe to live in?

Worcester earns an overall crime grade of C- at the city level, but a closer look at neighborhood data tells a more nuanced story. Of the 36 neighborhoods analyzed, 75% — 27 out of 36 — carry grades of A or B, meaning the majority of Worcester's residential areas qualify as safe. Specifically, 14 neighborhoods (38.9%) hold an A grade, and 13 (36.1%) hold a B grade. Only 2 neighborhoods — Great Brook Valley and Arts District, both rated D+ — fall into the higher-crime tier, representing just 5.6% of analyzed areas. For most residents, especially those in neighborhoods like Forest Grove, Salisbury Street, or Burncoat, day-to-day safety is comparable to many mid-sized New England cities.

What is the crime rate in Worcester, MA?

Worcester's crime landscape is best understood through its neighborhood grade distribution rather than a single citywide number. The city-wide safety rating is Safe (B) based on aggregated neighborhood data. 38.9% of neighborhoods earn an A, 36.1% earn a B, 19.4% earn a C, and just 5.6% earn a D — no neighborhoods received an F. The higher-crime areas (D+ grades) are concentrated in Great Brook Valley and the Arts District. Mid-tier concern areas include Beacon Brightly, Green Island, and Bell Hill, all rated C-. Worcester's poverty rate of 19.7% and unemployment rate of 5% are contextual factors that correlate with crime concentration in specific pockets of the city.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Worcester, MA?

Worcester's safest neighborhoods are clustered in its western and southwestern sections, where median household incomes tend to run well above the city median of $51,647. The top-rated areas include:

• Salisbury Street — Grade A, median income $121,338
• Forest Grove — Grade A, median income $101,923, population 8,782
• West Tatnuck — Grade A, median income $102,988
• Newton Square — Grade A, median income $100,632
• Tatnuck — Grade A, median income $86,130
• Indian Hill — Grade A, median income $99,718
• College Hill — Grade A (notably lower income at $48,956, showing safety isn't solely income-driven)
• Burncoat — Grade A-, median income $89,765, population 6,873
• Hadwen Park — Grade A-, median income $82,124

Altogether, these A-rated neighborhoods house a significant share of Worcester's 516,483 residents and represent the city's strongest safety profile.

Which neighborhoods in Worcester have the highest crime?

Two neighborhoods stand out with D+ grades — the lowest recorded across all 36 areas analyzed: Great Brook Valley and the Arts District. These areas account for 5.6% of analyzed neighborhoods. A second tier of concern includes Beacon Brightly, Green Island, and Bell Hill, each rated C-, placing them in the bottom 19.4% of Worcester neighborhoods by safety grade. These five areas collectively represent the portions of the city where residents and visitors should exercise heightened awareness, particularly after dark or in isolated areas.

Is Worcester a good place to live in 2026?

Worcester presents a mixed but largely livable picture in 2026. With a median home value of $241,547 and a median rent of $1,115, it remains one of the more affordable mid-sized cities in Massachusetts. The median household income of $51,647 and a 5% unemployment rate reflect an economy that, while challenged by a 19.7% poverty rate, supports a broad working and middle-class population. From a safety standpoint, 75% of neighborhoods grade A or B, meaning most of Worcester's roughly 516,000 residents live in areas considered safe. Families and individuals prioritizing safety would do well to focus their search on the city's western neighborhoods — particularly Forest Grove, West Tatnuck, Salisbury Street, and Burncoat — where crime grades consistently reach A or A- and median incomes exceed $80,000.

How does Worcester's crime compare across its neighborhoods?

Worcester's 36 analyzed neighborhoods span a wide safety spectrum. At the top, 14 neighborhoods (38.9%) earn an A, reflecting very low crime relative to national benchmarks. Another 13 neighborhoods (36.1%) earn a B, still considered safe. The middle tier — 7 neighborhoods at grade C (19.4%) — includes areas like Beacon Brightly, Green Island, and Bell Hill, where crime is present but not at crisis levels. At the bottom, 2 neighborhoods (5.6%) earn a D+: Great Brook Valley and the Arts District. Notably, no Worcester neighborhood received an F grade, which distinguishes it from higher-crime cities of comparable size. The data suggests Worcester's crime is geographically concentrated rather than city-wide, making neighborhood selection the single most impactful safety decision for prospective residents.