Is Philadelphia Safe?
Philadelphia is a relatively safe city, especially if you avoid the city's worst neighborhoods. Your chance of being the victim of a violent crime in Philly is approximately 1 in 250, making it safer than most large US cities. Additionally, the crime rate in Philadelphia has fallen by around 3% per year over the last decade.
However, there are some dangerous neighborhoods in Philly. The highest concentration of crime occurs in neighborhoods on the city's West and North sides. Outside of these areas, in places like Center City and South Philadelphia, crime is not as much of a problem for residents or visitors.
Most Dangerous Neighborhoods in Philadelphia
- Nicetown-Tioga
- Hunting Park
- Strawberry Mansion
- Fairhill
- Alleghany West
- Harrowgate
- Haddington-Carroll Park
- Elmwood
- Frankford
- North Central Philly
1. Nicetown-Tioga
Nicetown-Tioga is considered to be Philadelphia's most dangerous neighborhood. The population of this area is 17,382, with an average annual income of $24,935. The crime rate of Nicetown-Tioga is 2,739 incidents per 1,000,000 inhabitants, meaning the area has a crime rate that is 329% higher than the national average! In 2021, there were 2,737 incidents of violent crime in this neighborhood. Gun violence is still a major problem in this part of Philadelphia.
2. Hunting Park
Also located in North Philadelphia, Hunting Park is another one of the most violent neighborhoods in Philadelphia. Hunting Park is home to many historical structures, such as the Clara Barton School. The population of Hunting Park is 22,735 people, with 1,452 crimes committed per 100,000 people. Overall, crime in Hunting Park is 100% higher than the national average. In 2021, there were 1,506 incidents of violent crime in the city, many of those crimes being robbery and assault. Gun violence is also a problem in Hunting Park.
3. Strawberry Mansion
Strawberry Mansion is a dangerous Philly neighborhood located in North Philadelphia near Fairmount Park. The population is 19,690 people, with a crime rate of 1,944 per 100,000 inhabitants. In 2022, crime in the city was ranked as being 162% higher than the national average, with violent crime being 420% higher. Murder and gun violence are high in this part of the city.
Other violent crimes include car theft and carjacking, often leading to violent encounters.
4. Fairhill
Fairhill is another one of the most dangerous areas in Philly. Located in the North Eastern part of Philadelphia, Fairhill has a crime rate of 1,545 per 100,000 people as of 2022. In addition, Fairhill is surrounded by the neighborhoods of Kensington and West Kensington, of which Kensington is known for high levels of drug activity, having one of the largest open-air drug markets in the United States.
The crime rate in Fairhill is 260% higher than the national average, with the violent crime rate being a whopping 313% high than the national average. In 2021, the violent crime rate totaled 1,602 incidents.
5. Alleghany West
Also located in Northeastern Philadelphia, Alleghany West has a population of 18,676 people. In 2022 the crime rate was 2,458 per 100,000 inhabitants in Alleghany West. This part of the city has suffered from a lack of investment which has greatly affected the industrial history of this community.
In 2021, there were 1,602 violent crimes reported in Alleghany West, making the violent crime rate 313% higher than the national average.
6. Harrowgate
Located near Alleghany, Harrowgate has a population of 17,456 and a crime rate of 1,703 per 100,000 people. Like many other neighborhoods in Northeastern Philadelphia, Harrowgate struggles with drug trafficking. Violent crime is also an issue, with gun violence, murders, robberies, and assaults being a problem. Much of the violent crime can be directly linked to drug activity in the neighborhood.
In 2021, there were 1,764 violent incidents in Harrowgate, making the violent crime rate 326% higher than the national average.
7. Haddington-Carroll Park
Another one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Philly is Haddington-Carroll Park. Located in West Philadelphia, Haddington-Carroll Park has a population of 35,068 and 1,588 crimes per 100,000 residents. A working-class neighborhood, Haddington-Carrol Park is bordered by Lansdowne Avenue and West Girard Avenue, which share a similar culture. In 2022, overall crime in the city was 133% higher than the city average.
8. Elmwood
Elmwood is another one of the worst areas in Philadelphia due to its high violent crime rates. The Elwood neighborhood is located in Southwest Philadelphia, bordering Delaware County and extending to the Schuylkill River. The neighborhood's population is 28,891, with a crime rate of 1,219 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2022.
While Elmwood may not be at the top of the list, it still suffers from issues relating to gun violence and murder. The violent crime rate in Elmwood was 225% high than the national average in the year 2021, with 1,262 reported incidents.
9. Frankford
Located in Northeast Philadelphia, Frankford has a population of 39,792 and a crime rate of 1,369 crimes per 100,000 people. The overall crime rate is 132% higher than the national average, and the violent crime rate is 266% higher. There were over 1,400 reported incidents of violent crime in 2021, with assault and robbery being common.
10. North Central Philly
Last on our list of dangerous Philly neighborhoods is North Central Philadelphia, which has a population of 21,880 and a crime rate of 1,982 per 100,000 people in 2022. This neighborhood is located near Temple University in the Northern part of the city and has a particularly bad reputation. Generally, Temple University is seen as a safe campus, surrounded by many high-crime areas.
In 2022, there were over 2,000 incidents of violent crime in North Central. However, property crime is far more prevalent in this neighborhood. The amount of reported property crime in North Central was almost 6,450 incidents in 2022, making the property crime rate 231% higher than the national average.
How Dangerous is Philadelphia Bottom Line
Although Philadelphia has a higher crime rate than the national average, the city is not as dangerous as many other large American cities. Whether you live in Philly or are visiting, you'll feel safe in most tourist neighborhoods and central parts of the city. Many of Philly's most dangerous neighborhoods are in the West, North, and Northeast of the city. Areas in downtown (Center City) and South Philadelphia tend to be safer.
Phill's worst neighborhoods, especially in the Northeast, have been hard hit by the opioid epidemic and suffer from crime stemming from those issues. Therefore, when traveling or looking to relocate, it's essential to know what areas are safe. Safety in between neighborhoods can often adjust quickly, and an area that seems safe can change quickly.