Violent
Property
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Chester City, PA has a Safety Score of 22/100 — higher crime than 77% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,819.4 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,303 of 2,971 US cities and #182 of 197 in Pennsylvania.
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 22/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,819.4 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Chester City ranks #182 out of 197 cities in Pennsylvania and #2303 out of 2971 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 — 9.5x the national average. Conversely, larceny-theft is relatively low at just 0.8x 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 (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 282 | 830.8 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 20 | 58.9 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 20 | 58.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 66 | 194.4 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 176 | 518.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 675 | 1,988.6 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 113 | 332.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 422 | 1,243.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 140 | 412.4 | 352.4 |
| 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 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chester City, Pennsylvania safe?
Chester City has a safety score of 22/100, meaning it has less crime than about 22% 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 include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
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 22/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.