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Medford, Massachusetts: Violent Crime Trends Reveal Contrasting Patterns
CATEGORY
Crime
DATA
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Loading Content...
Crime
Violent Crime
Median Rent
Racial Distributions
Population
Medford, located in Massachusetts, has experienced fluctuating violent crime rates over the past decade. From 2013 to 2022, the total number of violent crimes decreased by 0.89%, from 112 to 112 incidents. During this same period, the city's population data is limited, with only 2022 figures available, showing a population of 65,412.
The murder rate in Medford has remained consistently low, with zero reported cases from 2013 to 2021. However, in 2022, there was one murder reported, representing 0.74% of the state's total murders. This single incident translates to a rate of 0.015 murders per 1,000 residents in 2022. Despite this increase, the overall murder rate remains extremely low, indicating that Medford continues to be a relatively safe city in terms of homicides.
Rape incidents have fluctuated over the years, with a notable increase from 2 cases in 2020 to 14 cases in 2022. This represents a 600% increase over two years. The rape rate per 1,000 residents in 2022 was 0.21. The percentage of state rapes attributed to Medford has also increased, from 0.17% in 2020 to 1.08% in 2022. This trend suggests a concerning rise in sexual violence that warrants attention from local law enforcement and community services.
Robbery cases in the city have shown a general downward trend. In 2013, there were 29 robberies, which decreased to 8 in 2022, marking a 72.4% reduction. The robbery rate per 1,000 residents in 2022 was 0.12. The city's share of state robberies has fluctuated but overall decreased from 0.49% in 2013 to 0.34% in 2022. This decline in robberies is a positive indicator of improved public safety in the area.
Aggravated assault cases have shown some variation but have increased overall. In 2013, there were 73 cases, which rose to 89 in 2022, representing a 21.9% increase. The aggravated assault rate per 1,000 residents in 2022 was 1.36. The city's contribution to state aggravated assaults has increased slightly from 0.53% in 2013 to 0.65% in 2022. This upward trend in assaults may indicate a need for increased community policing and conflict resolution programs.
Due to limited historical data on population density, median rent, and race distribution, it's challenging to establish strong correlations with violent crime trends. However, the 2022 data shows a high population density of 8,077 people per square mile, which may contribute to higher rates of certain types of violent crimes, particularly aggravated assaults.
Applying predictive models based on the available data, it's projected that by 2029, Medford may see a slight increase in overall violent crimes. The murder rate is likely to remain very low, potentially fluctuating between 0-1 cases per year. Rape incidents may continue to rise if the recent trend persists, potentially reaching 18-20 cases annually. Robberies are expected to stabilize at around 10-12 cases per year. Aggravated assaults may continue their upward trend, potentially reaching 100-110 cases annually.
In summary, Medford has maintained a relatively stable violent crime rate over the past decade, with some concerning trends in specific categories. The most significant findings include the persistent low murder rate, the recent spike in rape cases, the substantial decrease in robberies, and the gradual increase in aggravated assaults. These trends highlight the need for targeted interventions in sexual violence prevention and assault reduction while maintaining the effective strategies that have contributed to the low murder and robbery rates.
