Community Life
Crimes Against People


Crimes Against People

What does this measure?

The number of reported crimes against people, per 1,000 residents. Murder, kidnapping/abduction, forcible and statutory rape, aggravated and sexual assault, and intimidation/stalking are included in this measure.

Why is this important?

Crime detracts from the quality of life of those who directly experience and witness it, but it also impacts the lives of others within the community, as well as housing stability, and a community's attractiveness as a place to live, work, and do business.

How is our county doing?

The rate of reported crimes against people in Essex County was 9 per 1,000 residents in 2021, lower than the statewide rate of 10.6, and a slight increase in rate for both since 2020. Essex County's rate fell steadily from 2013-18 but has slowly increased from 2019-2021.

The cities of Haverhill and Lynn (22.9 and 15.2 respectively) had the highest crime rates in the county, while a number of towns had very low rates.

How is our county doing?

Essex County had a higher crime rate than Middlesex, MA in 2021. The rate in Middlesex was 5.8 per 1,000 residents in 2021, a slight increase since 2020. Comparable data for Lake, IL and Westchester, NY was not available.

Notes about the data

The City of Lawrence did not report data prior to 2020. Crime reports are never complete because some crimes, such as rape and assault, are believed to be underreported. Comparable national data and rates for comparison counties were not available. Data for this indicator is expected to be released annually in July.

Crimes Against People
2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA9.09.39.08.48.47.87.37.58.19.0
Amesbury12.911.37.19.68.97.57.06.05.35.2
Beverly8.47.87.76.67.12.32.32.72.92.6
Gloucester8.911.111.611.69.911.09.58.17.28.3
Haverhill23.223.123.820.119.619.017.719.318.322.9
Lawrence13.214.1
Lynn19.619.418.719.719.415.915.213.713.515.2
Methuen6.46.46.15.94.75.03.17.35.96.7
Newburyport7.37.46.96.35.78.35.66.63.55.0
Peabody9.58.88.17.59.18.28.27.36.67.9
Salem5.718.017.915.116.616.216.618.714.015.1
Andover3.82.82.92.62.83.73.02.52.42.5
Boxford0.40.60.40.10.50.50.20.40.4
Danvers13.211.19.58.57.99.110.311.19.08.9
Essex2.94.2
Georgetown5.44.15.63.02.82.83.13.51.82.9
Groveland2.22.73.12.21.61.50.91.21.30.6
Hamilton5.63.91.62.02.31.61.20.91.52.1
Ipswich2.01.91.50.94.53.44.23.53.53.0
Lynnfield5.63.43.74.52.82.22.72.92.82.3
Manchester1.32.50.92.41.91.31.31.51.31.7
Marblehead5.33.94.43.93.64.44.23.03.02.7
Merrimac6.15.46.63.74.41.74.93.42.42.4
Middleton1.91.52.33.02.83.53.72.22.13.2
Nahant6.75.86.15.76.05.74.64.65.44.0
Newbury5.85.17.77.27.76.15.65.35.45.6
North Andover2.62.32.32.12.22.83.32.63.01.9
Rockport3.73.02.45.13.23.74.54.84.53.4
Rowley4.43.86.02.65.25.84.12.75.12.6
Salisbury26.423.721.214.614.314.813.111.98.810.4
Saugus7.77.06.77.47.97.76.26.85.35.5
Swampscott3.55.74.73.73.24.32.92.83.53.1
Topsfield0.31.10.91.81.22.11.42.3
Wenham4.64.51.21.41.50.61.31.91.31.5
West Newbury6.25.02.90.93.56.63.63.43.42.1
Middlesex County, MA7.77.46.97.06.66.36.36.25.75.8
Massachusetts10.610.39.99.79.59.29.09.310.210.6

Source: Massachusetts State Police
Notes: Rates are per 1,000 residents.




Number of Crimes Against People
2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA6,7757,1016,9336,5396,5516,1255,7955,9036,3667,123
Amesbury2141891231671561331231069391
Beverly3373183182722919696112122110
Gloucester261325343345296331287246219254
Haverhill1,4311,4351,4841,2621,2291,1991,1311,2311,1681,463
Lawrence1,0551,124
Lynn1,7861,7811,7211,8251,7911,4841,4341,2901,2761,436
Methuen305310302293235250156369297342
Newburyport1281311241141031501011196492
Peabody495457425394475432434386348419
Salem240766766649711703724810606653
Andover128981039298131107928791
Boxford353144233
Danvers356303263237220256284308248244
Essex1116
Georgetown45354826242427311625
Groveland1518211511106894
Hamilton4532131619131071217
Ipswich27262113634759494942
Lynnfield66424757362936383630
Manchester7135131077879
Marblehead106798980749087616156
Merrimac40364425301234241717
Middleton18142229283437222133
Nahant23202120212016161914
Newbury39355350544340383940
North Andover756769636586104839360
Rockport26211737232733353325
Rowley26233716333726173317
Salisbury22220318413513514112511485100
Saugus211195186206221218177192149155
Swampscott48796554476544435447
Topsfield27612814915
Wenham2323678371078
West Newbury2722134163117161610
Middlesex County, MA11,84811,50610,83211,10610,43810,15410,14210,0899,1619,355
Massachusetts70,73868,59366,41065,09564,68762,95561,94164,37370,16772,903

Source: Massachusetts State Police




INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable