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C

Is Chelsea, Massachusetts Safe?

Population 40,130 · Safer than 34% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Chelsea is a smaller community of 40,130 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 218 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,558 per 100K.

Chelsea Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricChelseaMassachusetts AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate412.1323.7363.8
Property Crime Rate1767.92004.41,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate245.0--268.2
Theft Rate1558.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate315.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

218 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

412/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1768/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Chelsea

Violent crime in Chelsea is close to the national average. The rate of 412.1 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1767.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,558 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Chelsea Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault245
091% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery86
01.4x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary298
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,558
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft315
099% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Chelsea Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Chelsea
412.1
State
323.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Chelsea
1767.9
State
2004.4
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chelsea Safety

Is Chelsea safe?
Not especially. Chelsea earns a C with a crime rate of 218 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Chelsea?
218 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 412.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1767.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Chelsea safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Chelsea's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,558 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Chelsea?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Chelsea generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Chelsea police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Chelsea?
No. Crime in Chelsea has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Chelsea compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Below average for the state. Chelsea ranks behind about 73% of Massachusetts cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Chelsea to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Chelsea?
Bad. A C grade and 218 per-thousand rate put Chelsea below 66% of US cities. Violent crime at 412 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Chelsea?
412.1 per 100,000, which is 13% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (245), robbery (86), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Massachusetts

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View all Massachusetts city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Chelsea

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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