12 Safest Cities in Pennsylvania
- Aspinwall
- Collegeville
- Swarthmore
- Murrysville
- Ardmore
- West Mifflin
- Franklin Park
- Penn Township
- Upper St. Clair
- State College
- Lower Burrell
- Northampton
1. Aspinwall
The safest place to live in Pennsylvania is Aspinwall. Located within the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, Aspinwall is a borough on the Allegheny River in the county of the same name. It's home to 2,916 residents and is known for its historic homes, beautiful river views, and easy access to transportation. It's a very safe, family-friendly area with a total crime rate that's 87% lower than the national average and 96% safer than the statewide average. Violent and property crimes are 87% lower than in the rest of the country. Your chances of being the victim of a crime in the community are 1 in 321.
2. Collegeville
Collegeville is another one of the safest places to live in Pennsylvania. Located in Montgomery County, Collegeville has a population of 5,043. The crime rate in Collegeville is 371 crimes per 100,000 people, which is 84% lower than the national average. Residents have a 1 in 270 chance of becoming the victim of a crime. Collegeville offers attractions like skydiving, various shops and restaurants, horseback riding, and popular car shows. The median home price in Collegeville is $302,800, and the median rent is $1,272.
3. Swarthmore
Swarthmore is located outside Philadelphia in Delaware County, one of the safest and wealthiest counties in Pennsylvania. Swarthmore has a population of 6,346 and the crime rate in the city is 498 per 100,000, which is 79% lower than the national average. Residents have a 1 in 206 chance of becoming victims of any crime. A popular point of interest is the Scott Arboretum, which is part of Swarthmore College. The median home price is $377,900, which is 105% higher than the national average.
4. Murrysville
Murrysville is located in western Pennsylvania in Westmoreland County, with a population of 21,000. The crime rate in Murrysville is 486 crimes per 100,000 people, making the city 79% safer than the US average. Residents have a 1 in 202 chance of becoming victims of a crime, while there were only 7 violent crimes committed in 2022. Murrysville is a rural community in the foothills of Western Pennsylvania and is described as a quiet community. The median home price is $229,500.
5. Ardmore
Ardmore is also a very safe place to live in Pennsylvania. It's a census-designated place on the border between Delaware and Montgomery Counties that's home to 13,566 residents. Considered a pleasant suburb of Philadelphia, Ardmore is nicknamed the Main Street of the Main Line and features a quaint downtown area with many shops and restaurants. Ardmore is also very safe. The total crime rate is only 671 incidents per 100,000 residents, which is 71% lower than the rest of the US and 78% lower than the rest of Pennsylvania. The violent crime rate is also 76% lower than the national average, and your odds of being the victim of a crime in Ardmore are 1 in 149.
6. West Mifflin
West Mifflin is one of the safest cities in Pennsylvania due to its extremely low crime rate. Located in Allegheny county, with a population of 19,700, West Mifflin has a crime rate that is 70% lower than the national average. Residents have a 1 in 163 chance of becoming victims of any type of crime. In 2022, there were only 34 violent crimes and 89 property crimes. West Mifflin is located just outside of Pittsburgh and is mainly a residential area. The median home price is only $92,900, which is 50% lower than the US average and 45% lower than the state average.
7. Franklin Park
Franklin Park is another one of the safest cities in Pennsylvania. Located in Allegheny County, Franklin Park has a population of 15,479. The crime rate is 775 per 100,000 people, which is 67% lower than the national average. Franklin Park is a suburb of Pittsburgh, and many residents commute into the city for work. The median home price is $312,200, and the median rent is $1,296- both slightly higher than the national average. Even though Franklin Park is near Pittsburgh, it still offers a quiet rural setting.
8. Penn Township
Penn Township is located in Westmoreland County and has a population of 20,047. Penn Township has a very low rate of violent crime and property crime, being about 63% safer than the US average. Penn Township is home to the Bushy Run Battlefield, marking a historic event in local Pennsylvania history. The site is currently on the National Register of Historic Places. While Penn Township is rural, it is only 25 miles from Pittsburgh.
9. Upper St. Clair
Also located in Allegheny County, Upper St. Clair has a population of 19,521. Upper St Clair has a crime rate of 835 per 100,000 people, making the chance of becoming the victim of any type of crime 1 in 121. Around 9% of Upper St. Clair’s area contains 14 parks and fields, totaling 733 acres. The median home price in the city is $267,500, which is 60% higher than the national average.
10. State College
State College is another one of the safest cities in Pennsylvania. Located in the mountainous regions of central Pennsylvania, State College has a population of 42,074. Much of the town’s population and culture is based around the adjacent Penn State University. The crime rate in State College is 1,027 per 100,000, which is 56% lower than the US average. The median house price in State College is $275,700, and the median rent is $968.
11. Lower Burrell
Lower Burrell has a population of 11,758 and a crime rate of 1,092 per 100,000 people. The city’s crime rate is 53% lower than the national average, with 19 violent crimes and 109 property crimes committed in 2021. Lower Burrell sits along the scenic Allegheny River, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Lower Burrell has many trails and hiking areas in the foothills and is generally known for having great scenery. The median house price is $135,000, which is 27% lower than the US average.
12. Northampton
Finishing our list of the safest places to live in Pennsylvania is Northampton, a town of 10,395 people. This small town is located in Northampton County outside of Philadelphia and is part of the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area. The crime rate in Northampton is 1,891 per 100,000, which is 7% lower than the state average. Residents have a 1 in 53 chance of becoming victims of any crime. Housing in Northampton is inexpensive, with the median price being $165,900.
Safest Places to Live in PA Bottom Line
Finding a safe and affordable place to live is essential for most people. Luckily, most of these cities and towns offer a mixture of spacious living, low crime, and affordability. Many of the safest places to live in Pennsylvania are scenic mountain towns that offer spectacular views and winter sports. Overall, Pennsylvania is a diverse state that offers a little bit of everything.