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D

Is Erie, Pennsylvania Safe?

Population 91,838 · Safer than 18% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Erie has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate below the national average and an overall rate of 261.9 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,515 per 100K.

Erie Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricEriePennsylvania AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate243.2314.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2376.11983.01,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate195.0--268.2
Theft Rate1515.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate217.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyD

261.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

243/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2376/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Erie

Violent crime in Erie is below the national average. The rate of 243.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2376.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,515 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Erie Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault195
073% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery29
046% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary414
01.5x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,515
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft217
068% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Erie Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Erie
243.2
State
314.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Erie
2376.1
State
1983.0
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Erie Safety

Is Erie safe?
Not especially. Erie earns a D with a crime rate of 261.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Erie?
261.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 243.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2376.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Erie safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Erie's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,515 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Erie?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Erie generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Erie police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Erie?
No. Crime in Erie has been trending down, which is good news for the D-rated city.
How does Erie compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
Below average for the state. Erie ranks behind about 85% of Pennsylvania cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Erie to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Erie?
Bad. A D grade and 261.9 per-thousand rate put Erie below 82% of US cities. Violent crime at 243 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Erie?
243.2 per 100,000, which is 33% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (195), robbery (29), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Pennsylvania

Similar-sized communities in Pennsylvania. Compare crime rates across the state.

D-
See crime rates in Reading95,832 pop · Grade D-
D-
See crime rates in Bethlehem79,644 pop · Grade D-
C
See crime rates in Scranton75,514 pop · Grade C
C-
See crime rates in Lancaster58,366 pop · Grade C-
D
See crime rates in Allentown126,044 pop · Grade D
C
See crime rates in Harrisburg50,522 pop · Grade C
View all Pennsylvania city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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