Community Life
Reports of Domestic Violence


Reports of Domestic Violence

What does this measure?

The rate of reported domestic violence victims per 1,000 residents. Domestic violence includes assaults, sex offenses, and violations of orders of protection among any family members (not just spouses or intimate partners).

Why is this important?

Domestic violence has unique negative effects on victims and families. Domestic violence can cause serious and permanent emotional and psychological damage, which hurts one's quality of life and ability to contribute to society and perform at work.

How is our county doing?

In 2021, there were 3.3 reported victims of domestic violence per 1,000 residents in Essex County, similar to the rate in 2020. This was slightly lower than the state rate of 3.9.

Within Essex County, Haverhill and Lynn had the highest rates of reported domestic violence victims in 2021 (8.7 and 6.2 respectively), followed by Salem and Salisbury (4.9 and 4.6 respectively).

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County had a higher rate of reported domestic violence victims than Middlesex (2 per 1,000) in 2021. Comparable data for Lake, IL and Westchester, NY was not available.

Notes about the data

As a rule, domestic violence tends to be underreported, causing possible inconsistencies in the data and difficulty in making long-term comparisons. Rates reflect reported victims, not the number of individual incidents. The City of Lawrence did not report data prior to 2020. Comparable data for the nation and other areas were not available.

Reports of Domestic Violence
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA0.91.21.31.41.51.91.83.23.13.02.92.93.03.03.33.13.12.82.72.83.03.3
Amesbury3.35.65.15.03.54.75.65.24.96.16.06.35.15.83.13.33.43.43.02.52.82.3
Beverly0.42.02.73.02.22.72.82.23.13.24.03.53.63.02.82.93.00.20.00.10.0
Gloucester1.12.62.31.30.70.30.40.20.30.30.20.20.34.54.74.44.44.23.72.93.6
Haverhill3.26.46.37.18.47.46.66.86.77.28.37.86.86.96.96.96.88.7
Lawrence3.53.8
Lynn10.37.35.86.36.47.05.96.77.36.95.85.45.35.26.2
Methuen1.40.10.10.00.72.01.40.90.70.40.61.10.30.70.32.83.03.4
Newburyport1.90.90.61.71.11.31.41.71.71.42.92.02.32.11.71.21.71.11.61.20.7
Peabody2.83.74.54.75.35.04.55.24.55.64.44.64.53.63.93.04.44.03.93.83.33.3
Salem1.96.96.95.35.65.65.97.06.04.9
Andover1.40.90.11.71.11.71.61.61.31.41.61.81.71.71.41.41.51.91.71.31.31.6
Boxford0.40.10.10.10.50.40.10.10.10.2
Danvers2.53.83.74.84.14.24.54.94.33.62.93.12.72.22.22.22.12.02.42.21.92.8
Essex2.12.1
Georgetown0.41.82.21.82.01.92.81.71.31.31.51.01.51.3
Groveland2.23.10.51.31.21.21.51.61.82.72.52.31.61.72.31.51.31.00.60.40.70.2
Hamilton1.71.11.61.31.00.50.71.81.20.61.71.91.40.61.40.70.30.31.01.4
Ipswich0.60.40.20.30.40.10.20.10.10.10.21.92.21.81.51.11.2
Lynnfield1.41.01.21.01.21.61.51.72.92.12.02.23.32.21.91.71.21.21.11.11.01.1
Manchester0.20.2
Marblehead1.81.21.52.11.81.71.42.11.62.22.41.61.81.41.62.01.52.01.61.01.31.0
Merrimac2.22.51.11.12.21.71.83.21.71.33.53.23.60.91.81.02.12.31.01.9
Middleton0.10.10.40.20.50.60.10.40.70.10.80.50.71.21.51.52.01.50.41.4
Nahant4.13.01.62.21.74.21.43.92.83.34.44.12.93.82.91.71.43.12.32.91.72.0
Newbury2.83.22.31.31.92.13.71.42.63.12.71.33.63.42.92.33.22.41.82.2
North Andover0.10.10.20.61.30.60.00.91.31.61.31.51.71.51.71.31.51.11.20.71.30.4
Rockport2.21.71.71.21.92.72.01.01.53.21.71.72.52.61.72.1
Rowley1.32.01.61.41.61.41.62.11.72.61.42.72.71.81.91.31.72.71.41.71.71.5
Salisbury14.816.911.78.99.59.29.99.59.310.912.89.19.98.89.15.56.36.87.24.52.64.6
Saugus2.93.52.73.43.22.73.32.94.13.03.74.03.22.82.53.23.23.42.83.02.32.8
Swampscott1.00.80.81.41.11.51.31.72.12.32.11.81.10.71.10.90.80.70.70.70.80.6
Topsfield0.20.60.20.30.50.60.50.9
Wenham0.90.90.91.10.91.90.40.41.41.61.61.40.80.40.40.41.00.40.80.8
West Newbury1.71.21.71.40.93.32.62.64.42.33.33.02.31.61.60.71.32.41.51.92.10.8
Middlesex County, MA0.70.70.80.91.21.41.51.92.92.93.02.82.82.62.42.52.42.32.32.12.02.0
Massachusetts2.32.62.72.83.33.53.64.04.34.34.54.34.14.03.93.83.73.63.53.53.83.9

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




Number of Domestic Violence Reports
2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Essex County, MA6648839561,0171,1281,3501,3282,3672,2492,2082,1632,1682,2552,2632,5342,4242,4032,2262,1602,2212,3592,636
Amesbury5493858358779186821019710485975457606052435041
Beverly158110712186107111851231271591391431221151171258231
Gloucester33807139221013610855913414013013212811288109
Haverhill190382377432514453404418416447517488430435440442437554
Lawrence279303
Lynn897639504571584636538621671641538514496493586
Methuen636513290684334212753163317143151171
Newburyport331511301923242930255135403730213020292212
Peabody134182221232262254228268229288227236235186205155233210205203176174
Salem79292293226240241255306261211
Andover4428254345652544248546057604948546960484660
Boxford3111431112
Danvers63959312110610812113211697768373606062585667625278
Essex88
Georgetown31618151716241511111391311
Groveland1319388810111320161511111510974351
Hamilton14913118461595141511511622811
Ipswich85245122113263026211517
Lynnfield16111411141817193325232639272421161615141314
Manchester11
Marblehead36243042353427413243473236293341314132212620
Merrimac1416771411122111823212461271516713
Middleton11324514617571215152015414
Nahant15116861551410121514101310651181067
Newbury19221691314251017211892524201623171316
North Andover3351636171263543364349454937443437214113
Rockport171313913191471123121218191215
Rowley71198989121015816161112811179111110
Salisbury11613493717675828080941067683757951596569432544
Saugus7592728884718779113859910786786989899681866479
Swampscott14121220152118232933292515101513111111111210
Topsfield14123436
Wenham44454922788742225244
West Newbury75764141111191014131077361179104
Middlesex County, MA9511,0981,1691,3851,7561,9762,2732,7474,2984,3984,5184,2464,2254,0783,8293,9873,8213,6323,6773,4373,1823,176
Massachusetts14,50916,91117,36918,21621,20322,71623,26825,91728,31128,46029,13028,23027,33126,39826,06025,40225,22724,53524,24824,34526,22026,953

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