Jamaica Plain, or JP to locals, sits along Boston’s Emerald Necklace with Jamaica Pond on one side and the Arnold Arboretum rolling up the other. The Orange Line clips through at Jackson Square, Stony Brook, Green Street, and Forest Hills, and the Southwest Corridor bike path gives a straight shot toward Back Bay.
JP packs a lot into its weekends, with energy that spills from the streets to the parks. Weekend mornings mean a line outside the cafes on Centre Street, a pickup game in Hyde Square, and joggers circling the pond before the boathouse opens. JP feels urban and green at once. Franklin Park hosts cross-country meets, festivals, and long dog walks, while the Arboretum’s hills turn into a sunrise lookout when the air is clear. On summer evenings, you’ll see families fishing at the pond and riders cruising the Southwest Corridor path toward Downtown. Winters are quieter, but the vibe stays neighborly.
Cost of Living in Jamaica Plain
Housing is the big line item. JP’s sale prices sit above the Boston average, with condos clustered near Centre and South Streets and single-families edging higher around Jamaica Pond and the Arboretum. Proximity to the Orange Line and green space usually commands a premium.
Rents move with the micro-location. Apartments near Green Street and Forest Hills T stops or by the pond tend to be priced higher, while places around Hyde and Jackson Squares can come in a bit lower. Turnover spikes around the first of the month, so asking rents change quickly.
Transportation can keep costs in check. The Orange Line and frequent bus service make it realistic to skip daily car use, and the Southwest Corridor bike path plus Bluebikes cover short trips. Street parking with a resident permit is common, though garages and dedicated spots add to the monthly burn.
Other living costs track with city life. Utilities in Massachusetts run higher than the U.S. average, and older buildings can mean pricier winter heat. Groceries, dining, and services mirror Boston’s urban pricing, so the total budget often comes down to how much you rely on transit and where you land within JP’s different pockets.
Jamaica Plain Crime Breakdown
Several local snapshots show the arc.
A year-end 2024 comparison for E-13 highlighted shifts within categories, including changes in larcenies from vehicles, while the 2025 weekly updates show a notable dip in property crime year-to-date for the district.
In short, JP’s 2025 profile so far is steady to slightly improved on the property side, with violent counts within normal seasonal ranges.
Property Crime
In Boston, “Part One” property crimes include burglary, larceny, and auto theft.
Year-to-date through August 24, 2025, District E-13 (Jamaica Plain) recorded 519 Part One property incidents, down 19% from 642 at the same point in 2024. Breakouts in 2025 so far include 9 commercial burglaries, 25 residential burglaries, 75 larcenies from motor vehicles, 278 “other larceny” reports, and 28 auto thefts.
A couple of patterns stand out. Larceny from motor vehicles have eased compared to last year’s pace, and auto thefts are also lower year-over-year. That tracks with citywide work on theft prevention and ongoing neighborhood watch habits.
Violent Crime
Part One violent categories cover homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.
Through August 24, 2025, Jamaica Plain shows 1 homicide, 6 rapes, 20 robberies, and 77 aggravated assaults (combined domestic and non-domestic) for a violent-crime total of 104. Those robbery and aggravated-assault counts are generally in line with the district’s recent five-year averages.
Citywide context helps. Across Boston, 2024 ended with total violent crime down about one percent from 2023, even as certain categories moved in different directions. Year-end firearm metrics also trended lower.
Other Crime
Gunfire metrics sit outside the simple property/violent split that many people follow.
Citywide in 2024, Boston saw fewer incidents of confirmed shots fired and fewer total shooting victims than in 2023, part of a longer downward trend from earlier years.
Those are city numbers, but they shape Boston-area policing and prevention work that touches JP.
Comparison of Jamaica Plain Crime Rates with Massachusetts
Statewide, preliminary 2024 data submitted to the FBI show fewer violent and property crimes across Massachusetts than in 2023.
That broad decline provides a useful backdrop when you look at neighborhood-level year-to-date counts like E-13’s.
Boston’s own 2024 citywide tallies ticked up slightly in total Part One crime, but the violent portion edged down. Neighborhoods can diverge from the state trend in the short run, which is why district snapshots matter.
Crime Rate Comparison with Nearby Neighborhoods
Boston Police track Part One totals by district.
Year-to-date through August 24, 2025, E-13 (Jamaica Plain) logged 519 property crimes. Adjacent E-5 (West Roxbury) recorded 359, nearby E-18 (Hyde Park) sat at 405, and B-2 (Roxbury), directly next to JP, registered 1,300.
Differences reflect land use, foot traffic, and population density rather than a simple “safer/less safe” label, but they’re helpful for context when you compare JP to its neighbors.
Chance of Being a Victim of Crime in Jamaica Plain
If you translate E-13’s year-to-date counts to a rough share of local population, the “any Part One” exposure so far in 2025 is about 1 incident per 69 residents, with violent crime about 1 per 413 and property crime about 1 per 83.
That’s a simple ratio, not a prediction, and it includes visitors and repeat incidents. Risk also varies by block, time of day, and personal habits like locking a bike or parking on a well-lit street. Population reference: the City of Boston Planning Department estimates about 42,949 residents in JP for 2025.
Role of the Boston Police Department
JP is served by Boston Police District E-13, headquartered at 3347 Washington Street.
The district has a Community Service Office, hosts public meetings, and coordinates with neighborhood groups on prevention and youth programs. If you need the station for a non-emergency walk-in or a “safe exchange” hand-off, that’s the spot most residents use.
Boston Police also provide Safe Exchange Zones at every district station citywide, designed for online sales meet-ups and custody exchanges in a controlled setting. It’s a small, practical way to lower risk for everyday situations.
Community Safety Initiatives
District E-13 runs flashlight walks and similar community events to walk problem areas with residents and share updates.
Along the Southwest Corridor, the state has been piloting speed-feedback boards and no-moped markings on the shared-use path to calm speeds and reduce conflicts between riders and walkers. These are incremental changes, but regulars on the Corridor notice them.
Living in Jamaica Plain: Is it a Safe Place to Live?
JP is an urban neighborhood with a lot of through-movement, especially along Centre Street, the T stations, and the park system.
Property crime makes up the majority of incidents, led by larceny and car-related thefts, which are common for city districts with busy commercial strips and daytime visitors.
Violent crime levels sit far below citywide hot spots, and year-over-year, 2025 property counts are trending lower in E-13.
Daily life follows the rhythms of the parks and the transit. Most residents pick up small habits that go a long way: lock a bike to a fixed rack, keep valuables out of view in a car, use the Southwest Corridor in daylight when possible, and choose the busier segments at night.
The upside is obvious. Green space is everywhere, the Orange Line makes Downtown easy, and you can be running the 1.5-mile loop at Jamaica Pond ten minutes after leaving your front steps.
Summary of Crime Statistics
So far in 2025, E-13’s property crime total is down 19% year-to-date, with reductions in car break-ins and auto theft, and violent counts that track near recent averages.
Citywide 2024 finished with slightly fewer violent crimes than 2023 and lower gunfire metrics overall, while total Part One crime was modestly higher.
Statewide, 2024 saw fewer violent and property crimes than 2023 in preliminary reporting. Those broader signals line up with what JP residents feel on the ground: normal city caution with plenty of everyday comfort.
Future Outlook for Crime in Jamaica Plain
The Southwest Corridor Action Plan and related safety pilots suggest continued tweaks to lighting, path design, and crossings, which usually help with the nuisance categories that drive perception.
E-13 keeps leaning into public meetings and visible walk-throughs, and Boston’s data dashboards mean trends show up quickly if they change. Neighborhoods evolve, but JP’s mix of parks, transit, and engaged residents is a steady anchor.
Jamaica Plain Safety FAQs
Both places are heavily used in daylight and early evening. After dark, lighting can be patchy in the deeper sections of the Arboretum and along quieter stretches of the pond path, so most locals stick to earlier hours or go with a friend.
City and state pages outline park hours and visitor guidance if you’re new to the area.
Property crime dominates, with larceny and car-related thefts leading the way.
In 2025 year-to-date, E-13’s property total is down compared with 2024, and larceny from motor vehicles in particular has eased.
On the 2025 property-crime pace through late August, JP sits lower than Roxbury’s B-2 district and a bit higher than Hyde Park and West Roxbury.
Differences reflect how many people pass through a district, where retail and transit nodes sit, and how much on-street parking there is.
E-13 covers JP from its station at 3347 Washington Street. Beyond patrol and investigations, the district runs community meetings, flashlight walks, youth programs, and coordinates with neighborhood groups on prevention.
Yes. Boston Police maintain Safe Exchange Zones inside every district station, including E-13, specifically for this purpose. They’re simple to use and reduce the risks that come with meeting strangers in unfamiliar spots.
