Boston, MA has safety grade B, a population of about 689,326, an overall crime rate near 418 per 100k as of 2026. For real estate investors, safety is only half the picture: pair these crime statistics with rental demand and returns to judge whether Boston, MA is a sound place to buy. See the investment overview for Boston, MA for median prices, rental yield and Pulse Score, or run the numbers in the ROI analyzer.
Boston, MA Crime Rate and Safety Report
Boston, MA crime snapshot: safety grade B, violent crime rate 3.00 per 1,000 residents, property crime rate 1.00 per 1,000 residents. Compare nearby zip codes, hotspots, and safety recommendations below.
Safety Score
B
Somewhat Safe
Violent Crime Rate
3.00
per 1000 residents
Safety Analysis & Recommendations
View DetailsOverall Assessment
The area has very low safety standards with a D rating. Residents should be aware of their surroundings and take appropriate precautions.
Safety Recommendations
Given the higher rate of violent crimes (68.1% of total incidents), residents should prioritize personal safety measures, avoid walking alone at night, and stay informed about local safety alerts.
Trend Analysis
The high crime volume of 2,882 incidents indicates this is an active urban area. The most common crime type is assault.
Comparison Insights
Crime rates in Boston align with national averages, suggesting typical urban safety patterns.
Boston, MA Crime Analysis
Based on the provided crime data for the area represented by GEOID 16000US2507000, a detailed analysis reveals several key trends. The total count of reported crimes is 2,882. Assault is the most prevalent crime category, accounting for 1,802 incidents, all classified as "Assault Offenses." Property crime is also significant, with a total of 815 incidents, broken down into "Motor Vehicle Theft" (11), "Destruction/Damage/Vandalism of Property" (252), "Stolen Property Offenses" (137), "Larceny/Theft Offenses" (288), and "Burglary/Breaking & Entering" (127). Robbery accounts for 134 incidents, all categorized as "Robbery." Sex offenses are reported at 74 incidents, including multiple entries for "Kidnapping/Abduction" (1, 15) and "Sex Offenses" (1, 56), along with "Sex Offenses, Non-forcible" (1). Homicide is the least frequent, with 27 incidents, all classified as "Homicide Offenses." The "others" category includes 30 incidents, comprising "Arson" (1), "Counterfeiting/Forgery" (10), "Embezzlement" (1), and "Fraud Offenses" (18). To provide a comprehensive safety assessment, additional data points are needed, including the city name, state name, population, median income, crime rate per 100k, safety score, safety grade, violent crime rate, property crime rate, crime map data, and zip codes. Without this information, it is challenging to contextualize the crime data fully. For instance, a high number of assault cases may be less concerning in a densely populated area with a high crime rate per 100k compared to a smaller, safer community. Similarly, the impact of property crime depends on the median income and the overall economic health of the area.
Boston, MA crime map
Crime Map
Green markers indicate safer areas, red markers indicate high crime areas. Blue markers show the currently selected zip code.
Safest Zip Codes
High Crime Zip Codes
02108
0
Safety47.7
Per 1K48
Total Crimes02199
0
Safety38.3
Per 1K38
Total Crimes02110
0
Safety37.5
Per 1K38
Total Crimes02109
0
Safety35.1
Per 1K35
Total CrimesRelated analysis for Boston, MA
Explore related real estate, safety, and education data for Boston, MA.
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Nearby zip codes
FAQ about crime in Boston, MA
Crime rates are normalized per 1,000 residents based on reported incidents in FBI UCR and local agency feeds. We split incidents into violent, property, and other categories so you can see where the risk concentrates.
The “Safest Zip Codes” section above ranks nearby zip codes by safety score, while the “High Crime Zip Codes” section highlights areas with elevated reported crime in Boston, MA.
Crime data is refreshed on a rolling basis as updated reports are published by the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer and partnering agencies.
Combine this crime report with the market overview for Boston, MA and the school report linked in the “Related analysis” section to assess both safety and investment fundamentals.
Data sources & further reading
PulseReal’s analysis is built on top of these public, authoritative datasets.
Official UCR crime statistics by state and agency from the FBI.
Population, demographics, housing, and income data from the US Census Bureau.
Encyclopedic overview of the city, history, and notable landmarks.
Housing affordability, fair-market rents, and market reports from HUD.
Local unemployment and employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Bureau of Justice Statistics publications on US crime victimization.
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