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C

Is Fall River, Massachusetts Safe?

Population 95,298 · Safer than 37% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Fall River earns a C safety grade with 209 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crime runs close to the national average, putting the city behind 63% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,589 per 100K.

Fall River Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricFall RiverMassachusetts AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate312.2323.7363.8
Property Crime Rate1777.72004.41,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate199.0--268.2
Theft Rate1589.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate366.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

209 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

312/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1778/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Fall River

Violent crime in Fall River is close to the national average. The rate of 312.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1777.7 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,589 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Fall River Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault199
074% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery40
063% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary188
070% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,589
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft366
01.1x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Fall River Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Fall River
312.2
State
323.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Fall River
1777.7
State
2004.4
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Fall River Safety

Is Fall River safe?
Not especially. Fall River earns a C with a crime rate of 209 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 Fall River?
209 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 312.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1777.7 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Fall River safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Fall River has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Fall River?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Fall River generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Fall River police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Fall River?
No. Crime in Fall River has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Fall River compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Middle of the pack for Massachusetts. Fall River isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 41th percentile among Massachusetts cities.
How safe is Fall River to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Fall River?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 37th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Fall River?
312.2 per 100,000, which is 14% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (199), robbery (40), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Massachusetts

Similar-sized communities in Massachusetts. Compare crime rates across the state.

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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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