Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Harrisburg, PA has a Safety Score of 23/100 — higher crime than 77% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,758.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,264 of 2,957 US cities and #181 of 197 in Pennsylvania.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Harrisburg, PA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Safe?
Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, sits along the Susquehanna River in the state's south-central region. Known for its historic State Capitol Building, it's a diverse city with a significant government employment sector.
Harrisburg has a safety score of 23/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,758.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Harrisburg ranks #181 out of 197 cities in Pennsylvania and #2264 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 Harrisburg is murder, at 30.0 per 100K — 4.8x the national average. Conversely, larceny-theft is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Harrisburg's total crime rate decreased by 10%, with violent crime declining 27.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Harrisburg Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 383 | 766.2 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 15 | 30.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 27 | 54.0 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 82 | 164.1 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 257 | 514.2 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 996 | 1,992.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 167 | 334.1 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 586 | 1,172.4 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 243 | 486.2 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Harrisburg vs Pennsylvania Average
How does Harrisburg's crime rate compare to the Pennsylvania state average?
| Metric | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 766.2 | 359.1 | +113.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,992.6 | 2,103.7 | -5.3% |
| Murder Rate | 30.0 | 7.1 | +323.3% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,758.8 | 2,462.7 | +12.0% |
Harrisburg Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 49,985 | 2,758.8 | 766.2 | 1,992.6 |
| 2023 | 50,229 | 3,064.0 | 1,063.1 | 2,000.8 |
| 2020 | 49,244 | 2,877.5 | 978.8 | 1,898.7 |
| 2019 | 49,195 | 3,075.5 | 902.5 | 2,173.0 |
Harrisburg Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania safe?
Harrisburg 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 2,758.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Harrisburg is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
According to FBI data for 2024, Harrisburg has a violent crime rate of 766.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,992.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Harrisburg compare to the national average?
Harrisburg's total crime rate of 2,758.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 49,985 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Harrisburg?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Harrisburg are larceny-theft (586 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (257 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 2.6x in the city.
Is Harrisburg safe to visit?
Like any city, Harrisburg 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.