Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Chester City, PA has a Safety Score of 23/100 — higher crime than 77% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,819.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,287 of 2,957 US cities and #182 of 197 in Pennsylvania.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Chester City, PA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Chester City, Pennsylvania Safe?
Chester, Pennsylvania, a city along the Delaware River, was once home to the nation's first continuously operating shipyard. Today, it is a diverse community with a significant African American population.
Chester City has a safety score of 23/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,819.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Chester City ranks #182 out of 197 cities in Pennsylvania and #2287 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 23rd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 77% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Chester City is murder, at 58.9 per 100K — 9.3x the national average. Conversely, larceny-theft is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Chester City's total crime rate decreased by 13.8%, with violent crime declining 28.9%.
Chester City Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 282 | 830.8 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 20 | 58.9 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 20 | 58.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 66 | 194.4 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 176 | 518.5 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 675 | 1,988.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 113 | 332.9 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 422 | 1,243.2 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 140 | 412.4 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Chester City vs Pennsylvania Average
How does Chester City's crime rate compare to the Pennsylvania state average?
| Metric | Chester City | Pennsylvania Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 830.8 | 359.1 | +131.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,988.6 | 2,103.7 | -5.5% |
| Murder Rate | 58.9 | 7.1 | +731.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,819.4 | 2,462.7 | +14.5% |
Chester City Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Chester City, Pennsylvania.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 33,944 | 2,819.4 | 830.8 | 1,988.6 |
| 2023 | 33,894 | 3,272.0 | 1,168.4 | 2,103.6 |
| 2020 | 34,007 | 3,264.0 | 1,108.6 | 2,155.4 |
| 2019 | 33,905 | 4,388.7 | 1,383.3 | 3,005.5 |
Chester City Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Chester City 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 Chester City, Pennsylvania safe?
Chester City has a safety score of 23/100, meaning it has less crime than about 23% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,819.4 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Chester City is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Chester City, Pennsylvania?
According to FBI data for 2024, Chester City has a violent crime rate of 830.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,988.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Chester City compare to the national average?
Chester City's total crime rate of 2,819.4 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 33,944 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Chester City?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Chester City are larceny-theft (422 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (176 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 2.4x in the city.
Is Chester City safe to visit?
Like any city, Chester City has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 23/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.