Massachusetts’s Safest Cities of 2026

See crime rates for the safest cities.

In our latest State of Safety survey, Massachusetts residents reported a decline in first-hand property crime, package theft, and gun violence experiences but an uptick in violent crime experiences. Concern about these crimes is down across the board. 

Meanwhile, violent crime rates are stable or decreasing in 70% of Massachusetts' safest cities.

The violent crime rate in Massachusetts is 3.14 incidents per 1,000 people, which is lower than the national average of 4.43. We weren't able to report a statewide violent crime rate last year due to insufficient data, but in our 2024 report, Massachusetts reported a slightly higher violent crime rate of 3.7.

Property crime in The Bay State increased slightly in recent years, rising from 11.3 incidents per 1,000 people in 2024 to 11.37 incidents in this year's report. That's half the national property crime rate of 22.89. 

Bay Staters who took our State of Safety survey report the same level of confidence as the year before. About six in 10 (61%) say they feel safe in the state.

Massachusetts residents reported fewer experiences with property crime and package theft in the 12 months prior to our survey, and they feel less concerned about these crimes than the year before.

• The percentage of Bay Staters who experienced property crime in the 12 months prior to our survey fell from 16% to 6%.
• Package theft experiences decreased from 40% to 31%, which matches the national average.
• The percentage of Bay Staters concerned about package theft decreased from 55% to 51% year over year.
• For the second year in a row, Bay Staters reported the lowest percentage of property crime experiences in the nation.
• The percentage of Bay Staters who worry about property crime stayed at 56% year over year.
• 27% of survey respondents said they increased security measures in the 12 months prior to the survey (US 32%).
• Bay Staters prefer to protect their property with security cameras (42%) and security systems (33%).
• Massachusetts residents are among those most likely to have answered "None of the above" when asked about their property protection methods (32%). 

Bay Staters reported an uptick in their violent crime experiences year over year. Meanwhile, concern about violent crime has fallen. 

• 13% of Massachusetts residents experienced violent crime in the 12 months prior to our survey, up from 9% the previous two years (US 12%).
• 53% of Bay Staters worry about violent crime on a daily basis, down from 61% the year before (US 55%). 
• 14% of Bay Staters regularly carry some form of personal protection.
• Bay Staters prefer to protect themselves with personal safety apps (50%) and pocket knives (36%). Pepper spray and whistles/sirens tie as the third most popular form of personal protection at 29% each. 

• 5% of the Massachusetts residents we surveyed had an experience with gun violence in the 12 months prior to our survey, down from 6% the year before (US 9%).
• Only three other states reported a lower level of first-hand experience with gun violence: South Dakota, New Hampshire, and Arizona (3% each).
• 54% of Bay Staters worry about gun violence on a daily basis, down from 67% the previous year (US 55%). 
• Bay Staters are less likely to use firearms for personal protection than the average American (21% MA, 45% US).
• There was 1 mass shooting event in Massachusetts in 2025, down from 6 the previous year.

For the purposes of this report, the terms “dangerous” and “safest” refer explicitly to crime rates as calculated from FBI crime data—no other characterization of any community is implied or intended.

• 159 cities met the criteria for ranking this year.
• Despite a slight increase in property crime, Northborough is Massachusetts' safest city for the third year in a row. Clinton held on to the #2 spot for the second year in a row.
• 3 of the safest cities saw decreases in both property crime and violent crime: Scituate, Grafton, and Bedford.
• This is the fourth year in a row where Holliston has seen declines in property crime. Sharon's property crime rate has decreased for three years in a row.
• Massachusetts's 10 safest cities are suburbs of Boston and Worcester. The western half of the state isn't represented on this year's list.
• 2 murders were reported in Massachusetts's safest cities. They both happened in Bedford.
• Northborough reported no motor vehicle thefts. 

• 100 Safest Cities in the U.S.
• Burglary Stats & Facts
• Essential Home Security Systems Guide for 2026