Safest Cities in Pennsylvania (2026 Rankings)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2024 FBI UCR data

New Kensington is the safest city in Pennsylvania with a crime rate of 19.1 per 1,000 residents, earning a B safety grade. Ephrata (19.4/1K) and Elizabethtown (19.4/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 70 cities with 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Crime Rate

22.3per 1K

Below National Avg

32of 70 cities

Above National Avg

38of 70 cities

All 70 Cities Ranked by Safety

#	City	Grade	Crime/1K	Risk Level	Violent	Property
1	New Kensington	B	19.1	Below Average Risk	339	1573
2	Ephrata	B-	19.4	Moderate	410	1534
3	Elizabethtown	B-	19.4	Moderate	383	1553
4	Monroeville municipality	B-	19.5	Moderate	311	1642
5	West Chester	B-	19.5	Moderate	363	1588
6	Plum	B-	19.6	Moderate	383	1575
7	Franklin Park	B-	19.6	Moderate	343	1621
8	Sharon	B-	19.6	Moderate	354	1608
9	Chester	B-	20.1	Moderate	316	1689
10	Pottsville	B-	20.1	Moderate	379	1627
11	Wyomissing	B-	20.1	Moderate	391	1615
12	Harrisburg	B-	20.2	Moderate	387	1630
13	Munhall	B-	20.2	Moderate	385	1631
14	McKeesport	B-	20.4	Moderate	332	1713
15	Lebanon	B-	20.6	Moderate	433	1623
16	Greensburg	B-	20.6	Moderate	406	1650
17	Murrysville municipality	B-	20.7	Moderate	310	1760
18	Lower Burrell	B-	20.7	Moderate	334	1734
19	Columbia	B-	20.7	Moderate	430	1645
20	St. Marys	B-	20.8	Moderate	306	1771
21	Hazleton	B-	20.9	Moderate	445	1650
22	Scranton	B-	21.2	Moderate	414	1708
23	Chambersburg	B-	21.2	Moderate	401	1716
24	Hanover	B-	21.2	Moderate	407	1710
25	Easton	B-	21.3	Moderate	369	1759
26	Dunmore	B-	21.3	Moderate	325	1807
27	Yeadon	B-	21.3	Moderate	435	1693
28	Berwick	B-	21.3	Moderate	342	1785
29	Whitehall	B-	21.5	Moderate	371	1778
30	Mount Lebanon municipality	B-	21.6	Moderate	368	1793
31	Jefferson Hills	B-	21.6	Moderate	318	1845
32	Phoenixville	B-	21.8	Moderate	357	1822
33	Emmaus	B-	22	Moderate	427	1774
34	Lancaster	B-	22.1	Moderate	341	1873
35	Lansdowne	B-	22.1	Moderate	408	1806
36	Johnstown	B-	22.2	Moderate	391	1830
37	Washington	B-	22.2	Moderate	441	1780
38	Altoona	B-	22.3	Moderate	456	1771
39	Penn Hills municipality	B-	22.4	Moderate	453	1787
40	Wilkes-Barre	B-	22.6	Moderate	324	1937
41	Williamsport	B-	22.7	Moderate	419	1854
42	Meadville	B-	22.7	Moderate	408	1860
43	Nanticoke	B-	22.7	Moderate	349	1921
44	Bethel Park municipality	B-	22.8	Moderate	416	1861
45	Pittsburgh	B-	23	Moderate	450	1847
46	Indiana	B-	23	Moderate	316	1980
47	Mechanicsburg	C+	23.1	Moderate	375	1936
48	Coatesville	C+	23.4	Moderate	305	2040
49	State College	C+	23.5	Moderate	392	1961
50	New Castle	C+	23.6	Moderate	338	2023
51	Pottstown	C+	23.7	Moderate	314	2052
52	Hermitage	C+	23.7	Moderate	353	2021
53	West Mifflin	C+	23.8	Moderate	311	2068
54	Northampton	C+	23.8	Moderate	305	2073
55	Waynesboro	C+	23.9	Moderate	346	2045
56	Darby	C+	23.9	Moderate	379	2010
57	Baldwin	C+	24	Moderate	414	1982
58	Butler	C+	24.2	Moderate	370	2050
59	Bloomsburg	C+	24.3	Moderate	362	2069
60	Norristown	C+	24.5	Moderate	387	2066
61	Lansdale	C+	24.7	Moderate	441	2026
62	Carlisle	C+	24.8	Moderate	341	2141
63	Erie	C+	24.9	Moderate	332	2154
64	Kingston	C+	24.9	Moderate	335	2156
65	Allentown	C+	25	Moderate	467	2028
66	Wilkinsburg	C+	25.1	Moderate	342	2169
67	York	C+	25.4	Moderate	408	2135
68	Reading	C+	25.7	Moderate	415	2153
69	Bethlehem	C+	25.7	Moderate	436	2136
70	Philadelphia	C+	26.5	Moderate	750	1900

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Most Dangerous Cities in Pennsylvania

The highest crime rates among tracked cities in Pennsylvania. These cities have the most crime per capita based on FBI data.

C+

Philadelphia26.5/1K · Moderate · Violent: 750/100K

C+

Bethlehem25.7/1K · Moderate · Violent: 436/100K

C+

Reading25.7/1K · Moderate · Violent: 415/100K

C+

York25.4/1K · Moderate · Violent: 408/100K

C+

Wilkinsburg25.1/1K · Moderate · Violent: 342/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety in Pennsylvania

What is the safest city in Pennsylvania?

As of 2026, New Kensington is the safest city in Pennsylvania with a crime rate of 19.1 per 1,000 residents and a B safety grade. It ranks above 60% of all US cities.

What are the top 10 safest cities in Pennsylvania?

Based on 2026 FBI Uniform Crime Report data, the top 10 safest cities in Pennsylvania based on crime rate are: New Kensington, Ephrata, Elizabethtown, Monroeville municipality, West Chester, Plum, Franklin Park, Sharon, Chester, Pottsville.

What is the most dangerous city in Pennsylvania?

Philadelphia has the highest crime rate in Pennsylvania at 26.5 per 1,000 residents, earning a C+ safety grade.

What is the average crime rate in Pennsylvania?

The average crime rate across 70 tracked cities in Pennsylvania is 22.3 per 1,000 residents. The average violent crime rate is 381 per 100K and property crime averages 1845 per 100K.

Is Pennsylvania safe to live in?

Pennsylvania has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 381 per 100K (national: 363.8). However, safety varies widely by city. New Kensington earns a B while Philadelphia gets a C+. 32 of 70 cities have crime rates at or below the national average.

How many cities are ranked in Pennsylvania?

70 cities in Pennsylvania are ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Report data. 32 have crime rates at or below the national average.

See 2027 rankings for Pennsylvania →View all Pennsylvania city safety grades Safety index for all 50 states

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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