F
6%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
69%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
20%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleNew Bedford/100k peopleMassachusetts/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime2,217n/a (estimate)2,1861,3922,324
Murder4n/a3.92.16.3
Rape49n/a48.329.140.0
Robbery111n/a109.537.766.1
Assault471n/a464.5253.1268.2
Violent crime635n/a (estimate)626322370
Burglary198n/a195.3142.8269.8
Theft1,197n/a1,180.4827.61,401.9
Vehicle theft187n/a184.499.7282.7
Property crime1,582n/a (estimate)1,5601,0701,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in New Bedford, MA

When we analyze the latest crime report, the New Bedford crime rate is 5.9% lower than the national average. These incidents are classified into two primary categories: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes include assault, robbery, rape and murder. Whereas property crimes encompass theft, vehicle theft and burglary. In the case of New Bedford, there were 635 reported violent crimes, equivalent to 626 per 100,000 individuals, 69.3% higher than the national average. Additionally, New Bedford recorded 1582 property crimes, amounting to 1560 per 100,000 residents, 20.2% lower than the U.S. average.

When evaluating the New Bedford crime rate for every 100,000 residents, it positions itself in the middle range among all cities that reported crime. Our examination of total offenses, spanning both violent and property crimes, indicates that the reported New Bedford crime rates closely correspond to the national average reported by other regions.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in New Bedford?

AreaVibes conducted surveys inquiring about the safety perception of New Bedford residents. Out of the respondents (34 in total), 26% expressed a strong sense of security, believing that crime rates in New Bedford were low, and they felt comfortable walking alone at night. Conversely, 74% held a contrasting viewpoint, expressing concerns about safety in the area and feeling uncomfortable walking alone during the nighttime hours.

Is New Bedford a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if New Bedford is a safe place to live, let's take a look at the overall crime rate of the area, as well as the number of daily crimes. New Bedford has a total crime rate that is 6% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 6.07 daily crimes (1.74 violent daily crimes and 4.33 daily property crimes) in New Bedford.

Has Crime in New Bedford Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows residents and potential residents to assess the crime in New Bedford. A decrease in crime rates may indicate improving safety, while an increase could raise concerns. The year-over-year crime rate in New Bedford has decreased by 2.5%. Violent crimes have increased by 3.3%, while property crimes have decreased by 4.6%. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, authorities and communities can identify trends and patterns in criminal activity. This helps in understanding whether crime is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable over time.

Potential Causes for Crime in New Bedford

The educational level achieved in any given city can influence crime rates significantly. Greater educational achievement is frequently associated with decreased crime rates, as it offers individuals improved job prospects and alternatives to engaging in crime related activities. Conversely, lower educational attainment rates tend to coincide with elevated crime rates. In New Bedford, 67.5% of residents have successfully graduated from high school, in contrast to the national average where 83% have achieved high school graduation.

The effectiveness of law enforcement and community policing initiatives can influence crime rates. A strong and collaborative relationship between the police and the community can deter criminal activity and improve safety. In New Bedford, there are 3.08 police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents, compared to the national average of 3.25. The effectiveness of law enforcement often depends on community policing strategies that emphasize building trust and cooperation between the police and the community. It's not just about the number of officers but also how they engage with the community.

High rent costs can create economic stress for individuals and families, particularly those with limited financial resources. When a significant portion of one's income is spent on housing, there may be less money available for other essential needs such as food, healthcare and education. Economic stress can contribute to desperation and potentially lead individuals to engage in criminal activities, such as theft or fraud, as a means of financial survival. Average rent rates in New Bedford are $869, compared to a national average of $949 per month.

New Bedford crime map



The New Bedford crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in New Bedford as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The New Bedford crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the New Bedford crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare New Bedford, MA Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • New Bedford crime rates are 6% lower than the national average
      • Violent crimes in New Bedford are 69% higher than the national average
      • In New Bedford you have a 1 in 46 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • New Bedford is safer than 17% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in New Bedford has decreased by 7%

      New Bedford, MA Crime Quiz

         

        Safest Places to Live in and Around New Bedford

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        Daily Crime In New Bedford (per 100,000 people)

        The graph above looks at the comparison of crimes committed in New Bedford on a daily basis (per 100,000 people) to crimes committed throughout the state of Massachusetts and the USA. According to the latest crime statistics, daily crimes in New Bedford (which include property crimes as well as violent crimes), when compared to Massachusetts, are 1.57 times more than the state average and 1.06 times less than than national average. Violent crimes committed in New Bedford on a daily basis are 1.94 times more than than Massachusetts average and 1.69 times more than the average nationwide. Daily property crime rates in New Bedford are 1.46 times more than the daily state average and 1.25 times less than the daily national numbers.

        How Safe is New Bedford (higher is better)

        Compared to the other cities in Massachusetts and all other cities across the US, is New Bedford safe? From the gauges displayed above, you will notice that New Bedford is safer than 7% of other cities in the state of Massachusetts. In addition, New Bedford is safer than 17% of cities in the entire United States. To achieve these results, all Massachusetts and United States cities were analyzed to determine how many locations had a lower crime rate than New Bedford. By studying this data, it was possible to determine that New Bedford is below average in safety when compared with other United States cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in New Bedford

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in New Bedford is 1 in 160
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in New Bedford is 1 in 65
        The chance of being a victim of crime in New Bedford is 1 in 46
        Are you worried about becoming a crime victim? In New Bedford, your chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime is 1 in 160. Types of violent crimes may include assault, robbery, rape, or murder. You also have a 1 in 65 chance of being the victim of a property crime such as vehicle theft, personal property theft, and burglary. Your overall risk of becoming a crime victim in New Bedford is 1 in 46.

        Year Over Year Crime In New Bedford (per 100,000 people)

        The year over year crime rate per 100,000 people for New Bedford is an accurate tool for tracking the rise and fall of crime, and in determining if living in New Bedford has become safer or more dangerous. The year over year data displayed in the graph shows that violent crimes have decreased by 2% in New Bedford, while property crimes in New Bedford have decreased by 9%. Total crime has decreased by 7% year over year.

        New Bedford police department

        Item New Bedford Massachusetts National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)29611,659558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents3.12.23.3
        There are a total of 296 New Bedford police officers. This results in 3.1 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 43.1% greater than the Massachusetts average and 5.2% less than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Massachusetts

        State Total offenders Massachusetts /100K National /100K
        Massachusetts4,55172266
        There are a total of 4,551 sex offenders in Massachusetts. This yields a total of 72 sex offenders in Massachusetts per 100,000 residents which is 73% less than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Marion Center, MA1,06145150195
        Woods Hole, MA93345150195
        Mattapoisett Center, MA3,193107356463
        North Lakeville, MA3,226129428556
        Onset, MA1,049136451587
        Weweantic, MA1,287145482627
        Pocasset, MA2,596156518674
        New Bedford, MA95,3556261,5602,186

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Hesperia, CA95,1635991,4082,007
        Mission Viejo, CA95,638911,1171,208
        Brockton, MA95,7406471,7302,376
        Portsmouth, VA94,9618754,8815,757
        Compton, CA95,8041,1412,6733,813
        New Bedford, MA95,3556261,5602,186
        Source: The New Bedford, MA crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.