11 Safest Towns in Massachusetts
- Clinton
- Northborough
- Hopkinton
- Wayland
- Franklin
- Sharon
- Lexington
- Arlington
- Sudbury
- Andover
- Newton
1. Clinton
The safest place to live in Massachusetts is Clinton. Clinton is a peaceful and quiet town located in central Massachusetts. Clinton’s population is around 15,428, and it has a total crime rate that is around 98% lower than the national average. Sites of interest include Central Park, the Wachusett Reservoir, and the Museum of Russian Icons. The median home price in Clinton is currently $400,741.
2. Northborough
Northborough is another one of the safest towns in Massachusetts. It’s a small town with a population of 15,714 located about 40 miles west of Boston. Northborough is known for its quaint New England charm, pastoral beauty, and friendly neighbors. It’s also very safe, with a crime rate of just 45 incidents per 100,000 people. That makes the total crime rate 98% lower than the rest of the US, while the violent crime rate is 91% lower, and the property crime rate is 99% lower. Your chances of being the victim of a crime in Northborough are 1 in 2243.
3. Hopkinton
Hopkinton is another one of the safest towns in Massachusetts. It is located in Middlesex County, just 25 miles west of Boston. This wooded suburban community has a population of 18,758 and a crime rate that is 91% below the national average. Hopkinton is a great choice for commuters looking for space and safety outside of Boston. While Hopkinton is generally referred to as a bedroom community, the town still has plenty of shops, restaurants, and amenities. The median home price in Hopkinton is currently $872,472.
4. Wayland
Wayland is also among the safest towns in Massachusetts. Located in Middlesex County, Wayland is a small town of about 13,943 people situated about 20 miles west of Boston. It’s known for its excellent schools, family-oriented atmosphere, and low crime rate. Wayland features many beautiful single-family homes in manicured neighborhoods lined with trees and lakefront views. The total crime rate in Wayland is 90% lower than the rest of the country. The violent crime rate is only seven incidents per 100,000 residents, and your odds of being the victim of a crime in Wayland are 1 in 10,000.
Shopping options are abundant at places like the Wayland Town Center. Wayland’s downtown makes for a great walk, with many buildings featuring a distinct colonial style. The current median home price in Wayland is $1,022,284.
5. Franklin
Franklin is also one of the safest cities in MA. Franklin is located in Norfolk County and offers residents plenty of small-town charm and a lot of safety. Franklin’s population is 36,745, with a crime rate that is 89% lower than the national average. Franklin is a town that values higher learning, being home to the first public library in America and Dean College. Franklin is located just north of Providence, RI, which puts the town near a larger city. The median home price in Franklin is $612,688.
6. Sharon
Sharon is a town in Norfolk County located just 17 miles from Boston. The town’s population is around 18,575, with a crime rate that is 86% below the national average. Sharon has a large amount of conservation land within its borders and is home to trails such as the Warner Trail, the Bay Circuit Trail, and Borderland State Park. Sharon also has great public transportation and a commuter rail service in Boston. The current median home price in Sharon is $778,604.
7. Lexington
Another one of the safest places to live in Massachusetts is Lexington. Besides having safe and quaint streets, this small town in Middlesex County is loaded with Revolutionary War History. Lexington is the site of the Battle of Lexington, where the famous “shot heard round the world” took place. The town is also home to the Minute Man National Historic Park. The population of Lexington is currently around 34,454, with a crime rate that is 84% lower than the national average. Lexington’s median home price is much higher than the national average at $778,604.
8. Arlington
Arlington is another one of the safest towns in Massachusetts. Situated just six miles northwest of Boston, Arlington is a wealthy suburb with a median household income of $125,701. As of the 2020 census, it has a population of 46,308. Arlington is a safe, quiet community with a total crime rate that’s 75% lower than the national average. The violent crime rate is 84% lower than the rest of the country, while the property crime rate is 70% lower.
9. Sudbury
Sudbury is also one of the safest cities in Massachusetts. Sudbury is a small, low-key community located just outside of Boston. With a population of 18,934, Sudbury has a total crime rate that is 78% below the national average. For those that enjoy colonial charm, Sudbury has plenty, with many historic buildings, homes, and estates featuring a quaint New England style of architecture. Many of the city’s landmarks date back to the early 1600s, with the Sudbury Historic District being listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. The current median home price in Sudbury is $1,075,935.
10. Andover
Andover is also one of the safest towns in Massachusetts. Located 20 miles north of Boston, Andover is a peaceful suburb with a quaint New England charm. Its population is 36,569 residents, and the crime rate is 73% lower than the US average. The murder rate is currently 0, and the violent crime rate is 68% lower than the rest of the country. It also has a property crime rate that is 74% lower than the rest of the US.
11. Newton
Another one of the safest cities in Massachusetts is Newton. Located just 7 miles outside of Boston, Newton has a history dating back to the earliest American settlements. Newton is a medium-sized city with a population of 88,923 and a total crime rate that is 73% lower than the national average. Newton has a tight-knit sense of community, with several annual marathons being held in the city drawing many spectators and participants. Even though Newton is just outside of Boston, the city still has plenty of its own dining and shopping options. The current median home price in Newton is quite high at nearly $1.4 million. So if you want to live in one of the safest Boston suburbs, you’ll need to pony up some serious cash.