Downtown Safety Report
NEIGHBORHOOD • BOSTON, MASummary
Downtown has a high risk overall safety rating, with significantly elevated crime levels compared to 25 similar areas. The area has a median home value of $922K (+29.7% vs area average), median household income of $112K (+0.9% vs area average), population density of 21,264 people per square mile and occupancy rate of 77.68% (-11.9% vs area average).
Crime & Safety Analysis
Safety Overview for Downtown
Based on comprehensive analysis of 5 distinct safety categories over the past year of data, Downtown in Boston, MA receives a high risk overall safety rating. This means crime rates here are significantly higher than most comparable areas. This neighborhood was compared against 25 similar locations in the region. Each safety category below provides detailed crime statistics, temporal patterns, and comparative rankings to help you understand the specific safety profile of this neighborhood in Boston, MA.
Walking Safety
This area has significantly elevated walking safety related crime rates compared to other neighborhoods in the region. This area ranks #25 out of 25 neighborhoods analyzed.
Consider traveling in groups and staying aware of your surroundings, especially at night.
1,357
Total Incidents
113.1
Monthly Average
#25 / 25
Safety Rank
High Risk
Safety Level
Time of Day Pattern
Crime incidents in Downtown show distinct patterns throughout the day. The peak activity occurs during the morning hours, with the highest concentration at 9:00 (100 incidents). Conversely, the safest time of day is during the late night, particularly around 0:00 when incident rates drop to 9. Understanding these hourly crime patterns in Boston, MA can help residents and visitors make informed decisions about when to travel through the area.
Monthly Trend
Monthly crime data for Downtown reveals seasonal patterns and trends. The month with the highest incident count was 2025-03 with 158 incidents, while 2025-09 saw the lowest activity at 82 incidents. On average, this neighborhood in Boston experiences approximately 113 incidents per month. These temporal patterns can help residents understand when crime rates in MA neighborhoods like Downtown tend to fluctuate.
Top Crime Categories
The most common type of crime in Downtown is Misc | Investigate Person, accounting for 25.3% of all incidents (343 cases). This is followed by Drug Offenses | Drugs - Possession/ Sale/ Manufacturing/ Use at 21.9% (297 cases). The top three categories combined represent 68% of all crime in this area. Understanding the specific types of crimes that occur most frequently in Boston, MA helps residents assess relevant safety concerns for their neighborhood.
Demographics & Housing
Population Density
21,264.05
people per sq mi (average)
Ranks #12 of 25 neighborhoods
-5.4% vs area average
Occupancy Rate
77.7%
estimated units occupied
Ranks #24 of 25 neighborhoods
-11.9% vs area average
Median Home Value
$922,250.29
average estimate
Ranks #6 of 25 neighborhoods
+29.7% vs area average
Median Household Income
$111,530.73
average estimate
Ranks #14 of 25 neighborhoods
+0.9% vs area average
Age Distribution
Percentages are population-weighted averages across census tracts within this neighborhood. Hover or tap segments for detailed rankings.