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

Overall Crime Grade™

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

Which crimes are included?

$7.25 million

Cost of Crime™ for Wellesley, MA

In 2025, crime will cost $666 per household.

More cost data

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

The B grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly lower than that of the average US city. Wellesley ranks in the 65th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 65% of cities but less safe than 35%. This analysis applies only to Wellesley's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Wellesley is 19.60 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Wellesley Residents generally consider the northwest part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Wellesley varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 32 in the southwest neighborhoods to 1 in 78 in the northwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southwest parts of Wellesley, MA see the most incidents - about 115 per year. In contrast, the northwest part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 25 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Wellesley, MA

The total projected cost of crime in Wellesley for 2025 is $7,254,931. This translates to approximately $236 per resident and $666 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.2% of the median household income in Wellesley. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 62.6%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 25.1%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.3%

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

Wellesley, MA:	$236
Provincetown, MA:	$798
East Sandwich, MA:	$119
Massachusetts:	$274
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Wellesley is $236 per year, which is $228 less than the national average and $38 less than Massachusetts's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Wellesley:

In Provincetown, MA, crime costs $798 per person, which is $562 more than in Wellesley.
In East Sandwich, MA, crime costs $119 per person, which is $117 less than in Wellesley

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

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

Crime	Cost to Wellesley	Cost per Wellesley Resident
Murder	$706,200	$23
Rape/Sexual Assault	$1.02 million	$33
Robbery	$248,584	$8
Assault	$1.54 million	$50
Kidnapping	$144,249	$5
Vehicle Theft	$417,531	$14
Burglary	$379,919	$12
Theft	$1.29 million	$42
Arson	$42,458	$1
Vandalism	$979,566	$32
Animal Cruelty	$6,961	$0
Drug Crimes	$362,404	$12
Identity Theft	$119,741	$4
Total Cost of Crime	$7,254,931	$236

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Wellesley, 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 Wellesley totals $10,123,373 ($329 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $17,378,305 ($565 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 Wellesley 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 Wellesley has 2, have the same problem. Of Wellesley’s 30,735 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 Wellesley, MA at ISP Reports.

Wellesley 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 Wellesley residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	1.745
Robbery	0.2571
Rape	0.5485
Murder	0.0122
Total Violent Crime	2.563 (B-)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	8.074
Vehicle Theft	0.8773
Burglary	1.363
Arson	0.0572
Total Property Crime	10.37 (B-)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0774
Drug Crimes	1.594
Vandalism	4.461
Identity Theft	0.5033
Animal Cruelty	0.0306
Total "Other" Rate	6.667 (B-)

Individual Wellesley Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

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

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Newton Lower Falls, MA	B+	B	A-
Needham, MA	A-	A	A-
Waban, MA	B+	B+	A-
Auburndale, MA	B	B	B+
Newton Upper Falls, MA	B-	B+	C+
Weston, MA	B+	A-	B+
Natick, MA	B	B	B-
Cochituate, MA	A+	A+	A+
Newton Highlands, MA	C+	B+	C
Dover, MA	A+	A+	A+

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Wellesley 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
Geneva, IL	B	A-	A-
Walnut, CA	C+	C	C
Wasco, CA	C	D+	D+
Rockville Centre, NY	C+	C-	C-
Harvey, LA	F	D-	D-
Gulf Breeze, FL	A+	A-	A-
Yabucoa, PR	F	F	F
Gloucester, MA	B	C	C
Glenside, PA	B+	B+	B+
Glen Cove, NY	C+	C-	C-

Considering only the crime rate, Wellesley 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 Wellesley, MA average SchoolGrade of A+, with 71% actual proficiency versus 65% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Wellesley schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

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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.