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D-

Is New Bedford, Massachusetts Safe?

Population 101,834 · Safer than 15% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

New Bedford has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D- safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 274 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,826 per 100K.

New Bedford Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricNew BedfordMassachusetts AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate321.0323.7363.8
Property Crime Rate2418.92004.41,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate224.0--268.2
Theft Rate1826.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate230.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

274 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

321/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2419/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for New Bedford

Violent crime in New Bedford is close to the national average. The rate of 321.0 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2418.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,826 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

New Bedford Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault224
084% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery46
073% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary401
01.5x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,826
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft230
072% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How New Bedford Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

New Bedford
321.0
State
323.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

New Bedford
2418.9
State
2004.4
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About New Bedford Safety

Is New Bedford safe?
Not especially. New Bedford earns a D- with a crime rate of 274 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 New Bedford?
274 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 321.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2418.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is New Bedford safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. New Bedford's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,826 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in New Bedford?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in New Bedford generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the New Bedford police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in New Bedford?
Crime rates have held steady in New Bedford, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D- grade.
How does New Bedford compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Below average for the state. New Bedford ranks behind about 89% of Massachusetts cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is New Bedford to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in New Bedford?
Bad. A D- grade and 274 per-thousand rate put New Bedford below 85% of US cities. Violent crime at 321 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in New Bedford?
321.0 per 100,000, which is 12% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (224), robbery (46), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

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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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