CAMBRIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT

1997 Annual Crime Report

National/Regional Crime Comparison

1996 Crimes Per 100,000 Residents in Cities of 95,000–105,000 People, Nationwide*

City

Murder

Rape

Robbery

Assault

Burglary

Larceny

Auto Theft

Total
Daly City, CA

0

15

178

151

290

1,877

567

3,078
Livonia, MI

2

22

64

148

500

2,239

399

3,373
Greece Town, NY

0

12

47

19

333

2,725

292

3,427
Edison Township, NJ

1

12

105

200

538

2,009

609

3,475
Provo, UT

1

48

22

108

574

2,806

220

3,780
Arvada, CO

1

17

55

132

613

2,774

211

3,804
Carrollton, TX

1

15

66

274

673

2,477

355

3,862
Woodbridge Tshp, NJ

1

16

101

194

546

2,405

621

3,884
South Gate, CA

8

18

513

343

722

1,150

1,295

4,049
Ventura, CA

6

27

152

232

975

2,412

407

4,210
Norwalk, CA

14

25

322

790

695

1,484

965

4,295
Green Bay, WI

3

37

65

269

560

3,338

215

4,487
Santa Clara, CA

0

20

80

351

579

3,269

372

4,671
West Covina, CA

6

23

261

253

769

2,567

864

4,742
New Bedford, MA

2

72

224

756

1,198

1,679

855

4,786
Carson, CA

21

41

319

872

877

1,749

943

4,821
Lowell, MA

5

44

148

854

842

1,982

1,001

4,877
Fall River, MA

3

32

103

567

1,012

2,484

722

4,924
Midland, TX

4

58

80

235

1,029

3,270

286

4,962
Palmdale, CA

6

36

248

798

1,174

2,141

661

5,063
Corona, CA

4

19

210

413

1,227

2,403

835

5,111
Cambridge, MA

1

35

237

398

826

3,103

568

5,168
Manchester, NH

1

56

138

45

845

3,664

429

5,179
Fort Collins, CO

3

68

44

290

801

3,906

153

5,265
Costa Mesa, CA

1

22

158

194

894

3,537

616

5,422
Compton, CA

74

40

845

751

1,311

1,381

1,235

5,636
El Cajon, CA

5

35

223

669

1,105

2,762

896

5,696
San Angelo, TX

2

40

42

406

800

4,248

173

5,712
Roanoke, VI

15

43

277

251

948

4,465

316

6,314
Wichita Falls, TX

9

80

149

625

1,002

4,359

364

6,588
Odessa, TX

14

35

130

941

1,215

4,193

313

6,842
Clearwater, FL

2

60

209

850

1,313

4,623

297

7,354
Waterbury, CT

13

38

237

348

1,865

4,248

936

7,684
Albany, NY

10

44

468

557

1,989

4,151

530

7,749
Athens-Clarke, GA

13

62

206

495

1,186

5,751

509

8,222
Lafayette, LA

8

73

239

499

1,333

5,419

654

8,225
Davenport, IA

4

56

277

1,156

1,408

5,151

488

8,540
Berkeley, CA

8

32

486

548

1,483

6,600

1,048

10,205
McAllen, TX

5

23

149

373

1,487

7,793

954

10,785
Miami Beach, FL

10

44

699

951

2,601

11,644

2,152

18,101
                 
Average

7

37

214

458

1,003

3,506

633

5,859
Cambridge

1

35

237

398

826

3,103

568

5,168

*The numbers given here are not the actual number of crimes but the ratio of crime per 100,000 people. For instance, in 1996, Cambridge reported 4,951 total Index Crimes. Our population is 95,802, so the ratio of Index Crimes to population is 4,951:95,802. This calculates to 5,168 crimes per 100,000 people.

A comparison of Cambridge's 1996 Index Crimes to crime totals nationwide shows that Cambridge ranked below the nationwide average for all index crimes except robbery. However, when ranked in order of total crimes, Cambridge ranked just above the median (the nationwide average is distorted by the three cities with the highest crime rate: Miami Beach, FL, McAllen, TX, and Berkeley, CA.

 

How Cambridge Compares Nationally:

Murder: Very low compared to the national average. Cambridge murders range from one to three per year in the average 1990s year, while most cities of our size report between seven and 12 per year.

Rape: Traditionally just at the National average; in 1996, slightly below.

Robbery: Slightly higher than the national average. We note that few of the other cities on the list are situated right next door to major metropolises, which doubtless accounts for a high percentage of our "street crimes."

Assault: Significantly below the national average, but statistics are shaky, influenced by reporting practices.

Burglary: Significantly below the national average, as the professional burglar disappears in the northeast.

Larceny: Lower than the national average. In the northeast, because of climate, Larceny is less of a factor between three and six months of the year. Cities with a high larceny rate are almost all in warm climates.

Auto theft: Lower than the national average.

 

Reported Crimes in Massachusetts Cities and Towns

Between 50,000 and 150,000 Residents

   

Crimes per 100,000 Residents*
City

Pop.

Murder

Rape

Robbery

Assault

Burglary

Larceny

Auto Theft

Total
Lawrence

63,648

3

27

457

1,472

1,950

2,035

2,781

8,725
Lynn

78,972

8

29

296

1,209

1,216

2,408

1,612

6,778
Brockton

88,148

9

43

254

868

1,331

2,398

1,249

6,152
Lowell

96,863

5

44

148

854

842

1,982

1,001

4,877
Somerville

69,521

3

9

155

544

621

1,788

895

4,015
New Bedford

95,420

2

72

224

756

1,198

1,679

855

4,786
Haverhill

53,408

0

66

92

524

1,646

2,309

811

5,447
Fall River

90,179

3

32

103

567

1,012

2,484

722

4,924
Malden

52,239

2

23

107

712

760

1,164

614

3,383
Cambridge

95,802

1

35

237

398

826

3,103

568

5,168
Taunton

52,058

4

10

90

388

676

1,804

496

3,467
Quincy

84,748

4

29

59

225

720

1,932

450

3,418
Brookline

56,533

0

12

74

304

485

2,174

405

3,455
Medford

56,139

4

9

41

550

534

1,666

378

3,181
Waltham

55,253

2

9

36

228

387

1,647

219

2,528
Newton

86,078

0

7

15

116

359

1,143

185

1,825
Framingham

67,580

1

36

70

377

678

1,663

123

2,948
Chicopee

55,487

0

4

16

119

96

377

47

658
                   
Average  

3

28

138

567

852

1,875

745

4,207
Cambridge  

1

35

237

398

826

3,103

568

5,168

*The numbers given here are not the actual number of crimes but the ratio of crime per 100,000 people. For instance, in 1996, Cambridge reported 4,951 total Index Crimes. Our population is 95,802, so the ratio of Index Crimes to population is 4,951:95,802. This calculates to 5,168 crimes per 100,000 people.

How Cambridge Compares Locally:

Murder: Lower than average for 1996, but probably about average in the average year.

Rape: Higher than the average.

Robbery: Significantly higher than the average, probably due to our proximity to a major metropolis.

Burglary: Slightly lower than average.

Larceny: Much higher than the local average.

Auto Theft: significantly lower than the local average.

We are obliged to note that the majority of these cities empty during the day; Cambridge fills. Our daytime population is estimated at 250,000 people. This is reflected in the higher rates of burglary in the other cities (more likely with fewer people around) and the higher rates of robbery and larceny in Cambridge (more likely with more people around).

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