Massachusetts is one of the safest states in the United States. It is almost surprising how low the crime rate in the Bay State area is.
A recent study shows that less than 40% of the people in Massachusetts are worried about their safety. This is much lower than the national average, which is around 45%.
In Massachusetts, the crime rate and the number of people exposed to some form of criminal activity are less than the national average. In the year 2023, the number of incidents reported for personal violent crimes was even lower than the numbers from last year. That’s right; in the past nine months, only 8% of the people have been exposed to some form of criminal activity.
However, property crime has been soaring year after year in Massachusetts. Luckily, the all-time high is only 13%, which is still half of the national average, i.e., 26%.
For a more holistic picture, in the upcoming paragraphs, we will take a look at 10 of the safest cities in Massachusetts. If you are planning to relocate to Massachusetts, the following cities could be an ideal choice:
Safest Cities In Massachusetts 2025
Wayland
Wayland is one of the safest cities in Massachusetts. Wayland is home to around 13,000 people. The city has the lowest property crime rate in the entire state as well as the fifth-lowest crime rate in terms of violent crimes.
Research has shown that out of every 100,000 individuals, only 7 people have experienced violent crimes. Similarly, out of every 100,000 households, only 7 experience property crimes.
Dover
Number two on our list is a city called Dover. Dover is a small city that is home to around 6000 people. Not only is the city of Dover safe, but it also has an exceptionally low poverty rate.
Moreover, most of the people in Dover are educated and work reasonable jobs to provide for their families. Most of the people in Dover have busy schedules, and therefore, a scare number of people become criminals.
Dover is situated 15 miles southwest of downtown Boston and on the south banks of the Charles River. In that area, every residential zoning needs an acre or more. With houses so far apart, committing crimes becomes even more difficult.
In Dover, zero violent crimes are committed per every 100k individuals.
Norfolk
Well, this isn’t the first time Norfolk has appeared on a list that represents the safest cities in Massachusetts. Norfolk is home to 11,872 people, which is almost double the number of people who reside in Dover.
During the last two years, Norfolk has managed to move up two places on the list of the safest cities in Massachusetts. In the city of Norfolk, only 176 out of 100k people experience some form of property crime. Plus, only 8 people out of 100,000 are victims of violent crime.
Furthermore, one of the best reasons behind a controlled crime rate in the city of Norfolk is the number of prisons in the city as well as the level of police surveillance that prevails.
Hopkinton
If you are planning to relocate to a new place in the United States, the city of Hopkinton in Massachusetts is one of the safest places you will find.
The number of people who reside in the city of Hopkinton is 18,516. During the last one year, there haven’t been any significant violent crimes in the area. However, there have been some property crimes, and the number is just a little better than the national average.
The city of Hopkinton is situated somewhere between the cities of Worcester and Boston. This city attracts a huge number of tourists, as this is the starting point for the famous Boston Marathon. It is also home to the headquarters of Dell EMC.
If you take a look at the number of violent crimes in the area, you will realize that 10 out of 100K people in Hopkinton face some form of violent crimes. However, when it comes to property crimes, the number soars up to 162 out of 100K.
Groveland
If you have been a victim of repeated violent crimes to a point that you want to relocate to a new place in the US, then the city of Groveland in Massachusetts is definitely the best place for you.
As far as its location is concerned, Groveland is situated somewhere in the north of Boston, and it is home to more than 6,800 individuals. Moreover, it takes an hour to reach Groveland from Boston if you plan on driving all the way.
During the last year, the town barely recorded any cases of violent crimes, and you can take that to the bank. However, the property crime numbers aren’t as good, and if Groveland can improve them, it could rank higher in terms of safety.
Speaking of property crimes in Groveland, out of every 100,000 individuals, 263 people experience some form of property crime. This figure is greater than the numbers we saw in the case of Hopkinton.
Franklin
Next on our list of the safest cities in Massachusetts is Franklin.
This city is home to around 33,000 people and the famous Franklin library, which is one of the oldest public libraries in the US. This library has original books, which were gifted by Benjamin Franklin himself.
When it comes to violent crime rates, the number is lower than the average.
In the city of Franklin, out of 100,000 individuals, only 15 experience events of violent crimes. However, the number is a little higher when it comes to property crime rates.
For every 100,000 individuals, 256 are victims of property crimes. However, this number is lower than that of Groveland.
Boxford
Another safe city in Massachusetts is Boxford. This city is home to more than 8,300 people.
In the case of violent crimes, out of 100K individuals, around 23 experience violent crimes. However, on a similar scale, around 239 people experience events of theft and robbery, which need to be taken care of.
Luckily, the majority of people who reside in Boxford are well educated, and a fair percentage of them have a bachelor’s degree. Having a literate population is one of the reasons why the number of violent crimes never truly spikes.
Milton
Next on our list is the famous city of Milton, and for good reasons. Milton is one of the biggest cities in Massachusetts, and it is home to 27,642 people.
This affluent suburb of Boston is one of the finest places to live in the United States. Furthermore, Milton is a modern and planned city with comfortable houses, academic facilities, and job opportunities.
Also, in Milton, you get to enjoy close proximity with all of the basic necessities of life.
In a month, the city of Milton experiences 1 violent crime and 5 property crimes, on average. Thus, Milton is one of the safest places, not only in Massachusetts but also in the US.
Shrewsbury
In terms of population, the city of Shrewsbury is one of the biggest cities in Massachusetts. The number of people who reside in Shrewsbury is 37,631.
For a city with such an extensive population, 8 cases of violent crimes and 302 cases of property crimes for every 100,000 individuals is not bad.
Shrewsbury is home to a perfect ski resort or skiing enthusiasts. So have fun, and try not to get too stoned or hammered when out you are skiing.
Hopedale
The number of cases reported in Hopedale might seem like a lot, yet the city is safer than most other places in the US. At this very moment, the number of people residing in the city of Hopedale is less than 6,000.
Unlike the national average, the violent crime average in Hopedale is as low as 33 cases per 100K individuals. However, the number of property crimes soars up to 267 per 100k individuals.
Conclusion: Massachusetts’s 10 Safest Cities of 2023
These were the top 10 safest cities in Massachusetts. However, if you are planning to relocate to any of the above-mentioned cities, make sure to protect yourself and your family through different methods.
You can do so by installing smart locks, security cameras, and burglar alarms. Also, make sure to keep the doors and windows locked at all times, for you never know when trouble will show up.
Related Questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Massachusetts. Let’s take a look at them.
What Are the poorest towns in Massachusetts?
Some of the poorest towns in Massachusetts are as follows.
- Springfield (26.8% poverty rate)
- Lawrence (23.7% poverty rate)
- Holyoke (29.7% poverty rate)
- Fall River (19.4% poverty rate)
- Worcester (21.1% poverty rate)
What Are the richest town in Massachusetts?
Answer: Here are some of the richest towns in Massachusetts, in terms of per capita income.
- Weston ($105,217 per capita income)
- Dover ($89,476 per capita income)
- Carlisle ($77, 585 per capita income)
- Sherborn ($73,420 per capita income)
- Sudbury ($72,744 per capita income)
What is the most dangerous city in MA? Holyoke is the most dangerous city in MA. The violent crimes committed here are almost 2% of all the violent crimes committed in MA.
Where do millionaires live in Massachusetts?
Here are some of the places in Massachusetts where millionaires live.
- Chelmsford
- Dracut
- Harwich
- Revere
- Tewksbury
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