Newton Is 28th Safest Community In The U.S.

NEWTON, MA— Newton is a pretty safe place to live. The real estate data firm NeighborhoodScout released a list of the top 100 safest cities in the United States this week, and the Garden City ranked in the top 50, at number 28. Researchers looked at cities across the country with 25,000 or more residents. Then they looked at property and violent crime rates per every 1,000 residents.

In Newton, the data show that you have a 1-in-634 chance of being a crime victim. By comparison, in Lake Hills, IL, which topped the list, the chance was 1-in-333. The analysis was based on crime statistics for 2017.

While there are many ways to rank and digest safety data, Newton is consistently noted as one of the safer communities in the State.

"I've always been proud to be part of the Newton Police Department because we've come up pretty high in these polls over the years," said Police Chief David MacDonald. "It says a lot of our police and fire safety apparatus and a lot about our government officials. The men and women who work in the police department are extremely diligent and care and take their job seriously."

Arlington, Reading, and Needham all also were among the Massachusetts communities that made the list.

"We're in good company. I know the chiefs of police in all of these towns, and I know they work hard," said MacDonald. "It's always been great to be part of a city department who ranks so highly. What we do is only a piece of what goes on."

Newton, MA

• Total Crime Rate: 7.1
• Number of Crimes: 634
• Chance of being a victim: 1 in 140

"In many ways, these cities serve as neighborhoods within the large metro area," the researchers wrote. "This is a common pattern our researchers have noted: the safest and most dangerous parts of America's great urban areas are often just a few miles apart."

Read the full report.

Last year Newton won Money Magazine's Best Place To Live In MA pick.

• Best City To Live In: Hint, It's Not Boston

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff, Dave Copland contributed to this report.