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 6.5 per 1,000 residents in 2020, significantly lower than the statewide rate of 10.2. The regional rates has declined 27% since 2011, while the statewide rate have declined about 17% since 2011. Among the region's counties, the rate was highest in Worcester (9.5 per 1,000) compared to Middlesex and Norfolk (around 5.5).
Rates in 2020 were below 5 in most of the region's communities. They were highest in Marlborough (12.5), Milford and Westborough (both at 8.3), and lowest in Wayland and Medway (1 or below). Framingham (7.9) and Waltham (5.5) were on the higher end of the spectrum, while Natick was a bit lower (4.2), 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.
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts | 11.0 | 10.6 | 10.3 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 9.0 | 9.3 | 10.2 |
Region | 8.9 | 8.6 | 8.3 | 8.0 | 7.9 | 7.7 | 7.6 | 7.3 | 7.3 | 6.5 |
Middlesex County | 7.8 | 7.7 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.2 | 5.7 |
Norfolk County | 6.1 | 5.9 | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 5.7 | 5.0 |
Worcester County | 13.4 | 12.7 | 12.3 | 12.2 | 11.5 | 11.4 | 11.3 | 10.7 | 10.6 | 9.5 |
Acton town, Middlesex County | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 3.3 |
Ashland town, Middlesex County | 6.0 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.2 |
Bedford town, Middlesex County | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.9 |
Bellingham town, Norfolk County | 7.6 | 7.7 | 6.5 | 8.2 | 8.4 | 9.0 | 8.4 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.5 |
Boxborough town, Middlesex County | 4.4 | 2.2 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 5.5 | 3.8 | 1.8 | 4.3 |
Carlisle town, Middlesex County | 0.6 | 0.4 | 3.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 2.7 | ||
Concord town, Middlesex County | 3.6 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 4.1 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.0 |
Dedham town, Norfolk County | 3.8 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.6 |
Dover town, Norfolk County | 2.7 | 2.5 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 1.9 |
Framingham city, Middlesex County | 3.8 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 7.9 |
Franklin town, Norfolk County | 2.1 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 1.9 |
Groton town, Middlesex County | 0.6 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 3.4 | 4.5 |
Harvard town, Worcester County | 1.8 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 1.4 | 2.0 |
Holliston town, Middlesex County | 2.3 | 2.9 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 3.3 | 3.2 |
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County | 2.3 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 2.9 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
Hudson town, Middlesex County | 10.1 | 10.5 | 8.4 | 4.0 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 2.8 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 2.6 |
Lexington town, Middlesex County | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
Lincoln town, Middlesex County | 4.0 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 2.1 |
Littleton town, Middlesex County | 6.1 | 4.6 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 6.0 | 5.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 3.2 |
Marlborough city, Middlesex County | 18.4 | 15.2 | 14.1 | 14.6 | 12.9 | 12.2 | 13.5 | 12.9 | 13.7 | 12.5 |
Maynard town, Middlesex County | 12.3 | 9.9 | 9.3 | 7.2 | 10.3 | 9.7 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 4.6 |
Medfield town, Norfolk County | 2.1 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 1.7 | ||||
Medway town, Norfolk County | 3.1 | 2.8 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 0.7 |
Milford town, Worcester County | 11.6 | 10.6 | 9.2 | 8.4 | 9.7 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 11.0 | 8.5 | 8.3 |
Millis town, Norfolk County | 0.5 | 1.3 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.5 | ||||
Natick town, Middlesex County | 6.0 | 7.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 5.2 | 5.6 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 3.5 | 4.2 |
Needham town, Norfolk County | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 |
Sherborn town, Middlesex County | 4.3 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 6.1 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 3.5 | |
Southborough town, Worcester County | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 3.1 | 1.6 | 3.3 |
Stow town, Middlesex County | 3.7 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 3.4 | 5.1 | 5.8 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 2.6 |
Sudbury town, Middlesex County | 1.8 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 2.1 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 2.2 |
Walpole town, Norfolk County | 6.4 | 5.8 | 6.9 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 8.7 | 8.9 | 7.4 | 8.2 | 6.9 |
Waltham city, Middlesex County | 11.2 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 9.1 | 8.7 | 7.4 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 6.5 | 5.5 |
Wayland town, Middlesex County | 0.3 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | |
Wellesley town, Norfolk County | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.3 |
Westborough town, Worcester County | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 5.4 | 3.9 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 8.8 | 8.3 |
Westford town, Middlesex County | 3.0 | 2.8 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.4 |
Weston town, Middlesex County | 1.4 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.4 | 1.2 |
Westwood town, Norfolk County | 4.3 | 7.0 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 5.6 | 3.2 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 |
Notes: Rates are per 1,000 residents.
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts | 72,589 | 70,738 | 68,593 | 66,410 | 65,090 | 64,687 | 62,950 | 61,935 | 64,357 | 70,112 |
Region | 26,762 | 26,104 | 25,343 | 24,673 | 24,508 | 23,849 | 23,732 | 23,089 | 22,892 | 20,632 |
Middlesex County | 11,909 | 11,848 | 11,506 | 10,832 | 11,103 | 10,438 | 10,154 | 10,141 | 10,089 | 9,159 |
Norfolk County | 4,111 | 4,021 | 3,869 | 3,937 | 3,989 | 4,071 | 4,266 | 4,108 | 4,039 | 3,564 |
Worcester County | 10,742 | 10,235 | 9,968 | 9,904 | 9,416 | 9,340 | 9,312 | 8,840 | 8,764 | 7,909 |
Acton town, Middlesex County | 87 | 88 | 87 | 99 | 111 | 110 | 110 | 108 | 109 | 79 |
Ashland town, Middlesex County | 101 | 81 | 85 | 94 | 100 | 89 | 71 | 72 | 67 | 75 |
Bedford town, Middlesex County | 21 | 22 | 19 | 20 | 11 | 12 | 23 | 17 | 15 | 27 |
Bellingham town, Norfolk County | 125 | 127 | 109 | 138 | 141 | 153 | 144 | 112 | 120 | 130 |
Boxborough town, Middlesex County | 22 | 11 | 24 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 33 | 25 | 12 | 25 |
Carlisle town, Middlesex County | 3 | 2 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 14 | ||
Concord town, Middlesex County | 67 | 76 | 89 | 52 | 50 | 83 | 54 | 65 | 68 | 57 |
Dedham town, Norfolk County | 95 | 68 | 71 | 70 | 53 | 54 | 43 | 53 | 47 | 39 |
Dover town, Norfolk County | 15 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 12 |
Framingham city, Middlesex County | 264 | 372 | 450 | 423 | 599 | 626 | 600 | 603 | 627 | 588 |
Franklin town, Norfolk County | 66 | 58 | 54 | 46 | 43 | 67 | 85 | 110 | 81 | 66 |
Groton town, Middlesex County | 7 | 23 | 38 | 23 | 29 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 39 | 51 |
Harvard town, Worcester County | 12 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 22 | 17 | 17 | 9 | 13 |
Holliston town, Middlesex County | 32 | 40 | 33 | 24 | 37 | 36 | 27 | 33 | 49 | 48 |
Hopkinton town, Middlesex County | 35 | 40 | 24 | 24 | 34 | 29 | 50 | 35 | 33 | 33 |
Hudson town, Middlesex County | 194 | 205 | 166 | 79 | 67 | 78 | 56 | 98 | 85 | 51 |
Lexington town, Middlesex County | 28 | 22 | 27 | 20 | 38 | 33 | 30 | 41 | 51 | 54 |
Lincoln town, Middlesex County | 26 | 21 | 16 | 23 | 15 | 16 | 23 | 24 | 11 | 15 |
Littleton town, Middlesex County | 55 | 42 | 36 | 44 | 59 | 53 | 44 | 46 | 55 | 33 |
Marlborough city, Middlesex County | 715 | 597 | 555 | 577 | 512 | 486 | 538 | 517 | 544 | 493 |
Maynard town, Middlesex County | 125 | 102 | 97 | 76 | 110 | 104 | 69 | 62 | 64 | 53 |
Medfield town, Norfolk County | 25 | 41 | 45 | 18 | 12 | 22 | ||||
Medway town, Norfolk County | 39 | 36 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 27 | 23 | 47 | 22 | 10 |
Milford town, Worcester County | 325 | 300 | 261 | 238 | 276 | 275 | 273 | 319 | 246 | 242 |
Millis town, Norfolk County | 4 | 10 | 41 | 32 | 32 | 29 | ||||
Natick town, Middlesex County | 201 | 264 | 188 | 218 | 188 | 206 | 189 | 202 | 128 | 153 |
Needham town, Norfolk County | 46 | 39 | 45 | 49 | 66 | 52 | 52 | 71 | 73 | 71 |
Sherborn town, Middlesex County | 18 | 19 | 13 | 26 | 18 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 15 | |
Southborough town, Worcester County | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 30 | 30 | 27 | 32 | 16 | 34 |
Stow town, Middlesex County | 25 | 19 | 31 | 24 | 36 | 42 | 24 | 20 | 24 | 19 |
Sudbury town, Middlesex County | 33 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 40 | 70 | 42 | 44 |
Walpole town, Norfolk County | 155 | 143 | 170 | 159 | 168 | 218 | 224 | 187 | 206 | 174 |
Waltham city, Middlesex County | 687 | 633 | 629 | 573 | 552 | 469 | 434 | 461 | 407 | 344 |
Wayland town, Middlesex County | 4 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
Wellesley town, Norfolk County | 62 | 63 | 65 | 61 | 56 | 48 | 37 | 47 | 51 | 37 |
Westborough town, Worcester County | 92 | 86 | 81 | 102 | 73 | 105 | 99 | 116 | 169 | 158 |
Westford town, Middlesex County | 68 | 63 | 77 | 62 | 41 | 57 | 36 | 46 | 38 | 34 |
Weston town, Middlesex County | 16 | 15 | 25 | 18 | 9 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 29 | 15 |
Westwood town, Norfolk County | 63 | 104 | 85 | 82 | 67 | 91 | 52 | 43 | 49 | 57 |
INDICATORS | REGIONAL TREND |
---|---|
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments | Increasing |
Households Without Vehicles | Maintaining |
Means of Transportation to Work | Not Applicable |
Households With Internet Access | Not Applicable |
Voter Participation Rate | Increasing |
Average Charitable Contribution | Maintaining |
People Without Health Insurance | Decreasing |
Drug Poisoning Mortality Rate | Increasing |
Crimes Against People | Decreasing |
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity | Not Applicable |