National & Regional Crime Comparison

1997 Crimes Per 100,000 Residents in Cities of 95,000–105,000 People, Nationwide*

*The numbers given here are not the actual number of crimes but the ratio of crime per 100,000 people. For instance, in 1997, Cambridge reported 4,430 total Index Crimes. Our population is 95,802, so the ratio of Index Crimes to population is 4430:95802. This calculates to crimes 4,624 per 100,000 people.

A comparison of Cambridge's 1997 Index Crimes to crime totals nationwide shows that Cambridge ranked below the nationwide average for all index crimes. When ranked in order of total crimes, Cambridge ranked just below the median (the nationwide average is distorted by the two cities with the highest crime rate in our population range: Miami Beach, FL and Gainesville, FL).

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 four and eight per year.

Rape: Traditionally just at the National average; in 1997, far below.

Robbery: Slightly lower 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 "street crimes."

Assault: Slightly 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: Slightly 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. Note Cambridge's larceny ranking in the regional comparison, however.

Auto theft: Lower than the national average.

How Cambridge Compares Locally:

Murder: Lower than average for 1997, but probably about average in the normal year.

Rape: Slightly lower than the average.

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

Burglary: Significantly lower than average.

Larceny: Much higher than the local average (see below).

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).

Back to the 1998 Annual Report Index