The 10 Most Dangerous Cities In Massachusetts For 2022


We used data and science to identify the most dangerous cities in the Bay State for 2022.

RoadSnacks is reader-supported. When you click through real estate links on our site, we earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Article Table Of Contents   

(Skip to section)

If you're from Massachusetts then you know that you have to watch out for more than just Old World ghosts in Boston, scary Witches in Salem, and grumpy New Englanders in Worcester: The Bay State has some pretty dangerous places, too.

It's not all bougie Harvard graduates and snobby Celtics fans, either. Massachusetts has some pretty scary criminals, and they can be found in the state's most dangerous cities. Lucky for you, RoadSnacks has created a list of the most dangerous places in Massachusetts for 2022 and we think that you should definitely check it out before you make any major moves.

How'd we determine the most dangerous places in Red Sox country? We consulted the numbers. In total, we analyzed 240 cities. We looked at the FBI's latest crime report for violent crime and property crime statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. We discovered that Massachusetts has some pretty interesting statistics when it comes to violent and property crime compared to the national average. The state is winning the arson game, but losing in murder and aggravated assault. And, shockingly, the city with the most assaults and murders in the state only has 13,000 residents.

While Massachusetts was not in the top ten most dangerous states in the country, Springfield is one of the most dangerous cities in the country. And if we were handing out the "Most Dangerous New England State" award, word on the street is that Massachusetts would be number one. Maybe Massachusetts' just needs a hug? Or, maybe the state's most dangerous cities need more police presence. We're not entirely sure; but one thing we do know is that you should check out Massachusetts' most dangerous places below: there may be some surprises.

The Most Dangerous Cities In Massachusetts For 2022

  1. Holyoke
  2. Springfield
  3. North Adams
  4. Worcester
  5. Hadley
  6. Brockton
  7. Boston
  8. West Springfield
  9. Pittsfield
  10. Chicopee

If you guessed that most of Massachusetts' problems are centered around many of the state's biggest cities, you guessed right. Surprisingly, however, the state's most dangerous city is not one of the state's most populated.

So, where is the most dangerous place in The Baked Bean State? The most dangerous place in Massachusetts would be Holyoke.

If you want to know where the rest of Massachusetts' most dangerous cities are located, take a look below. And if you don't find what you're looking for there, head to the bottom.

Learn more about the safest places in Massachusetts.

If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

For more Massachusetts reading, check out:

The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Massachusetts For 2022

For the third year running, Holyoke takes the top spot on our list of Massachusetts' most dangerous cities. Situated just north of Springfield, between the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range, Holyoke seems to be in a nice area.

But don't let that fool you because the total crime rate in Holyoke is three times higher than the statewide average.

Folks in Holyoke had a 1 in 32 chance of being the victim of a property crime in 2020, so keeping your doors locked and your eye on your valuables is paramount here.

On top of that, Holyoake averaged just under one violent crime per day, with the 49th highest rate of rape cases and second highest murder rate in Massachusetts.

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 40,002
Rank Last Year: 1 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 904 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,114 (Most dangerous)
More on Holyoke:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Holyoke, MA

Springfield is home to both America's largest handgun producer, Smith & Wesson, and beloved children's book author and illustrator Dr. Seuss.

Ultimately, the Smith & Wesson side of Springfield shines brighter, considering the city had the highest violent crime rate in Massachusetts. Springfield had the sixth highest murder rate statewide, reporting 18 murders in 2020.

Overall, Springfield residents had a 1 in 103 chance of being the victim of a violent crime over the year, so nobody will blame you for being a bit guarded here.

You'll also want to lock your doors in Massachusetts' 3rd biggest city because Springfield also had the fifth highest burglary rate in the state.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 153,084
Rank Last Year: 2 (No Change)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 966 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,436 (Fourth most dangerous)
More on Springfield:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Springfield, MA

Source: Public domain

North Adams is a city of 12,620 in Berkshire County in western Massachusetts. Known as a center for tourism, culture, and recreation, North Adams is also starting to be recognized as quite a dangerous place.

For example, North Adams had the second highest burglary rate in the state, recording 69 break-ins in 2020. We can only pray they have enough security at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, the largest museum of its class in the country.

While violent crime as a whole is relatively low in North Adams, the city did have the unfortunate distinction of having the 16th highest rate of rape cases in the state.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 12,620
Rank Last Year: 7 (Up 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 681 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,432 (Fifth most dangerous)
More on North Adams:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

North Adams, MA

Known as the "Heart of the Commonwealth" for its central-Massachusetts location, Worcester is the second biggest city in New England and the state's fourth most dangerous city.

Worcester had about one murder per month in 2020, giving it the 15th highest murder rate statewide. And that represents just a small portion of the 1,169 violent crimes reported over the year.

On top of that, Worcester averaged about ten property crimes per day in 2020, so you'll want to double-check your pockets and purses after a day out at Green Hill Park.

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 184,850
Rank Last Year: 8 (Up 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 632 (Eighth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,998 (Seventh most dangerous)
More on Worcester:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Worcester, MA

5. Hadley

Located some 20 miles north of Springfield, Hadley is Massachusetts' fifth most dangerous place.

Hadley is a town of 5,352, making it the smallest spot on this list. But if you thought small towns were automatically safer, think again.

Hadley had the 59th highest rate of rape cases in the state, accounting for 25% of all violent crimes committed over the year.

Add to that the third highest property crime rate in Mass, and you've got a recipe for a busy workload for the Hadley Police Department.

Population: 5,352
Rank Last Year: 9 (Up 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 485 (15th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,821 (Third most dangerous)
More on Hadley:

Hadley, MA

Situated about 25 miles south of Boston, Brockton comes in as the sixth most dangerous place to call home in Massachusetts.

Brockton had the fifth highest violent crime rate in the state, recording 752 such crimes over 2020.

While property crime in Brockton didn't rank in the top ten this year, the city still had a high rate of car thefts, reporting 384 cars stolen over the year. All the more reason to lock your car in secluded areas, like when you're going for a walk at Ames Nowell State Park.

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 99,171
Rank Last Year: 3 (Down 3)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 758 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,672 (14th most dangerous)
More on Brockton:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Brockton, MA

Boston is a large city, located along the ocean, on the far eastern edge of Massachusetts. You may have heard of it. Along with its size, Beantown also represents one of the oldest major metropolitan areas in the country, filled with plenty of high-profile cultural and historical monuments. If you're into U.S. history, start planning your trip to Boston.

But, if you visit, come with open eyes. Yes, this is a thriving city. But, as such, you'll have to contend with a high crime rate. In fact, Boston represents the number 7 most dangerous spot in Massachusetts. The disturbing crime statistics include 58 murders and 184 sexual assaults.

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 697,323
Rank Last Year: -
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 624 (Tenth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,866 (Ninth most dangerous)
More on Boston:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Boston, MA

8. West Springfield

Located across the Connecticut River from Springfield, West Springfield ranks as the eighth most dangerous city in Massachusetts.

While the violent crime rate in West Springfield doesn't hold a candle to Springfield, property crime is nearly as bad here. In fact, with the second highest property crime rate, West Springfield's overall crime rate ranks as the second highest in Massachusetts.

That includes 726 larceny cases and 73 car thefts, or just about one per week. Someone needs to stage a production of "Crime and Punishment" at the Majestic Theater, so the city can begin its path to redemption.

Population: 28,437
Rank Last Year: 10 (Up 2)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 471 (18th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,091 (Second most dangerous)
More on West Springfield:

West Springfield, MA

Pittsfield is the largest city and county seat of Berkshire County and the ninth most dangerous place in Mass.

Pittsfield had about five burglaries per week in 2020, giving the city of 41,865 the highest burglary rate in the state. We just hope nobody tries to pull a heist on the local Berkshire Museum.

Violent crime in Pittsfield is an even bigger problem. Throughout 2020, residents had a 1 in 122 shot of being robbed, raped, assaulted, or murdered.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 41,865
Rank Last Year: 5 (Down 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 814 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 1,586 (16th most dangerous)
More on Pittsfield:  | Cost Of Living | Crime Report

Pittsfield, MA

Located smack dab in the middle of Holyoke and Springfield, Chicopee location doesn't do it any favors, vis a vis crime. When it comes to violent crime, Chicopee isn't nearly as bad as the cities it borders, but the property crime rate is almost as high.

Chicopee had 851 larceny cases in 2020, so it's good practice to make sure you still have all your valuables after a picnic at Chicopee Memorial State Park.

And while violent crime isn't as bad as some other cities you'll see here, Chicopee still averaged just about one violent crime per day in 2020.

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 54,918
Rank Last Year: 6 (Down 4)
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 535 (14th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,090 (Sixth most dangerous)
More on Chicopee:  | Cost Of Living

Chicopee, MA

Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts for 2022?

Every year the FBI release two crime datasets, a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in the country, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.

For our analysis, we focused on the JUST released 2020 data, specifically the 2020 Crime In The United States Report. We will update the results when data becomes available in September 2022.

So what criteria did we use? Have a look:

  • Violent Crimes Per Capita
  • Property Crimes Per Capita

In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Massachusetts cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 240 cities in Massachusetts.

We then ranked each city from 1 to 240 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.

Next, we averaged the two rankings into one "Dangerous Index".

Finally, we ranked every city on the "Dangerous Index" with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Massachusetts -- Holyoke. Any ties went to the smaller city. You can download the data here.

Most Dangerous Places To Live In Massachusetts FAQs

Is Massachusetts a dangerous state?

No, Massachusetts is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #9 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in massachusetts ranks 32nd highest in the United States -- 20.37% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Bay State ranks 50th highest in the United States -- 46.22% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020.

Is Boston, MA a dangerous city?

No, Boston is not a dangerous city. Boston ranks as the #124 safest out of 320 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Boston might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, West Roxbury is the safest in Boston, while Central is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.

Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Boston ranks 108th highest in America -- 13.75% worse than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 229th highest in the United States -- 29.72% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2020 and that no city in America is 'dangerous'. Despite the uptick in murders, it's nothing like you'd see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.

Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Massachusetts

Most Dangerous Cities In Massachusetts Graph

Click To Enlarge

Summary: Locking It All Up In Massachusetts

So what is the most dangerous city in Massachusetts? After analyzing 240 cities in Massachusetts, Holyoke takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Massachusetts based on the most recently reported FBI data -- 2020.

The latest FBI crime data shows that Holyoke ranks as the most dangerous city in Massachusetts for 2022.

We want to point out again that there's still safes places in Holyoke and that this isn't a comment on the people that live there. So please don't beat us up.

If you guessed that most of Massachusetts' problems are centered around many of the state's biggest cities, you guessed right. Surprisingly, however, the state's most dangerous city is not one of the state's most populated.

So, where is the most dangerous place in The Baked Bean State? The most dangerous place in Massachusetts would be Holyoke.

If you want to know where the rest of Massachusetts' most dangerous cities are located, take a look below. And if you don't find what you're looking for there, head to the bottom.

Learn more about the safest places in Massachusetts.

If you're looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.

Here are the safest cities in Massachusetts:

  1. Boxford (Pop. 8,328)
  2. Merrimac (Pop. 6,992)
  3. Westford (Pop. 25,011)
  4. Clinton (Pop. 13,967)
  5. Holden (Pop. 19,412)
  6. Hopkinton (Pop. 18,806)
  7. Norfolk (Pop. 12,068)
  8. Franklin (Pop. 34,281)
  9. Groveland (Pop. 6,856)
  10. Wayland (Pop. 13,859)

For more Massachusetts reading, check out:

Crime By City In Massachusetts

Rank City Population Violent Crimes Per Capita Property Crimes Per Capita
1 Holyoke 40,002 904 3,114
2 Springfield 153,084 966 2,436
3 North Adams 12,620 681 2,432
4 Worcester 184,850 632 1,998
5 Hadley 5,352 485 2,821
6 Brockton 99,171 758 1,672
7 Boston 697,323 624 1,866
8 West Springfield 28,437 471 3,091
9 Pittsfield 41,865 814 1,586
10 Chicopee 54,918 535 2,090
11 New Bedford 94,886 628 1,774
12 Leominster 41,598 478 1,675
13 Chelsea 39,995 622 1,425
14 Fitchburg 40,443 546 1,444
15 Gardner 20,629 450 1,250
16 Fall River 89,136 873 1,115
17 Everett 46,765 387 1,441
18 Holbrook 11,035 389 1,304
19 Northampton 28,428 323 1,649
20 Webster 16,876 687 1,078
21 Lowell 110,876 313 1,469
22 Cambridge 119,938 284 1,834
23 Southbridge 16,805 434 1,136
24 Fairhaven 16,014 368 1,242
25 Revere 52,930 370 1,241
26 Dennis 13,760 370 1,170
27 Orange 7,554 251 1,535
28 Haverhill 64,015 474 996
29 Quincy 94,519 320 1,212
30 Salem 43,154 250 1,506
31 Framingham 74,680 353 1,154
32 Malden 60,231 268 1,246
33 Lynn 94,223 443 965
34 Attleboro 45,181 303 1,168
35 Yarmouth 23,015 378 942
36 Wareham 23,619 376 973
37 Athol 11,682 402 898
38 South Hadley 17,613 232 1,243
39 Falmouth 30,769 295 1,111
40 Plymouth 64,199 288 1,113
41 Ludlow 21,171 311 1,067
42 Seekonk 15,927 182 1,871
43 Marlborough 39,498 377 893
44 Montague 8,185 549 781
45 Lawrence 79,997 447 808
46 Palmer 12,200 360 885
47 Sturbridge 9,585 260 1,064
48 Barnstable 44,169 425 792
49 Bridgewater 8,107 308 900
50 Dartmouth 33,986 211 1,200

How Is Your Town In ?

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our ninth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Massachusetts and is updated for 2022.

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.