Major crimes like murder and Armed robbery are down in Massachusetts, according to a preliminary state analysis. But hate crimes against Jewish people recently saw a 20.5% spike.
“This new data is encouraging and reflects the important work that law enforcement and community partners do day in and day out to keep the people of Massachusetts safe,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “We know there is always more work to be done, and we remain committed to bringing people together to continue to enhance public safety in communities across the state.”
The numbers
All “Part One” crimes were down in 2024, with an average decrease of 4.4% compared to 2023, according to preliminary statistics informed by data compiled by the FBI’s Uniform crime Reporting (UCR) and National Incident-Based Reporting System programs.
That positive statistical tumble was led by major decreases in both motor vehicle theft — which declined 16.1% in 2024 from 2023 — and murder and non-negligent homicide — which declined 11.4%.
Those were followed by an 8.6% decrease in both robberies and burglaries, a 5.7% decrease in aggravated assault, a 1.8% decrease in forcible rape and a 1.5% decrease in larceny.
These crimes were down not just in comparison to 2023, but also bucked five-year trends: the 132 homicides in 2024 compare favorably to the five-year average of 146 as well as the 149 seen in 2023.
Firearm-specific crimes were also down by even larger numbers: a 21.8% decrease in criminal homicide with a firearm, a 15.8% decrease in robbery with a firearm, an 11.9% decrease in weapon law violations and a 10.7% decrease in aggravated assault with a firearm.
The state says it added a “gunshot wound” descriptor to incident submissions to NIBRS to better track firearm offenses.
Hate crimes expanded
While Massachusetts had a rosy year in 2024 statistically, it was still affected by overall crime trends nationally, including a rise in shoplifting. The state also reported a significant increase in hate crimes, with the largest jump — a massive 20.5% increase — in hate crime incidents against Jews.
The Healey administration says that this is the first time since tracking began in 1991 that anti-Jewish hate crimes in Massachusetts surpassed those against Black people.
The New England Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights organization that combats antisemitism, says that antisemitic incidents were up not only in Massachusetts, but region-wide — breaking the record for a fifth consecutive year. These figures track incidents throughout New England, excluding Connecticut: Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
The jump coincided with Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023 and Israel’s retaliatory war against Hamas, which continues today.
The ADL tracked more than 600 incidents in both 2023 and 2024 — a massive increase compared to the 204 seen in 2022 and the 155 in 2021. That included 407 documented cases of harassment in 2023 and 412 in 2024, 204 cases of vandalism in 2023 and 221 in 2024, as well as 12 assaults in 2023 and five in 2024.
Massachusetts contributed the vast majority of those numbers, with 438 incidents across 108 cities and towns in the state, according to the ADL data. Those incidents included 157 instances of vandalism, 132 instances of verbal or written harassment or threat, and 115 instances of antisemitic gatherings or meetings. The ADL reports that in 87 cases a swastika — the symbol of the Nazi Party — was present.
That makes the Bay State fifth in the nation for anti-Jewish hate crimes. New York saw the highest rates at 1,437 incidents that year, California followed with 1,345, then New Jersey’s 719 and Pennsylvania’s 465.
“The persistent increase in antisemitic incidents over the past five years is a stark reminder that antisemitism continues to impact our communities,” said ADL New England Regional Director Samantha Joseph. “Particularly concerning is the continued proliferation of extremist incidents and the rise of attacks against Orthodox Jews. The alarming manifestations of antisemitism in 2024 instill fear and are reminders that much work remains to be done.”
The strategies
The state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security attributed the decline to “targeted investments” across youth programs, community prevention and police-community outreach. According to that office, Healey’s administration spent more than $45 million on such programs.
That included $15.5 million in security grants for what the administration calls “high-risk nonprofits,” statewide educational forums and seminars for law enforcement and faith organizations.
The increase in hate crimes, however, received special attention.
The Healey administration in November 2023 launched the Hate Crimes Awareness and Response Team, or HART, which it describes as a unit of four to five sworn State Police troopers “dedicated to enhancing federal, state and local partnerships and liaising with community leaders to strengthen statewide response to hate crimes and hate-based incidents.” The initiative included $461,920 in grant funding toward hate crime prevention programs in schools.
Boston
As Massachusetts’ largest city by far — with a Census-estimated population of 673,458 on July 1 — Boston is a significant driver of state crime statistics.
This year is shaping up to be bloodier than in past years. As of June 29, the latest data from the Boston Police Department, the city saw 16 total homicides so far this year compared to six over the same period in 2024. This compares to a 14.8 average across five years.
Rape and attempted rape are similar, with 88 reported so far in 2025 compared to 90 over the same period last year and a five-year average of 101.
There were 350 recorded robberies and attempted robberies so far this year compared to 399 last year and a 393.8 average. Domestic assault is almost equal to last year, with 446 compared to 445 last year against a 431.6 average. Non-domestic assault is way down, with 682 recorded instances this year compared to 797 last year on an 806.2 average.
Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald
Colonel Geoffrey Noble speaks after being sworn into the Massachusetts State Police last October as Gov. Maura Healey, left, and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll look on. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
Nancy Lane/Boston Herald
Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox speaks in March while flanked by other state and local law enforcement leaders including Massachusetts State Police leader Col. Geoffrey Noble, at far right. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
