Community Life
Crimes Against People

Decreasing


Crimes Against People

What does this measure?

The number of reported crimes against people, per 1,000 residents. Murder, kidnapping/abduction, forcible and statutory rape, aggravated and sexual assault, and intimidation/stalking are included in this measure.

Why is this important?

Crime detracts from the quality of life of those who directly experience and witness it, but it also impacts the lives of others within the community, as well as housing stability, and a community's attractiveness as a place to live, work, and do business.

How is our region doing?

The rate of reported crimes against people in MetroWest was 7 per 1,000 residents in 2022, significantly lower than the statewide rate of 11. The regional rates has declined 12% since 2013, while the statewide rate have increased about 7% since 2013. Among the region's counties, the rate was highest in Worcester (10 per 1,000) compared to Middlesex and Norfolk (both around 6).

Rates in 2022 were below 5 in most of the region's communities. They were highest in Marlborough (15), Milford (10) and Westborough (8), and lowest in Bedford, Carlisle, Westford, Weston and Wayland (all 1 or below). Framingham (7) and Natick and Waltham (both at 5) were on the higher end of the spectrum, while Harvard was a bit lower (4), by comparison.

Notes about the data

Crime reports are never complete because some crimes, such as rape and assault, are believed to be underreported. Comparable national data was not available. Data for this indicator is expected to be released annually in July.

Crimes Against People
2013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Massachusetts10.39.99.79.59.29.09.310.210.611.1
Region8.38.07.97.77.67.37.36.66.87.3
Middlesex County7.46.97.06.66.36.36.25.75.86.4
Norfolk County5.65.75.75.86.15.85.75.15.56.3
Worcester County12.312.211.511.411.310.710.69.59.89.6
Acton town, Middlesex County3.84.34.74.64.64.54.63.32.83.2
Ashland town, Middlesex County5.05.45.75.04.04.03.84.23.33.6
Bedford town, Middlesex County1.41.40.80.81.61.21.11.91.11.1
Bellingham town, Norfolk County6.58.28.49.08.46.57.07.56.0
Boxborough town, Middlesex County4.72.92.93.85.53.81.84.32.42.2
Carlisle town, Middlesex County0.43.11.11.51.71.52.71.51.2
Concord town, Middlesex County4.62.72.54.12.73.33.53.04.04.0
Dedham town, Norfolk County2.82.82.12.11.72.11.91.62.7
Dover town, Norfolk County1.72.21.21.51.31.01.61.90.3
Framingham city, Middlesex County6.46.08.48.88.38.38.67.96.77.4
Franklin town, Norfolk County1.71.41.32.02.63.32.41.92.7
Groton town, Middlesex County3.42.12.61.81.91.93.44.52.43.0
Harvard town, Worcester County3.13.12.43.42.62.61.42.03.53.9
Holliston town, Middlesex County2.31.72.62.51.82.23.33.22.11.6
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County1.51.52.01.72.91.91.81.81.92.6
Hudson town, Middlesex County8.44.03.43.92.84.94.32.64.03.0
Lexington town, Middlesex County0.80.61.11.00.91.21.51.62.32.2
Lincoln town, Middlesex County2.23.22.02.13.43.51.62.12.41.8
Littleton town, Middlesex County3.94.76.05.34.34.55.33.22.32.3
Marlborough city, Middlesex County14.114.612.912.213.512.913.712.514.614.8
Maynard town, Middlesex County9.37.210.39.76.45.86.04.64.87.4
Medfield town, Norfolk County3.71.50.91.72.4
Medway town, Norfolk County1.41.51.52.01.73.51.60.71.7
Milford town, Worcester County9.28.49.79.69.511.08.58.39.39.8
Millis town, Norfolk County5.03.93.93.52.8
Natick town, Middlesex County5.36.15.25.65.25.53.54.25.35.3
Needham town, Norfolk County1.51.62.21.71.72.32.32.32.3
Sherborn town, Middlesex County3.16.14.21.93.03.73.52.51.8
Southborough town, Worcester County0.71.03.03.02.73.11.63.31.31.8
Stow town, Middlesex County4.53.45.15.83.32.83.32.61.73.3
Sudbury town, Middlesex County1.31.21.21.12.13.72.12.23.12.2
Walpole town, Norfolk County6.96.46.78.78.97.48.26.96.9
Waltham city, Middlesex County10.19.18.77.46.87.46.55.54.25.4
Wayland town, Middlesex County0.50.40.10.20.10.10.10.2
Wellesley town, Norfolk County2.32.11.91.71.31.61.71.31.6
Westborough town, Worcester County4.45.43.95.55.26.08.88.37.67.6
Westford town, Middlesex County3.32.61.72.41.51.91.61.41.11.4
Weston town, Middlesex County2.11.50.81.71.31.52.41.21.51.4
Westwood town, Norfolk County5.75.54.25.63.22.63.03.42.6

Source: Massachusetts State Police
Notes: Rates are per 1,000 residents.




Number of Crimes Against People
2013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Massachusetts68,59366,41065,09564,68762,95561,94164,37370,16772,90377,136
Region25,34324,67324,51123,84923,73123,09122,89220,65121,37023,269
Middlesex County11,50610,83211,10610,43810,15410,14210,0899,1619,35510,304
Norfolk County3,8693,9373,9894,0714,2664,1084,0393,5773,9154,608
Worcester County9,9689,9049,4169,3409,3118,8418,7647,9138,1008,357
Acton town, Middlesex County8799111110110108109796775
Ashland town, Middlesex County859410089717267755966
Bedford town, Middlesex County19201112231715271516
Bellingham town, Norfolk County109138141153144112120130104
Boxborough town, Middlesex County24151520332512251412
Carlisle town, Middlesex County21668981486
Concord town, Middlesex County89525083546568577572
Dedham town, Norfolk County717053544353474068
Dover town, Norfolk County1013798610122
Framingham city, Middlesex County450423599626600603627588499525
Franklin town, Norfolk County5446436785110816694
Groton town, Middlesex County38232920222239512733
Harvard town, Worcester County2020162217179132327
Holliston town, Middlesex County33243736273349483224
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County24243429503533333649
Hudson town, Middlesex County166796778569885518058
Lexington town, Middlesex County27203833304151547673
Lincoln town, Middlesex County16231516232411151712
Littleton town, Middlesex County36445953444655332423
Marlborough city, Middlesex County555577512486538517544493577603
Maynard town, Middlesex County9776110104696264535577
Medfield town, Norfolk County4518122231
Medway town, Norfolk County182020272347221023
Milford town, Worcester County261238276275273319246242269297
Millis town, Norfolk County4132322923
Natick town, Middlesex County188218188206189202128153193192
Needham town, Norfolk County454966525271737172
Sherborn town, Middlesex County1326188131615118
Southborough town, Worcester County7103030273216341319
Stow town, Middlesex County31243642242024191223
Sudbury town, Middlesex County23232221407042446143
Walpole town, Norfolk County170159168218224187206174174
Waltham city, Middlesex County629573552469434461407344263344
Wayland town, Middlesex County66132123
Wellesley town, Norfolk County656156483747513745
Westborough town, Worcester County811027310599116169159145164
Westford town, Middlesex County77624157364638342834
Weston town, Middlesex County2518920161829151816
Westwood town, Norfolk County858267915243495743

Source: Massachusetts State Police




INDICATORS REGIONAL TREND
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families Increasing
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Decreasing
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Increasing
Households Without Vehicles Maintaining
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Households With Internet Access Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Decreasing
Average Charitable Contribution Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Opioid Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Crimes Against People Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Population by Age Not Applicable
Change in Population by Age/Gender Not Applicable
Seniors Living Alone Decreasing
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Change in Total Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Maintaining
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
High-Tech Jobs Decreasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio Maintaining
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
School Spending Per Student Maintaining
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty Maintaining
People Living in Poverty, by Education Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Maintaining
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Maintaining
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Living Wage Not Applicable
80/20 Income Ratio Maintaining
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homelessness Increasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Share of Workers who are Professionals, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable


Loading...