Community Life
Crimes Against Property


Crimes Against Property

What does this measure?

The number of property crimes, per 1,000 residents. These crimes include arson, burglary, theft, fraud, embezzlement, and destruction/vandalism.

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 property crimes in Essex County in 2021 was 15.4 per 1,000 residents, below the state rate of 19.6. Essex County and the state have each reduced their rates from the previous year. There has been an overall reduction in Essex County's rate since 2013, when it peaked at 26.6.

The highest property crime rates were in Salem (32.6), Salisbury (22.9) and Danvers (20). All three reflected a reduction in rates from the previous year.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Middlesex (15.8 per 1,000 residents) and Essex County had similar rates in 2021. 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. Property crime includes burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. 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 Property
2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA26.126.623.722.121.018.816.115.019.515.4
Amesbury30.130.116.317.617.915.716.314.816.69.8
Beverly26.922.718.315.913.511.110.59.28.29.5
Gloucester19.719.516.214.414.714.914.211.110.313.4
Haverhill43.645.438.334.829.726.624.824.320.017.6
Lawrence16.318.7
Lynn45.542.541.639.836.430.025.923.318.515.3
Methuen29.433.526.725.627.922.717.316.923.115.8
Newburyport22.015.518.319.821.723.114.713.718.815.5
Peabody39.235.829.818.724.621.118.916.121.017.0
Salem16.849.047.448.642.839.533.932.338.132.6
Andover14.212.912.414.712.314.010.512.026.712.3
Boxford8.07.65.05.55.310.38.311.324.99.6
Danvers42.341.035.937.634.027.924.522.330.520.0
Essex9.78.4
Georgetown17.316.916.611.214.311.911.710.427.310.3
Groveland9.95.44.54.74.05.05.44.13.52.8
Hamilton12.513.114.611.38.610.29.210.514.910.1
Ipswich16.619.116.311.715.410.89.16.915.08.6
Lynnfield18.417.411.913.612.813.413.010.117.010.5
Manchester10.011.09.910.47.29.97.411.412.09.4
Marblehead21.315.319.417.414.313.910.811.618.613.8
Merrimac14.414.812.213.410.97.37.65.37.33.6
Middleton14.410.411.613.714.517.512.49.49.97.0
Nahant21.814.415.315.814.415.46.39.410.08.8
Newbury13.411.210.69.59.611.79.79.913.310.9
North Andover15.718.913.111.27.67.98.49.116.59.6
Rockport3.73.44.16.15.34.74.95.65.24.4
Rowley4.57.810.510.88.711.07.56.415.48.3
Salisbury47.638.732.628.132.726.822.220.823.222.9
Saugus54.543.443.339.637.432.525.025.523.718.7
Swampscott23.227.427.725.521.921.816.813.324.814.8
Topsfield7.24.51.42.67.47.75.317.98.6
Wenham11.48.82.54.13.13.84.37.213.47.7
West Newbury11.58.312.02.215.518.09.49.315.86.5
Middlesex County, MA25.123.921.620.618.917.916.015.921.715.8
Massachusetts29.327.725.223.522.120.418.017.924.419.6

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




Number of Crimes Against Property
2012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA19,72720,31018,29317,18216,33814,75712,72811,88315,41912,134
Amesbury497505281306314277287260291172
Beverly1,085925753655558462443390346402
Gloucester575573480429437448432337312409
Haverhill2,6932,8212,3902,1841,8651,6801,5891,5521,2811,125
Lawrence1,3061,495
Lynn4,1493,8943,8313,6823,3682,7952,4512,1981,7431,439
Methuen1,4111,6281,3151,2701,3901,1448748561,175804
Newburyport389276328356390418267248343284
Peabody2,0321,8661,5589821,2911,1141,0088531,110899
Salem7092,0882,0292,0841,8341,7131,4811,4031,6421,408
Andover485448435518436504381439977451
Boxford656241454486699420780
Danvers1,1441,1189941,046953785678618839549
Essex3732
Georgetown145143141961231041029124090
Groveland67363032273437282419
Hamilton101106119927084748512081
Ipswich22526022316221415112897212121
Lynnfield217216150174165175171133223137
Manchester52585356395440626551
Marblehead428310397357293287223239381284
Merrimac94988291755153375125
Middleton133981121331431711249510171
Nahant75505355505422333531
Newbury91777366678369719578
North Andover447554387332226246264286517301
Rockport26242944383436413832
Rowley274765685570484110054
Salisbury401331283260308255212199223220
Saugus1,4891,2051,2071,1081,053918713723674532
Swampscott323382387369318327258203381227
Topsfield452991749513511957
Wenham57451321162023387141
West Newbury50375410718444447531
Middlesex County, MA38,61837,21633,97632,69530,13628,77425,87625,65235,07925,562
Massachusetts194,368184,447168,843158,229150,458140,030124,541123,569167,903135,199

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