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.

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McKeesport Population: 19,128 1,694 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 4.64 chance of being a victim: 1 in 59 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,259

McKeesport, PA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Pennsylvania with 1,694 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,466), robbery (162), rape (32) and homicide (32) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 590% 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.

Ambridge Population: 6,660 1,387 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.80 chance of being a victim: 1 in 72 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,686

The second most dangerous city is Ambridge. With a population of 6,660 and a violent crime rate that is 465% higher than the Pennsylvania average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Ambridge are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,387 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 72 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Monessen Population: 7,287 1,063 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.91 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,070

Home to 7,287 residents, Monessen, PA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately for residents of Monessen, crime is widespread, with more than 1,063 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.91 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 333% higher than the Pennsylvania violent crime rate.

Philadelphia Population: 1,581,531 909 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.49 chance of being a victim: 1 in 110 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,457

With a violent crime rate that is 270% higher than the Pennsylvania average, it's not hard to see why Philadelphia made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (273), assault (572), rape (46) and homicide (17). 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 Philadelphia more vulnerable to high crime.

Uniontown Population: 9,740 857 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.35 chance of being a victim: 1 in 117 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,148

The ongoing battle with crime in Uniontown, 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 857 and a 1 in 117 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Uniontown has a violent crime rate that is 249% 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 Uniontown.

Bradford Population: 8,284 843 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.31 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,547

Bradford, PA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 843 per 100,000 people, which is 243% higher than the Pennsylvania average. Bradford has a population of 8,284, which translates to 2.31 crimes per day and 1 in 119 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 Bradford which are much safer than others.

Steelton Population: 5,964 838 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 119 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,309

A 1 in 119 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 2.30 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Steelton makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 838 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 241% higher than the Pennsylvania average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (743), robbery (63), rape (16) and homicide (16).

Plymouth Population: 5,780 834 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.29 chance of being a victim: 1 in 120 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,745

Plymouth, PA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 5,780 and a violent crime rate of 834 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 730 counts of assault, 87 counts of robbery, 17 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. All told, the Plymouth violent crime rate is 240% higher than the Pennsylvania average.

Darby Population: 10,711 831 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.28 chance of being a victim: 1 in 120 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,457

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, Darby, PA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Pennsylvania with a violent crime rate of 831 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 2.28 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 120 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Chester Population: 33,855 831 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.28 chance of being a victim: 1 in 120 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,819

Rounding out our list at #10 is Chester, PA. With a population of 33,855 and a violent crime rate of 831 per 100,000 people (238% higher than the Pennsylvania average), some parts of Chester are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 519 counts of assault, 194 counts of robbery, 59 counts of rape and 59 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 120 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	1,694	4,259
2	Ambridge	6,660	1,387	2,686
3	Monessen	7,287	1,063	3,070
4	Philadelphia	1,581,531	909	5,457
5	Uniontown	9,740	857	4,148
6	Bradford	8,284	843	3,547
7	Steelton	5,964	838	2,309
8	Plymouth	5,780	834	2,745
9	Darby	10,711	831	3,457
10	Chester	33,855	831	2,819
11	Harrisburg	49,247	762	2,755
12	Pottstown	22,633	737	3,842
13	Duquesne	5,534	678	1,854
14	Sharon	13,101	653	2,117
15	Coatesville	13,096	619	2,444
16	Johnstown	19,381	586	3,221
17	Wilkinsburg	15,367	586	3,027
18	Jeannette	9,146	551	1,160
19	Folcroft	6,629	536	2,799
20	York	44,019	530	2,392
21	Warren	9,127	520	1,836
22	Butler	13,008	501	2,112
23	Moosic	5,777	484	1,435
24	Chambersburg	21,017	465	2,218
25	Shamokin	7,007	459	1,154
26	New Kensington	12,378	456	2,857
27	Norristown	34,392	450	2,410
28	Wilkes-Barre	40,805	432	1,989
29	Pittsburgh	301,286	427	2,707
30	Clairton	6,574	425	1,599
31	California	6,306	404	1,577
32	Meadville	12,684	403	1,935
33	Quakertown	8,807	380	1,378
34	Connellsville	7,414	380	3,133
35	West Mifflin	19,742	380	3,021
36	Coraopolis	5,448	379	1,326
37	Erie	96,616	376	2,305
38	Greenville	5,347	366	1,317
39	Somerset	5,888	359	803
40	Clifton Heights	6,700	339	1,431
41	Reading	88,333	337	1,772
42	Altoona	43,669	335	2,185
43	Bangor	5,229	333	1,135
44	Pottsville	13,549	329	1,677
45	Swissvale	8,724	318	2,235
46	Columbia	10,369	297	2,326
47	Titusville	5,200	292	584
48	Collingdale	8,776	284	2,042
49	Scranton	76,997	281	1,627
50	Lock Haven	8,997	280	1,817

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.