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C

Is Lawrence, Massachusetts Safe?

Population 89,320 · Safer than 37% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Lawrence earns a C safety grade with 210.1 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crime runs below the national average, putting the city behind 63% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,651 per 100K.

Lawrence Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricLawrenceMassachusetts AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate257.8323.7363.8
Property Crime Rate1843.32004.41,832.3
Murder Rate5.0--5.7
Assault Rate187.0--268.2
Theft Rate1651.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate329.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

210.1 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

258/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1843/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Lawrence

Violent crime in Lawrence is below the national average. The rate of 257.8 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1843.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,651 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Lawrence Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder5
088% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault187
070% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery31
049% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary273
01.0x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,651
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft329
01.0x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Lawrence Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lawrence
257.8
State
323.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Lawrence
1843.3
State
2004.4
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Lawrence Safety

Is Lawrence safe?
Not especially. Lawrence earns a C with a crime rate of 210.1 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Lawrence?
210.1 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 257.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1843.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Lawrence safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Lawrence 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 Lawrence?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Lawrence generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Lawrence police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Lawrence?
No. Crime in Lawrence has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Lawrence compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Middle of the pack for Massachusetts. Lawrence 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 Lawrence to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Lawrence?
Mixed. Violent crime is below 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 Lawrence?
257.8 per 100,000, which is 29% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (187), robbery (31), and murder (5.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Massachusetts

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

D+
See crime rates in Newton90,741 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in Somerville84,211 pop · Grade D
C
See crime rates in Fall River95,298 pop · Grade C
D-
See crime rates in New Bedford101,834 pop · Grade D-
C
See crime rates in Quincy103,173 pop · Grade C
C
See crime rates in Lynn104,236 pop · Grade C
View all Massachusetts city safety grades

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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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