Top 10 most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania

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.

Philadelphia Population: 1,581,531 1,041 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.85 chance of being a victim: 1 in 96 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,363

Philadelphia, PA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Pennsylvania with 1,041 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (587), robbery (370), rape (50) and homicide (33) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 272% 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 1,027 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 97 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,045

The second most dangerous city is Plymouth. With a population of 5,780 and a violent crime rate that is 267% 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 1,027 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 97 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Jeannette Population: 9,146 753 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 133 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,100

Home to 9,146 residents, Jeannette, PA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately for residents of Jeannette, crime is widespread, with more than 753 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.06 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 169% higher than the Pennsylvania violent crime rate.

York Population: 44,019 710 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.95 chance of being a victim: 1 in 141 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,269

With a violent crime rate that is 154% higher than the Pennsylvania average, it's not hard to see why York made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (174), assault (454), rape (49) and homicide (33). 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 York more vulnerable to high crime.

Erie Population: 96,616 607 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.66 chance of being a victim: 1 in 165 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,872

The ongoing battle with crime in Erie, 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 607 and a 1 in 165 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Erie has a violent crime rate that is 117% 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 Erie.

Latrobe Population: 7,888 492 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 203 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,298

Latrobe, PA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 492 per 100,000 people, which is 76% higher than the Pennsylvania average. Latrobe has a population of 7,888, which translates to 1.35 crimes per day and 1 in 203 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 Latrobe which are much safer than others.

Norristown Population: 34,392 451 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.24 chance of being a victim: 1 in 222 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,463

A 1 in 222 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.24 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Norristown makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 451 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 61% higher than the Pennsylvania average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (226), robbery (184), rape (17) and homicide (25).

Scranton Population: 76,997 409 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.12 chance of being a victim: 1 in 245 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,099

Scranton, PA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 76,997 and a violent crime rate of 409 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 216 counts of assault, 45 counts of robbery, 146 counts of rape and 1 counts of homicide. All told, the Scranton violent crime rate is 46% higher than the Pennsylvania average.

Wilkes-Barre Population: 40,805 398 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.09 chance of being a victim: 1 in 251 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,009

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, Wilkes-Barre, PA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Pennsylvania with a violent crime rate of 398 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.09 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 251 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Coraopolis Population: 5,448 296 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 338 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,295

Rounding out our list at #10 is Coraopolis, PA. With a population of 5,448 and a violent crime rate of 296 per 100,000 people (6% higher than the Pennsylvania average), some parts of Coraopolis are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 278 counts of assault, 19 counts of robbery, 0 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 338 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	Philadelphia	1,581,531	1,041	5,363
2	Plymouth	5,780	1,027	3,045
3	Jeannette	9,146	753	1,100
4	York	44,019	710	3,269
5	Erie	96,616	607	2,872
6	Latrobe	7,888	492	1,298
7	Norristown	34,392	451	2,463
8	Scranton	76,997	409	2,099
9	Wilkes-Barre	40,805	398	2,009
10	Coraopolis	5,448	296	1,295
11	Waynesboro	10,898	247	1,474
12	Carlisle	19,188	222	1,626
13	California	6,306	205	923
14	Shamokin	7,007	189	1,004
15	Sunbury	9,446	166	727
16	Berwick	10,003	164	1,467
17	Bellevue	8,088	161	1,273
18	Wilson	7,809	146	1,575
19	Shippensburg	5,621	127	1,413
20	Brentwood	9,319	92	743
21	Kingston	12,859	84	1,539
22	Palmyra	7,541	78	907
23	New Cumberland	7,305	66	830
24	Camp Hill	7,926	49	939
25	Hatboro	7,458	49	717
26	West Mifflin	19,742	42	371
27	Forest Hills	6,333	32	783

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.