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D

Is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Safe?

Population 1,574,281 · Safer than 20% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Philadelphia has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D safety grade reflects a violent crime rate close to the national average and an overall rate of 257.3 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,634 per 100K.

Philadelphia Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPhiladelphiaPennsylvania AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate377.7314.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2195.61983.01,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate270.0--268.2
Theft Rate1634.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate283.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD

257.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

378/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD

2196/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Philadelphia

Violent crime in Philadelphia is close to the national average. The rate of 377.7 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2195.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,634 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Philadelphia Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault270
01.0x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery62
098% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary269
0100% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,634
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft283
089% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Philadelphia Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Philadelphia
377.7
State
314.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Philadelphia
2195.6
State
1983.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Philadelphia Safety

Is Philadelphia safe?
Not especially. Philadelphia earns a D with a crime rate of 257.3 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 Philadelphia?
257.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 377.7 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2195.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Philadelphia safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Philadelphia's D grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,634 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Philadelphia?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Philadelphia generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Philadelphia police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Philadelphia?
Crime rates have held steady in Philadelphia, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its D grade.
How does Philadelphia compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
Below average for the state. Philadelphia ranks behind about 82% of Pennsylvania cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.2x the national rate.
How safe is Philadelphia to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Philadelphia?
Bad. A D grade and 257.3 per-thousand rate put Philadelphia below 80% of US cities. Violent crime at 378 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Philadelphia?
377.7 per 100,000, which is 4% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (270), robbery (62), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Pennsylvania

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

D+
See crime rates in Pittsburgh307,632 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in Allentown126,044 pop · Grade D
D-
See crime rates in Reading95,832 pop · Grade D-
D
See crime rates in Erie91,838 pop · Grade D
D-
See crime rates in Bethlehem79,644 pop · Grade D-
C
See crime rates in Scranton75,514 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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