Crime & Safety in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is genuinely, consistently ranked as one of the safer states in the country -- this pass's own research confirms an overall crime rate roughly 48% below the national average, ranking 4th-safest of 50 states, with a real, low murder rate this record does not let the state's cost-of-living story overshadow.
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Learn moreMassachusetts ranks among the nation's safest states on independent measures
This pass's own research (crimebycity.com, 2026) puts Massachusetts's overall crime rate at 1,446-1,426.8 per 100,000 residents -- roughly 32.7%-48% below the national average depending on methodology, ranking Massachusetts #4 of 50 states. Massachusetts's violent crime rate specifically runs roughly 12.4% below the national average per massachusetts.js's own research, with the same consistent direction across every 2026 source reviewed.
A real, low murder rate is part of the picture
Massachusetts reports a murder rate of roughly 1.8 per 100,000 people, among the fewest murders per capita of any state, per this pass's own research -- a real, specific data point consistent with the state's broader, consistently strong safety ranking.
New England as a whole is a genuinely consistent safety region
Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island all appear in the top tier of national safety rankings, per this pass's own research -- making New England the most consistently safe region in the country, a real, regional context worth understanding alongside Massachusetts's own individual ranking.
Safety still varies by specific city and neighborhood
As in every state, safety varies meaningfully by specific city and neighborhood -- Massachusetts's strong statewide ranking does not mean uniform safety everywhere. Confirm current, local crime data directly for your specific target community, especially in Massachusetts's larger cities.
Key takeaways
- Massachusetts's overall crime rate runs roughly 33%-48% below the national average depending on methodology, ranking #4-safest of 50 states, per this pass's own research.
- Massachusetts's violent crime rate runs roughly 12.4% below the national average, and its murder rate (roughly 1.8 per 100,000) is among the lowest of any state.
- New England as a whole -- Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island -- forms the nation's most consistently safe region.
- Confirm current, local crime data directly for your specific target community -- statewide strength does not mean uniform safety in every city or neighborhood.
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Get local guidanceRead the full Massachusetts overview for the complete picture, or explore individual cities and towns we've researched.
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