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D+

Is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Safe?

Population 307,632 · Safer than 23% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Pittsburgh earns a D+ safety grade with 247.6 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violent crime runs close to the national average, putting the city behind 77% of US cities. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,411 per 100K.

Pittsburgh Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPittsburghPennsylvania AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate417.1314.3363.8
Property Crime Rate2058.91983.01,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate328.0--268.2
Theft Rate1411.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate450.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD+

247.6 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD+

417/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2059/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Pittsburgh

Violent crime in Pittsburgh is close to the national average. The rate of 417.1 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2058.9 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,411 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 328 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Pittsburgh Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault328
01.2x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery83
01.3x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary302
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,411
01.0x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft450
01.4x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Pittsburgh Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Pittsburgh
417.1
State
314.3
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Pittsburgh
2058.9
State
1983.0
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Pittsburgh Safety

Is Pittsburgh safe?
Not especially. Pittsburgh earns a D+ with a crime rate of 247.6 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 Pittsburgh?
247.6 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 417.1 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2058.9 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Pittsburgh safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Pittsburgh's D+ grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,411 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Pittsburgh?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Pittsburgh generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Pittsburgh police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Pittsburgh?
No. Crime in Pittsburgh has been trending down, which is good news for the D+-rated city.
How does Pittsburgh compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
Below average for the state. Pittsburgh ranks behind about 70% of Pennsylvania cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Pittsburgh to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Pittsburgh?
Bad. A D+ grade and 247.6 per-thousand rate put Pittsburgh below 77% of US cities. Violent crime at 417 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Pittsburgh?
417.1 per 100,000, which is 15% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (328), robbery (83), and murder (7.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Pennsylvania

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

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D-
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See crime rates in Erie91,838 pop · Grade D
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C
See crime rates in Scranton75,514 pop · Grade C
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See crime rates in Lancaster58,366 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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