Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Altoona, PA has a Safety Score of 36/100 — higher crime than 64% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,185.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,900 of 2,957 US cities and #162 of 197 in Pennsylvania.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Altoona, PA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Altoona, Pennsylvania Safe?
Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, Altoona was once a vital railroad town, home to the Pennsylvania Railroad's extensive shops. Its population of around 44,000 reflects a legacy of industrial heritage.
Altoona has a safety score of 36/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,185.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Altoona ranks #162 out of 197 cities in Pennsylvania and #1900 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 36th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 64% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Altoona is rape, at 75.4 per 100K — 1.7x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Altoona's total crime rate increased by 3.2%, with violent crime rising 17.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Altoona Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 142 | 334.7 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 1 | 2.4 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 32 | 75.4 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 31 | 73.1 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 78 | 183.9 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 785 | 1,850.4 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 141 | 332.4 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 595 | 1,402.5 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 49 | 115.5 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Altoona vs Pennsylvania Average
How does Altoona's crime rate compare to the Pennsylvania state average?
| Metric | Altoona | Pennsylvania Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 334.7 | 359.1 | -6.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,850.4 | 2,103.7 | -12.0% |
| Murder Rate | 2.4 | 7.1 | -66.7% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,185.1 | 2,462.7 | -11.3% |
Altoona Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Altoona, Pennsylvania.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 42,424 | 2,185.1 | 334.7 | 1,850.4 |
| 2023 | 42,666 | 2,116.4 | 285.9 | 1,830.5 |
| 2020 | 43,090 | 2,325.4 | 443.3 | 1,882.1 |
| 2019 | 43,429 | 2,162.2 | 607.9 | 1,554.3 |
Altoona Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Altoona and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Pennsylvania crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Altoona, Pennsylvania safe?
Altoona has a safety score of 36/100, meaning it has less crime than about 36% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,185.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Altoona is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Altoona, Pennsylvania?
According to FBI data for 2024, Altoona has a violent crime rate of 334.7 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,850.4 per 100,000 residents.
How does Altoona compare to the national average?
Altoona's total crime rate of 2,185.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 42,424 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Altoona?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Altoona are larceny-theft (595 reported incidents) and burglary (141 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.5x in the city.
Is Altoona safe to visit?
Like any city, Altoona has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 36/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.