B
27%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
32%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
26%
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 peopleSomerville/100k peopleMassachusetts/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime1,327n/a (estimate)1,6691,4152,281
Murder0n/a0.02.15.7
Rape13n/a16.327.338.0
Robbery22n/a27.736.666.5
Assault161n/a202.5248.3264.1
Violent crime196n/a (estimate)247314364
Burglary171n/a215.1131.8250.7
Theft796n/a1,001.1852.31,347.2
Vehicle theft164n/a206.3116.6318.7
Property crime1,131n/a (estimate)1,4221,1011,917

An Overview of Crime Rates in Somerville, MA

The Somerville crime rates are 29.6% lower than the national average. There are two main categories of crime - violent crime and property crime. Violent crime consists of murder, rape, robbery and assault, while property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. There were a total of 200 violent crimes in Somerville (253 per 100,000 people), which is 31.7% lower than the national average and there were a total of 1095 property crimes (1383 per 100,000 residents) which is 29.2% lower than average.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Somerville?

What is the prevailing sentiment among Somerville residents regarding the state of crime? A comprehensive survey conducted by AreaVibes, involving 27 respondents, sheds light on this matter. The results were as follows: 70% of Somerville residents expressed a notable sense of security, asserting that crime was virtually non-existent in their community, and they felt at ease strolling the streets after dark. While, 30% of those surveyed held a contrasting viewpoint, perceiving a higher incidence of crime, leading them to feel apprehensive about walking alone at night.

Is Somerville a Safe Place to Live?

To determine if Somerville 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. Somerville has a total crime rate that is 30% lower than the national average per 100,000 residents. This results in a total of 3.55 daily crimes (0.55 violent daily crimes and 3 daily property crimes) in Somerville.

Has Crime in Somerville Increased Since Last Year?

In the most recent crime report, year-over-year crime rates in Somerville has increased by 20.5%. Examining the change in crime rates from one year to the next provides valuable insights into the evolving safety landscape of Somerville, aiding residents in assessing whether it is becoming a safer or more dangerous place to live. These crime rates are categorized into two primary groups: violent and property crimes. Year-over-year, violent crime has increased by 31.6%, while property crime has increased by 18.6%. This comprehensive analysis offers potential residents essential information for making informed decisions about whether or not Somerville is a safe place to live.

Potential Causes for Crime in Somerville

Somerville has a poverty rate of 11.3, while the national average is 15.1. In the past, there has been a direct correlation between high or low poverty rates and high or low crime stats. Elevated poverty levels and income disparities can contribute to heightened criminal activity, as individuals may resort to unlawful means to address their fundamental necessities. While lower poverty levels have led to a reduction in typical crime levels compared to other areas.

The educational level within a community can have an influence on crime rates. Typically, higher levels of education are associated with reduced crime rates, as they offer individuals improved employment prospects and alternatives to engaging in criminal activities. Conversely, lower educational attainment tends to correspond with higher crime rates. In Somerville, 87.3% of residents have achieved at least a high school diploma, which differs from the national average of 83%.

The impact of law enforcement and community policing efforts plays a crucial role in shaping crime rates in any city. A robust and cooperative bond between law enforcement and the community can serve as a deterrent to criminal activities, enhancing overall safety. In Somerville, the ratio of police officers and civilians per 1,000 residents stands at 1.79, differing from the national average of 3.25. Effective law enforcement hinges not solely on officer numbers but also on the manner in which they interact and collaborate with the community. Building trust and cooperation are central tenets of community policing, amplifying its influence on crime prevention.

Somerville crime map



The Somerville crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Somerville 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 Somerville crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Somerville 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 Somerville, MA Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Somerville crime rates are 27% lower than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Somerville are 32% lower than the national average
      • In Somerville you have a 1 in 60 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Somerville is safer than 47% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Somerville has increased by 27%

      Somerville, MA Crime Quiz

      • 1. Which city in Massachusetts has the least crime per 100,000 people?
      • 2. Which city in Massachusetts has the most crime per 100,000 people?
      • 3. How many crimes (per 100,000 people) occur in Somerville each year?
      • 4. Is the Somerville crime rate higher or lower than the Massachusetts average?
      • 5. Somerville is safer than 27% of all other cities in Massachusetts.
       
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      Safest Places to Live in and Around Somerville

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      See all Somerville poll results

      Daily Crime In Somerville (per 100,000 people)

      The above illustration depicts the number of crimes committed daily in Somerville, per 100,000 residents. In Somerville, the total number of daily crimes is 1.18 times more than the Massachusetts average and 1.37 times less than the national average. Violent daily crime statistics in Somerville are 1.27 times less than the Massachusetts average and 1.48 times less than the national average. For property crime, Somerville has a daily crime rate that is 1.29 times more than the Massachusetts average and 1.35 times less than the daily national average.

      How Safe is Somerville (higher is better)

      When comparing the safety of Somerville to every other city in Massachusetts, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Somerville safe? The gauges above illustrate that Somerville is safer than 27% of every city located within Massachusetts along with 47% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in Massachusetts and in the United States as a whole. As a result, Somerville, MA is ranked below average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

      Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Somerville

      The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Somerville is 1 in 406
      The chance of being a victim of property crime in Somerville is 1 in 71
      The chance of being a victim of crime in Somerville is 1 in 60
      How likely are you to become a victim of crime? In Somerville, Massachusetts you have a 1 in 406 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 71 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 60 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Somerville.

      Year Over Year Crime In Somerville (per 100,000 people)

      The year over year crime rate per 100,000 people for Somerville is an accurate tool for tracking the rise and fall of crime, and in determining if living in Somerville has become safer or more dangerous. The year over year data displayed in the graph shows that violent crimes have increased by 34% in Somerville, while property crimes in Somerville have increased by 27%. Total crime has increased by 28% year over year.

      Somerville police department

      Item Somerville Massachusetts National
      Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)13811,659558,732
      Police officers & civilians /1000 residents1.82.23.3
      There are a total of 138 Somerville police officers. This results in 1.8 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 17% less than the Massachusetts average and 45% 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
      Nahant, MA3,51291213305
      Lexington, MA33,30429294323
      Dover, MA2,51851324375
      Medfield, MA6,668128278406
      Winchester, MA22,76022403425
      Wellesley, MA28,74726433458
      Cochituate, MA6,730102358460
      Somerville, MA81,1752471,4221,669

      Cities with similar population

      City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
      Cranston, RI81,2521181,1301,248
      Manteca, CA81,0784001,7662,166
      Silver Spring, MD81,0692301,1161,346
      Warwick, RI81,043711,2351,306
      San Ramon, CA81,3441419391,080
      Somerville, MA81,1752471,4221,669
      Source: The Somerville, 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.