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C

Is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Safe?

Population 50,522 · Safer than 37% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Harrisburg earns a C safety grade with 208.7 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crime runs close to the national average, putting the city behind 63% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,260 per 100K.

Harrisburg Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricHarrisburgPennsylvania AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate327.1314.3363.8
Property Crime Rate1760.21983.01,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate244.0--268.2
Theft Rate1260.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate331.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

208.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

327/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1760/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Harrisburg

Violent crime in Harrisburg is close to the national average. The rate of 327.1 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1760.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,260 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Harrisburg Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault244
091% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery36
057% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary208
077% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,260
090% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft331
01.0x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Harrisburg Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Harrisburg
327.1
State
314.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Harrisburg
1760.2
State
1983.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Harrisburg Safety

Is Harrisburg safe?
Not especially. Harrisburg earns a C with a crime rate of 208.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Harrisburg?
208.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 327.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1760.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Harrisburg safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Harrisburg has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Harrisburg?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Harrisburg generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Harrisburg police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Harrisburg?
No. Crime in Harrisburg has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does Harrisburg compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
Middle of the pack for Pennsylvania. Harrisburg isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 44th percentile among Pennsylvania cities.
How safe is Harrisburg to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Harrisburg?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 37th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Harrisburg?
327.1 per 100,000, which is 10% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (244), robbery (36), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Pennsylvania

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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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