Top 10 most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania, known for its rich history and diverse landscapes, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Philadelphia to the scenic beauty of the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Pennsylvania faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Pennsylvania's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Pennsylvania involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Pennsylvania's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

McKeesport Population: 19,128 1,497 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.10 chance of being a victim: 1 in 67 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,320

McKeesport, PA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Pennsylvania with 1,497 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,326), robbery (118), rape (11) and homicide (43) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 462% higher than the Pennsylvania average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Plymouth Population: 5,780 1,252 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.43 chance of being a victim: 1 in 80 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,260

The second most dangerous city is Plymouth. With a population of 5,780 and a violent crime rate that is 370% higher than the Pennsylvania average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Plymouth are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,252 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 80 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Bradford Population: 8,284 1,084 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.97 chance of being a victim: 1 in 92 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,177

Home to 8,284 residents, Bradford, PA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately for residents of Bradford, crime is widespread, with more than 1,084 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.97 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 307% higher than the Pennsylvania violent crime rate.

Ambridge Population: 6,660 1,080 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.96 chance of being a victim: 1 in 93 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,781

With a violent crime rate that is 305% higher than the Pennsylvania average, it's not hard to see why Ambridge made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (30), assault (1,035), rape (0) and homicide (15). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Ambridge more vulnerable to high crime.

Harrisburg Population: 49,247 1,063 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,064

The ongoing battle with crime in Harrisburg, PA, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 1,063 and a 1 in 94 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Harrisburg has a violent crime rate that is 299% higher than the Pennsylvania average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Harrisburg.

Philadelphia Population: 1,581,531 983 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.69 chance of being a victim: 1 in 102 Total Crimes / 100k: 6,040

Philadelphia, PA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 983 per 100,000 people, which is 269% higher than the Pennsylvania average. Philadelphia has a population of 1,581,531, which translates to 2.69 crimes per day and 1 in 102 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Philadelphia which are much safer than others.

Monessen Population: 7,287 953 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.61 chance of being a victim: 1 in 105 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,293

A 1 in 105 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.61 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Monessen makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 953 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 258% higher than the Pennsylvania average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (893), robbery (45), rape (15) and homicide (0).

Jeannette Population: 9,146 839 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,632

Jeannette, PA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 9,146 and a violent crime rate of 839 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 746 counts of assault, 58 counts of robbery, 23 counts of rape and 12 counts of homicide. All told, the Jeannette violent crime rate is 215% higher than the Pennsylvania average.

Pottstown Population: 22,633 775 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 129 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,574

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Pottstown, PA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Pennsylvania with a violent crime rate of 775 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.12 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 129 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Lewistown Population: 8,157 725 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.99 chance of being a victim: 1 in 138 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,839

Rounding out our list at #10 is Lewistown, PA. With a population of 8,157 and a violent crime rate of 725 per 100,000 people (172% higher than the Pennsylvania average), some parts of Lewistown are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 570 counts of assault, 48 counts of robbery, 107 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 138 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	McKeesport	19,128	1,497	4,320
2	Plymouth	5,780	1,252	4,260
3	Bradford	8,284	1,084	4,177
4	Ambridge	6,660	1,080	2,781
5	Harrisburg	49,247	1,063	3,064
6	Philadelphia	1,581,531	983	6,040
7	Monessen	7,287	953	2,293
8	Jeannette	9,146	839	1,632
9	Pottstown	22,633	775	4,574
10	Lewistown	8,157	725	2,839
11	Wilkinsburg	15,367	681	2,636
12	Sharon	13,101	583	2,270
13	Butler	13,008	576	1,812
14	York	44,019	526	2,857
15	Erie	96,616	508	2,374
16	Dickson City	5,778	501	2,657
17	Clairton	6,574	487	1,748
18	Folcroft	6,629	478	3,044
19	California	6,306	467	1,662
20	Prospect Park	6,495	457	1,246
21	Reading	88,333	455	2,148
22	Norristown	34,392	416	2,335
23	Duquesne	5,534	413	1,536
24	Wilkes-Barre	40,805	413	1,936
25	Warren	9,127	407	1,375
26	West Mifflin	19,742	359	2,668
27	New Kensington	12,378	336	2,455
28	Pottsville	13,549	322	1,589
29	Coraopolis	5,448	318	1,441
30	Scranton	76,997	310	1,724
31	Middletown	9,410	301	977
32	Allentown	121,156	289	2,076
33	Altoona	43,669	286	2,116
34	Hellertown	5,835	277	1,289
35	Somerset	5,888	253	1,216
36	Greenville	5,347	251	1,451
37	Shamokin	7,007	250	986
38	Lock Haven	8,997	237	1,312
39	Williamsport	28,437	235	1,872
40	Franklin	6,092	218	2,016
41	Archbald	7,003	215	644
42	Bangor	5,229	196	1,312
43	Carlisle	19,188	184	1,466
44	Nanticoke	10,296	170	1,829
45	Bethlehem	75,571	163	1,709
46	Easton	27,274	162	1,157
47	Hanover	15,675	157	2,554
48	Berwick	10,003	156	1,044
49	Brentwood	9,319	155	1,041
50	Waynesboro	10,898	154	1,424

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Pennsylvania cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.