Massachusetts’s Safest Cities of 2025

See crime rates for the safest cities.

In our latest State of Safety survey, Massachusetts residents reported some of the highest levels of concern about violent crime even though they're among those least likely to experience it. That high concern doesn't appear to motivate Bay Staters to carry personal protection, as they're the least likely to use self-defense tools among other Americans. 

Meanwhile, violent crime is trending downward in 13 of Massachusetts' 20 safest cities.

We didn't have enough data to accurately calculate statewide crime rates this year, but our annual State of Safety survey sheds some light on crime experiences and concerns in The Bay State. 

More than 6 in 10 (61%) Massachusetts residents feel safe in the state, which is the sixth highest confidence level nationwide. However, Bay Staters are more likely to worry about crime and safety in general compared to the average American (MA 50%, US 47%). Gun violence is the number-one concern among Massachusetts residents even though they experience it at relatively low rates.

If Massachusetts' 20 safest cities are any indication, violent crime may be decreasing across The Bay State. More cities reported a decrease in violent crime than a decrease in property crime. 

As for first-hand crime experiences reported in our survey, Bay Staters had the lowest level of property crime experiences in the nation and some of the lowest violent crime and gun violence experiences. In contrast, package theft occurs at a relatively high rate in Massachusetts but remains the least concerning crime.  

Find safety and security resources in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts residents reported an increase in experiences with property crime and package theft in the 8 months prior to our survey. Unsurprisingly, their concern about these crimes is also on the rise. However, our survey results suggest Bay Staters are the least likely to experience property crime nationwide.

• The percentage of Bay Staters who experienced property crime in the 8 months prior to our survey increased from 11% to 16%, while package theft experiences increased from 31% to 40%.
• Bay Staters reported the lowest percentage of property crime experiences in the nation, but their package theft experiences exceed the national average (MA 40%, US 37%).
• 41% of survey respondents said they increased security measures in the 8 months prior to the survey (US 37%).
• Bay Staters prefer to protect their property with security cameras (45%), security systems (31%) and guard dogs (23%).

Bay Staters reported no change in their violent crime experiences year over year, but an increasing percentage of people worry about it on a daily basis.

• 9% of Massachusetts residents experienced violent crime in the 8 months prior to our survey, which is the same percentage as the previous year (US 14%).
• Massachusetts reported the third lowest percentage of violent crime experiences nationwide. 
• 61% of Bay Staters worry about violent crime on a daily basis, up from 49% the year before (US 59%). 
• 2 in 10 Bay Staters regularly carry some form of personal protection—below the national average of 35%.
• Massachusetts residents are those least likely to carry personal protection in the United States.
• Bay Staters prefer to protect themselves with pepper spray (10%), firearms (8%), and pocket knives (7%). 

• 6% of the Massachusetts residents we surveyed had an experience with gun violence in the 8 months prior to our survey (US 11%).
• 67% of Bay Staters worry about gun violence on a daily basis. Only 4 other states reported higher levels of concern: Maryland, Texas, New Jersey, and Illinois. 
• Contrarily, Bay Staters are among those least likely to experience gun violence first-hand. Only three other states reported lower levels of gun violence experience: Delaware, Rhode Island, and Nebraska.
• Bay Staters are among those least likely to use firearms for property protection (12%) and personal protection (8%).
• There were 6 mass shooting events in Massachusetts in 2024, down from 7 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.

• 154 cities met the criteria for ranking this year.
• Northborough is Massachusetts' safest city for the second year in a row. 
• 40% of the safest cities reported a year-over-year decrease in violent crime and an increase in property crime.
• 5 of the safest cities saw decreases in both types of crime: Sharon, Charlton, Winchester, Holden, and Andover.
• This is the third year in a row where Holliston, Winchester, and Andover have seen declines in property crime, and the third year in a row where Sharon and Lexington have seen decreases in violent crime.
• 5 of the safest cities reported zero murders, rapes, and robberies: Northborough, Wayland, Sharon, Medway, and Ipswich.
• Northborough and Ipswich reported zero motor vehicle thefts.

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