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D

Is Somerville, Massachusetts Safe?

Population 84,211 · Safer than 18% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Somerville 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 261.5 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,545 per 100K.

Somerville Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSomervilleMassachusetts AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate338.0323.7363.8
Property Crime Rate2277.42004.41,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate259.0--268.2
Theft Rate1545.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate248.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

261.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

338/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2277/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Somerville

Violent crime in Somerville is close to the national average. The rate of 338.0 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2277.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,545 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Somerville Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault259
097% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery68
01.1x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary326
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,545
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft248
078% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Somerville Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Somerville
338.0
State
323.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Somerville
2277.4
State
2004.4
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Somerville Safety

Is Somerville safe?
Not especially. Somerville earns a D with a crime rate of 261.5 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 Somerville?
261.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 338.0 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2277.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Somerville safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Somerville's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,545 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Somerville?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Somerville generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Somerville police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Somerville?
Crime rates have held steady in Somerville, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D grade.
How does Somerville compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Below average for the state. Somerville ranks behind about 86% of Massachusetts cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Somerville 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 Somerville?
Bad. A D grade and 261.5 per-thousand rate put Somerville below 82% of US cities. Violent crime at 338 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Somerville?
338.0 per 100,000, which is 7% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (259), robbery (68), 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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