Though rarely mentioned among the most homicidal cities in the country, Boston has seen her fair share of mean times. But according to a new report, there have never been fewer murders in the city than now.
That’s because 2023 saw the fewest on record, and barring an explosion of violence in the last 17 days of 2024, this year will contain even fewer than that.
The city of Boston saw 37 homicides in 2023, which according to Christian Science Monitor, was the lowest number recorded since the Boston Regional Intelligence Center began counting.
At the time, the murder rate of 5.29 per 100,000 residents was the city’s lowest in the 21st century. For perspective, the decade spanning 2000 to 2010 saw only three years where homicides fell below 60 per year.
By September 2024, the homicide rate had fallen 60% year-over-year, and as of December 10th, the city of 654,000 residents had witnessed just 22 homicides.
Shootings have also reached a record low despite being the leading cause of homicide in the city in 2024, signaling broader declines in violent crime in general.
KEEPS ON FALLING: Crime is Way Down: 2023 Recorded Likely the Largest Single-Year Drop in Homicides Across US
“While it’s difficult to pinpoint a specific cause for the steep decline, public safety experts point to the tight-knit network of neighborhood associations and community-based organizations focusing on young people at risk for violence,” writes Troy Aidan Sambajon for the CSM.
THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE: US Crime Rate Drops to ‘Historic’ Lows With Murders, Rapes, and Robbery Plunging, New Statistics Show
This time last year GNN was reporting on the homicide rates in Detroit and Chicago falling precipitously: 18% and 19% respectively, while Los Angeles also recorded a 25% drop compared to 2022.
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