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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, New Kensington, PA has a Safety Score of 22/100 — higher crime than 78% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,856.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,306 of 2,957 US cities and #183 of 197 in Pennsylvania.
Quiz: which of these is SAFER than New Kensington, PA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is New Kensington, Pennsylvania Safe?
New Kensington, a former industrial hub along the Allegheny River, was once home to Alcoa's research facilities. Its population has steadily declined since its mid-20th century peak, reflecting broader trends in many Rust Belt communities.
New Kensington has a safety score of 22/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,856.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
New Kensington ranks #183 out of 197 cities in Pennsylvania and #2306 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 22nd percentile for safety — with higher crime than 78% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in New Kensington is murder, at 8.5 per 100K — 1.3x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.5x the national rate.
Year over year, New Kensington's total crime rate increased by 16.4%, with violent crime rising 35.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
New Kensington Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 54 | 456.4 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 1 | 8.5 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 3 | 25.4 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 8 | 67.6 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 42 | 355.0 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 284 | 2,400.3 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 44 | 371.9 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 220 | 1,859.4 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 20 | 169.0 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
New Kensington vs Pennsylvania Average
How does New Kensington's crime rate compare to the Pennsylvania state average?
| Metric | New Kensington | Pennsylvania Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 456.4 | 359.1 | +27.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,400.3 | 2,103.7 | +14.1% |
| Murder Rate | 8.5 | 7.1 | +19.2% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,856.7 | 2,462.7 | +16.0% |
New Kensington Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for New Kensington, Pennsylvania.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11,832 | 2,856.7 | 456.4 | 2,400.3 |
| 2023 | 11,896 | 2,454.6 | 336.3 | 2,118.4 |
| 2022 | 11,982 | 1,986.3 | 283.8 | 1,702.6 |
| 2020 | 12,205 | 2,572.7 | 295.0 | 2,277.8 |
| 2019 | 12,273 | 3,177.7 | 529.6 | 2,648.1 |
New Kensington Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for New Kensington 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 New Kensington, Pennsylvania safe?
New Kensington 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 2,856.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, New Kensington is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in New Kensington, Pennsylvania?
According to FBI data for 2024, New Kensington has a violent crime rate of 456.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,400.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does New Kensington compare to the national average?
New Kensington's total crime rate of 2,856.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 11,832 residents.
What types of crime are most common in New Kensington?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in New Kensington are larceny-theft (220 reported incidents) and burglary (44 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 5.3x in the city.
Is New Kensington safe to visit?
Like any city, New Kensington 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.