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D+

Is Watertown, Massachusetts Safe?

Population 35,710 · Safer than 24% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Watertown is a smaller community of 35,710 people with a D+ safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 242.9 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,245 per 100K.

Watertown Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWatertownMassachusetts AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate399.9323.7363.8
Property Crime Rate2029.22004.41,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate264.0--268.2
Theft Rate1245.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate484.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

242.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

400/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

2029/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Watertown

Violent crime in Watertown is close to the national average. The rate of 399.9 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2029.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,245 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Watertown Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault264
098% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery48
076% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary307
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,245
089% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft484
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Watertown Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Watertown
399.9
State
323.7
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Watertown
2029.2
State
2004.4
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Watertown Safety

Is Watertown safe?
Not especially. Watertown earns a D+ with a crime rate of 242.9 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 Watertown?
242.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 399.9 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2029.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Watertown safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Watertown's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,245 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Watertown?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Watertown generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Watertown police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Watertown?
No. Crime in Watertown has been trending down, which is good news for the D+-rated city.
How does Watertown compare to other cities in Massachusetts?
Below average for the state. Watertown ranks behind about 73% of Massachusetts cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Watertown 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 Watertown?
Bad. A D+ grade and 242.9 per-thousand rate put Watertown below 76% of US cities. Violent crime at 400 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Watertown?
399.9 per 100,000, which is 10% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (264), robbery (48), and murder (3.0) 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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