The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Brookline, MA: Crime Maps and Statistics

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	C-
Property Crime Grade	C+
Other Crime Grade	C-

Which crimes are included?

$22.4 million

Cost of Crime™ for Brookline, MA

In 2025, crime will cost $887 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Brookline in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Brookline, MA Safe?

The C grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US city. Brookline ranks in the 40th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 40% of cities but less safe than 60%. This analysis applies only to Brookline's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Brookline is 27.51 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Brookline Residents generally consider the west part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Brookline varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 33 in the southeast neighborhoods to 1 in 39 in the west.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the northeast parts of Brookline, MA see the most incidents - about 249 per year. In contrast, the northwest part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 63 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Brookline, MA

The total projected cost of crime in Brookline for 2025 is $22,380,911. This translates to approximately $396 per resident and $887 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.4% of the median household income in Brookline. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 56.6%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 31.5%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.9%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Brookline Compared to Other Cities?

Brookline, MA:	$396
Provincetown, MA:	$798
East Sandwich, MA:	$119
Massachusetts:	$274
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Brookline is $396 per year, which is $68 less than the national average and $122 more than Massachusetts's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Brookline:

In Provincetown, MA, crime costs $798 per person, which is $403 more than in Brookline.
In East Sandwich, MA, crime costs $119 per person, which is $277 less than in Brookline

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Brookline for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to Brookline	Cost per Brookline Resident
Murder	$5.90 million	$104
Rape/Sexual Assault	$1.71 million	$30
Robbery	$760,647	$13
Assault	$4.71 million	$83
Kidnapping	$179,443	$3
Vehicle Theft	$864,236	$15
Burglary	$847,517	$15
Theft	$3.04 million	$54
Arson	$90,467	$2
Vandalism	$3.55 million	$63
Animal Cruelty	$11,686	$0
Drug Crimes	$477,623	$8
Identity Theft	$235,508	$4
Total Cost of Crime	$22,380,911	$396

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Brookline, MA

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Brookline totals $48,890,021 ($865 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $71,270,932 ($1,261 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Brookline crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the north part of the city has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Brookline has 15, have the same problem. Of Brookline’s 56,539 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Brookline, MA at ISP Reports.

Brookline Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Brookline residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	2.902
Robbery	0.4277
Rape	0.5002
Murder	0.0555
Total Violent Crime	3.885 (C-)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	10.37
Vehicle Theft	0.9871
Burglary	1.653
Arson	0.0663
Total Property Crime	13.07 (C+)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0523
Drug Crimes	1.142
Vandalism	8.789
Identity Theft	0.5382
Animal Cruelty	0.0279
Total "Other" Rate	10.55 (C-)

Individual Brookline Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Brookline is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Brookline.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Allston, MA	D+	D	D+
Brighton, MA	C+	D+	C+
Jamaica Plain, MA	C-	D	C
Chestnut Hill, MA	C+	B	C
Cambridge, MA	D+	D	D+
Boston, MA	B	C	B-
Watertown, MA	C+	C+	C+
Newton Center, MA	B	A-	B-
Watertown Town, MA	C	C-	C
Somerville, MA	C	D+	C

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Brookline is similar versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.

Similar City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Asheboro, NC	D+	C-	C-
Morgan Hill, CA	B-	C-	C-
Blacksburg, VA	D	C+	C+
Canovanas, PR	D-	D	D
Collierville, TN	C-	C+	C+
West Chester, OH	B-	A	A
Methuen Town, MA	B	C	C
Delaware, OH	B+	B	B
Downers Grove, IL	B-	A-	A-
Hoffman Estates, IL	B-	A-	A-

Considering only the crime rate, Brookline is less safe than the Massachusetts state average and safer than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Brookline, MA average SchoolGrade of A, with 62% actual proficiency versus 47% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Brookline schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.