10 Most Dangerous Cities in Pennsylvania
- McKees Rocks
- Darby
- Chester
- McKeesport
- Yeadon
- Ambridge
- Philadelphia
- Pottstown
- Reading
- Johnstown
1. McKees Rocks
McKees Rocks, also known as “The Rocks,” is a borough in Allegheny county that is the most dangerous place to live in Pennsylvania. With a population of 5,920, McKees Rocks has a crime rate of 6,409 per 100,000; this makes the city 173% more dangerous than the national average. In 2022, violent crime totaled 106 incidents, while there were 262 incidents of property crime. Both are very high figures in relation to the city’s small population.
2. Darby
Darby is another one of the most violent cities in Pennsylvania, with 152 murders reported in 2021 out of a population of 10,667. Property crime is also extremely high, at a rate of 4,625 incidents per 100,000 people. Residents have a 1 in 22 chance of becoming victims of any type of crime. In addition, Darby’s poverty rate is incredibly high, with residents, on average, earning less than $35,000 a year.
3. Chester
Chester is also one of the most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania. Chester is located just outside of Philadelphia in Delaware County and has a population of 32,605 people. Chester consistently makes its way onto lists of the worst cities to live in the United States and has a history of high crime and political corruption. The crime rate of Chester is 116% higher than the PA state average, with 4,389 crimes per 100,000 people. As of 2021, the median home price in Chest is just $66,800.
4. McKeesport
McKeesport is a dangerous PA city located in Allegheny County that has a population of 17,727. The total crime rate is 4,291 incidents per 100,000 people, with residents having a 1 in 24 chance of becoming victims of any type of crime. In 2021, there were 332 violent crimes and 542 property crimes reported. McKeesport has problems with poverty and unemployment, with a median income of just $26,271 per household.
5. Yeadon
Yeadon is another dangerous Pennsylvania town. It is located in Delaware county and has a crime rate of 4,083 per 100,000 people. Residents in Yeadon have a 1 in 25 chance of becoming the victims of any type of crime. According to FBI statistics in 2021, there were 747 incidents of violent crimes and 3,336 property crimes per capita. The median home price in Yeadon is $138,000, with an average household income of $48,420.
6. Ambridge
Ambridge of located in Beaver County in western Pennsylvania and has a population of 6,972. The total crime rate in Ambridge of 4,057 incidents per 100,000 people making crime 73% higher than the US average. Violent crime is high in the city, with residents having a 1 in 39 chance of becoming a victim. Ambridge has a median income of $33,758 and a median home price of $66,200.
7. Philadelphia
Due to its size, you might assume Philadelphia belongs higher on this list. However, in relation to Philadelphia’s population, crime is not that high. That doesn’t mean that the city of completely safe. Out of a population of 1,603,797, the city has a crime rate of 4,006 per 100,000 which is 97% higher than the state average. Residents have a 1 in 25 chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime. As with many large cities, crime is concentrated in certain areas, with North and West Philadelphia being the most violent.
8. Pottstown
Pottstown is located in Montgomery County and has a population of 23,433. The crime rate in Pottstown is 3,823 incidents per 100,000 which is 88% higher than the state average. Residents have a 1 in 27 chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime. In 2021, there were 183 violent crimes and 740 property crimes recorded. In relation to the city’s population, that figure is quite high.
9. Reading
Reading is located in Berks county and has a population of 95,112. Residents have a 1 in 28 chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime and the total crime rate is 81% higher than the state average. In 2022, there were 690 violent crimes and 2,742 property crimes reported in the city. Reading is located in the Delaware Valley, and despite being located near the mountains and Philadelphia, the city struggles with a bad economy and poverty. The median home value in Reading is just $69,400.
10. Johnstown
Johnstown has a population of 18,411 and a crime rate that is 68% higher than the Pennsylvania state average. The total crime rate in the city is 3,417 per 100,000 people, and residents have a 1 in 30 chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime. The city averages around 251 violent and 558 property crimes per year. The median household income in the city is only $24,075, which is 56% lower than the national average.
Most Dangerous Cities in Pennsylvania Bottom Line
While there are many reasons to move to Pennsylvania, these ten cities are not among those reasons. Much of the state is still affected by manufacturing jobs leaving and issues related to urban poverty. Many of the cities and areas around Philadelphia have especially violent crime in addition to rampant violent crime. Despite these issues, Pennsylvania remains a popular state to visit and live in.