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

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	B+
Property Crime Grade	B-
Other Crime Grade	B-

Which crimes are included?

$16.9 million

Cost of Crime™ for Waltham, MA

In 2025, crime will cost $552 per household.

More cost data

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

The B grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly lower than that of the average US city. Waltham ranks in the 62nd percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 62% of cities but less safe than 38%. This analysis applies only to Waltham's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Waltham is 20.40 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Waltham Residents generally consider the north part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Waltham varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 41 in the central neighborhoods to 1 in 73 in the north.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the south parts of Waltham, MA see the most incidents - about 270 per year. In contrast, the northwest part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 95 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Waltham, MA

The total projected cost of crime in Waltham for 2025 is $16,935,481. This translates to approximately $247 per resident and $552 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.4% of the median household income in Waltham. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 61.5%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 26.4%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.0%

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

Waltham, MA:	$247
Provincetown, MA:	$798
East Sandwich, MA:	$119
Massachusetts:	$274
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Waltham is $247 per year, which is $218 less than the national average and $27 less than Massachusetts's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Waltham:

In Provincetown, MA, crime costs $798 per person, which is $552 more than in Waltham.
In East Sandwich, MA, crime costs $119 per person, which is $128 less than in Waltham

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

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

Crime	Cost to Waltham	Cost per Waltham Resident
Murder	$2.52 million	$37
Rape/Sexual Assault	$2.18 million	$32
Robbery	$649,936	$9
Assault	$2.62 million	$38
Kidnapping	$174,124	$3
Vehicle Theft	$1.36 million	$20
Burglary	$727,084	$11
Theft	$3.01 million	$44
Arson	$105,095	$2
Vandalism	$2.47 million	$36
Animal Cruelty	$15,994	$0
Drug Crimes	$871,517	$13
Identity Theft	$219,062	$3
Total Cost of Crime	$16,935,481	$247

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Waltham, 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 Waltham totals $28,201,273 ($411 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $45,136,753 ($658 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 Waltham 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 south 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 Waltham has 12, have the same problem. Of Waltham’s 68,643 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 Waltham, MA at ISP Reports.

Waltham 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 Waltham residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	1.332
Robbery	0.3010
Rape	0.5243
Murder	0.0195
Total Violent Crime	2.176 (B+)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	8.475
Vehicle Theft	1.282
Burglary	1.168
Arson	0.0634
Total Property Crime	10.99 (B-)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0418
Drug Crimes	1.716
Vandalism	5.039
Identity Theft	0.4123
Animal Cruelty	0.0315
Total "Other" Rate	7.241 (B-)

Individual Waltham Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

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

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Newtonville, MA	C+	B	C+
Newton, MA	B-	B+	B-
Auburndale, MA	B	B	B+
Watertown Town, MA	C	C-	C
Belmont, MA	B-	B+	B-
Weston, MA	B+	A-	B+
Newton Lower Falls, MA	B+	B	A-
Waban, MA	B+	B+	A-
Watertown, MA	C+	C+	C+
Lexington, MA	A	A	A-

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Waltham is lower 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
Brentwood, CA	B	B-	B-
Clermont, FL	A+	A+	A+
Gilroy, CA	B+	C-	C-
San Luis Obispo, CA	C	D-	D-
Mayaguez, PR	F	F	F
North Little Rock, AR	F	F	F
North Miami, FL	B+	C+	C+
North Richland Hills, TX	D+	C+	C+
Northglenn, CO	F	D+	D+
Port Orchard, WA	D-	C-	C-

Considering only the crime rate, Waltham is as safe as 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 Waltham, MA average SchoolGrade of B-, with 42% actual proficiency versus 48% projected; overall, schools underperform expectations. See Waltham 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.