Curious whether the City of Newton really deserves its reputation for peace and quiet? If you’re scanning homes for sale in Newton, MA or just weighing the cost of living in Newton, the first question is always safety.
Below you’ll find honest, boots-on-the-ground perspective—think neighborly chat over espresso at George Howell rather than a polished brochure—plus the latest crime data and takeaway insights so you can decide if Newton is the right place to live.
Overview of Newton Crime Rates
Big picture first: the overall crime rate in Newton is strikingly low. According to NeighborhoodScout’s 2024 report, the city records just 6.19 incidents per 1,000 residents, a total crime rate that’s 73 percent lower than the national average and easily puts Newton among the top 100 safest cities nationwide.
Crunching the same FBI-fed numbers shows you have a chance of being a victim once in 162, compared with 1 in 44 nationally—solid odds whether you’re jogging the Charles River path or parking downtown.
Little wonder Newton ranks well on every “safest-places” list that circulates each January.
Crime Rates in Newton, MA
Property Crime
Package thieves and garage rummagers do exist, but they’re rare. The current property crime rate sits at 5.59 per 1,000 residents, translating to 494 incidents last year. That’s well below the national average and even under the Massachusetts mean.
AreaVibes pegs the rate of crime in Newton for burglary, theft, and motor-vehicle snatches at 69 percent under the U.S. baseline. So, while porch cameras are smart anywhere, they’re insurance more than a necessity here.
Violent Crime
Newton posts a violent crime rate of just 0.60 per 1,000—“one of the lowest” in any Boston suburb of similar size. Your chance of becoming a victim of assault, robbery, or worse is 1 in 1,668, which means violent crime makes virtually no dent in daily life.
The Newton Police Department’s 2022 annual report confirms the same pattern: single-digit aggravated assaults, zero murders, and no uptick in serious offenses.
Other Crime in Newton
Everyday nuisances—vandalism, noise skirmishes, the odd bar fight—show up on the live Newton crime map, but even those logged fewer calls this spring than last.
Which Newton Neighborhoods are the Safest?
Newton Centre
Smack in the middle of the Newton area, Newton Centre is a walkable village dotted with cafés and the Green Line stop. The overall crime footprint here is tiny—NeighborhoodScout’s tract shows fewer than five reported offenses per year—and locals credit the steady foot traffic for deterring trouble.
If you’re hunting homes for sale in Newton with a downtown vibe and lower crime, this is your target.
West Newton
Historic West Newton mixes stately Victorians with pocket parks, and it consistently registers the lowest violent crime counts in the city.
Police log books show burglary drops almost every quarter, and long-timers swear it’s because neighbors “know every dog on the block.” Good reason many call it the best place to live if you crave suburban peace near commuter rails.
Newton Highlands
Tree-framed streets and an active Village Day committee keep crime in Newton Highlands minimal. Over the past five years, the property crime tally has hovered at single digits, and the violent column often sits at zero.
Families like that the Highlands offers both quiet nights and quick hops to Route 9, all with a crime rate per thousand that’s miles below nearby corridors.
Newton Corner
Sandwiched between I-90 ramps, Newton Corner might look busier, but the stats stay tame. Police lists typically show car break-ins as the only recurring headache, and those dipped 20 percent last year after extra patrols.
For condo buyers wanting city access without higher crime, Newton Corner checks plenty of boxes.
Waban & Oak Hill
Waban South and adjacent Oak Hill share leafy lanes and an involved PTA. Together they post detailed crime rates so low they’re almost statistical blips. Real estate portals often tout this duo as one of the safest micro-markets statewide, an edge that keeps demand—and prices—strong.
(Note: Newton Upper Falls and Newton Lower Falls also post enviable numbers, but their small populations make year-to-year comparisons tricky.)
Safety and Living in Newton, MA
Factors Influencing Low Crime Rates in Newton, MA
Locals cite a cocktail of prosperity, civic engagement, and relentless volunteer culture. Community events fill calendars, youth programs run year-round, and neighborhood groups flag streetlights the minute they flicker.
All of that social glue translates into lower than the national average risk across every category.
Role of the Newton Police Department
Community policing isn’t just a buzzword here. The Newton Police Department fields bicycle patrols, “Coffee with a Cop” mornings, and publishes quarterly crime statistics online for the Newton public to review. Their adherence to the FBI’s uniform crime reporting standards lets residents compare Newton apples-to-apples with any other town.
Comparing Newton, MA with Nearby Cities
Boston, MA
Drive ten miles east and the numbers change dramatically. Boston’s total crime clocks in at 26.7 per 1,000, more than four times Newton’s. NeighborhoodScout lists a violent crime rate of 6.2 per 1,000 and a property crime rate of 20 per 1,000. If you compare Newton to its big-city neighbor, Newton is simply safer.
Wellesley, MA
Affluent Wellesley posts eye-popping lows: a violent crime rate of 0 (yes, zero) per 1,000 and a property crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000. Your odds of any offense are 1 in 192. That puts Newton and Wellesley neck and neck among safest cities in the state.
Waltham, MA
Next-door Waltham posts 11.49 incidents per 1,000 residents—still moderate, but almost double the crime rates for Newton. Violent offenses run 2.5 per 1,000, and analysts flag rising theft along Moody Street, highlighting the protective bubble Newton enjoys.
Needham, MA
Needham lands between Newton and Waltham: 8.18 crimes per 1,000, with violent at 0.78 and property at 7.4. Your chance of becoming a victim is 1 in 135. Newton still wins on overall crime rate, but the gap isn’t huge.
Brookline, MA
Brookline’s vibe resembles Newton’s, yet its property crime sits at 7.86 per 1,000 and violent at 0.65. That still means Newton is safer—one more reason some families swallow the marginally higher mortgage instead of gambling on higher crime closer to Fenway.
The bottom line: each nearby city is perfectly livable, but Newton’s total crime rate remains the benchmark many suburbs chase.
Summary of Crime Rates and Safety in Newton, MA
Across the board, Newton crime rates shine. From violent and property crimes to the nitty-gritty “other” category, every metric lands well below the national average.From bustling Newton Centre cafés to the quiet sidewalks of Waban, the rate of crime stays low, the vibe stays friendly, and Newton keeps its spot among one of the safest bets in Greater Boston—for residents, investors, and even the occasional cautious first-time visitor looking not just for good schools, but genuine peace of mind.
Newton, MA Safety FAQs
Is Newton safer than most American suburbs of its size?
Yes. Newton is safer than roughly 62 percent of U.S. communities, thanks to a total crime footprint far beneath national norms.
What’s my chance of becoming a victim of crime in Newton?
Current stats place your chance of becoming a victim at 1 in 162 overall and 1 in 1,668 for a victim of a violent crime—numbers enviably less than the national average.
Does Newton see more property crime or violent crime?
Like most suburbs, property crime (package theft tops the list) outnumbers assaults, but even that sits at under six crimes per 1,000 residents.
