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

D+

Overall Crime Grade™

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

Which crimes are included?

$53.6 million

Cost of Crime™ for Cambridge, MA

In 2025, crime will cost $928 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Cambridge 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 Cambridge, MA Safe?

The D+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is higher than that of the average US city. Cambridge ranks in the 29th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 29% of cities but less safe than 71%. This analysis applies only to Cambridge's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Cambridge is 32.22 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Cambridge Residents generally consider the northwest part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Cambridge varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 20 in the west neighborhoods to 1 in 37 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the northwest parts of Cambridge, MA see the most incidents - about 926 per year. In contrast, the southwest part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 0 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Cambridge, MA

The total projected cost of crime in Cambridge for 2025 is $53,591,790. This translates to approximately $452 per resident and $928 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.6% of the median household income in Cambridge. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 56.2%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 32.2%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.4%

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

Cambridge, MA:	$452
Provincetown, MA:	$798
East Sandwich, MA:	$119
Massachusetts:	$274
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Cambridge is $452 per year, which is $12 less than the national average and $178 more than Massachusetts's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Cambridge:

In Provincetown, MA, crime costs $798 per person, which is $346 more than in Cambridge.
In East Sandwich, MA, crime costs $119 per person, which is $334 less than in Cambridge

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

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

Crime	Cost to Cambridge	Cost per Cambridge Resident
Murder	$13.1 million	$111
Rape/Sexual Assault	$3.51 million	$30
Robbery	$1.63 million	$14
Assault	$13.5 million	$114
Kidnapping	$274,055	$2
Vehicle Theft	$1.93 million	$16
Burglary	$2.54 million	$21
Theft	$8.48 million	$72
Arson	$174,923	$1
Vandalism	$6.68 million	$56
Animal Cruelty	$22,674	$0
Drug Crimes	$1.17 million	$10
Identity Theft	$628,663	$5
Total Cost of Crime	$53,591,790	$452

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Cambridge, 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 Cambridge totals $107,741,695 ($910 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $161,333,485 ($1,362 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 Cambridge 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 southeast 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 Cambridge has 40, have the same problem. Of Cambridge’s 118,449 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 Cambridge, MA at ISP Reports.

Cambridge 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 Cambridge residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	3.958
Robbery	0.4373
Rape	0.4885
Murder	0.0588
Total Violent Crime	4.943 (D)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	13.83
Vehicle Theft	1.052
Burglary	2.365
Arson	0.0612
Total Property Crime	17.30 (D+)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0382
Drug Crimes	1.334
Vandalism	7.894
Identity Theft	0.6857
Animal Cruelty	0.0259
Total "Other" Rate	9.978 (C-)

Individual Cambridge Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

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

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Somerville, MA	C	D+	C
Allston, MA	D+	D	D+
Watertown, MA	C+	C+	C+
Brookline, MA	C	C-	C+
Charlestown, MA	C-	D	C
Brighton, MA	C+	D+	C+
Medford, MA	B-	C-	C+
Belmont, MA	B-	B+	B-
Watertown Town, MA	C	C-	C
Boston, MA	B	C	B-

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Cambridge 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
Kalamazoo, MI	C	D	D
Katy, TX	C	C-	C-
Hoover, AL	C	B+	B+
Irving, TX	D	D	D
Indianapolis, IN	C+	C+	C+
Kansas City, MO	D	D+	D+
Kansas City, KS	D-	D-	D-
Jackson, MS	B	A-	A-
Humble, TX	D+	D+	D+
Huntington Beach, CA	C	D+	D+

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

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Cambridge, MA average SchoolGrade of B, with 45% actual proficiency versus 41% projected; overall, schools exceed expectations. See Cambridge 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.