Yarmouth, MA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Yarmouth, MA

Is Yarmouth, MA safe to live in or visit?

Yarmouth is considered a relatively safe community by Massachusetts standards. With a population of approximately 23,292 and a population density of just 372 residents per square mile, the town's low-density layout naturally limits the concentration of criminal activity compared to urban centers. Property crimes — particularly larceny and vehicle break-ins — represent the most common incident types, and they tend to cluster around high-traffic tourist corridors rather than residential neighborhoods. Areas like Bass River and Yarmouth Port consistently rank among the calmer parts of town. Standard precautions such as locking vehicles and securing valuables go a long way here, especially during peak summer months when visitor volume rises sharply.

What is the crime rate in Yarmouth, MA?

Yarmouth's overall crime profile earns a solid mid-range safety grade relative to comparable Cape Cod communities. Property crime accounts for the overwhelming majority of reported incidents — typically representing upward of 80% of all offenses — while violent crime remains a small fraction of the total. The town's poverty rate of 5.7% and unemployment rate of 5.4% are both below many regional averages, which correlates with lower crime pressure in most socioeconomic models. Larceny-theft is the single most prevalent category, followed by motor vehicle theft and vandalism. Assault incidents are reported at a noticeably lower rate and are most often associated with nighttime activity in a handful of commercial corridors in West Yarmouth. Reviewing the interactive crime map on this page lets you filter by incident type and date range to see exactly where and when offenses occur.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Yarmouth?

Based on incident distribution data, Yarmouth Port and Bass River consistently show lower crime densities. Yarmouth Port benefits from active community engagement, a walkable village character, and lower foot-traffic from transient visitors, all of which contribute to its comparatively clean safety record. Bass River, situated along the southern shore, is largely residential and sees fewer property crime incidents than the Route 28 commercial strip. South Yarmouth and sections of West Yarmouth closer to the waterfront tend to see moderate activity, primarily seasonal larceny near beach parking areas. The highest concentration of incidents — while still modest in absolute terms for a town of this size — appears along the Route 28 corridor in West Yarmouth, where commercial density and tourist traffic intersect. Using the crime map's heat-map layer gives the clearest picture of these spatial patterns block by block.

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

Yarmouth compares favorably to many Massachusetts communities of similar or larger size. Its median household income of $68,385 sits above the statewide poverty threshold by a wide margin, and the 5.7% poverty rate is meaningfully lower than many Gateway Cities across the state. Communities with poverty rates above 15–20% typically experience crime rates two to three times higher than what Yarmouth records. In letter-grade terms, Yarmouth earns approximately a B for overall safety when benchmarked against Massachusetts towns in the 20,000–30,000 population band — above average, though not without the property-crime concerns common to tourist-dependent economies. Violent crime grades closer to an A- given the infrequency of serious offenses relative to population.

Is Yarmouth a good place to buy a home from a safety perspective?

For prospective homebuyers, Yarmouth's safety profile is a net positive. The median home value of $355,820 reflects a stable, in-demand market, and the town's crime characteristics — dominated by opportunistic property crime rather than violent offenses — are the type most responsive to individual precautions like security systems and well-lit entryways. Neighborhoods like Yarmouth Port and Bass River offer the strongest combination of low incident rates and residential character. The median rent of $1,550 and a relatively low unemployment rate of 5.4% suggest a community with economic stability, which research consistently links to sustained or improving safety outcomes over time. Filtering the crime map by the specific street or ZIP code you are evaluating is the most precise way to assess hyper-local risk before making a purchase decision.

When is crime most likely to occur in Yarmouth?

Yarmouth's crime patterns have a pronounced seasonal dimension. Incident counts — especially for larceny, vandalism, and motor vehicle break-ins — spike during the summer months of June through August, when the town's population swells with Cape Cod visitors and beach-goers. Parking lots near public beaches and the Route 28 commercial strip in West Yarmouth see the greatest uptick during this window. Overnight hours between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. account for a disproportionate share of assault and disorderly-conduct reports, largely concentrated in areas with late-night establishments. During the off-season, overall incident volume drops substantially, and the town's low population density of 372 people per square mile means many residential streets see very little reported activity from September through May.