Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Reading, PA has a Safety Score of 47/100 — higher crime than 52% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,772.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,553 of 2,957 US cities and #146 of 197 in Pennsylvania.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Reading, PA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Reading, Pennsylvania Safe?
Reading, a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, is known for its historic Pagoda overlooking the city. Once a major railroad hub, it now has a diverse population with a significant Hispanic community.
Reading has a safety score of 47/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,772.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Reading ranks #146 out of 197 cities in Pennsylvania and #1553 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 48th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 52% of US cities.
Year over year, Reading's total crime rate decreased by 17.5%, with violent crime declining 25.7%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Reading Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 331 | 338.2 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 7 | 7.2 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 34 | 34.7 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 98 | 100.1 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 191 | 195.2 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 1,404 | 1,434.6 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 228 | 233.0 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 953 | 973.8 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 223 | 227.9 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Reading vs Pennsylvania Average
How does Reading's crime rate compare to the Pennsylvania state average?
| Metric | Reading | Pennsylvania Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 338.2 | 359.1 | -5.8% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,434.6 | 2,103.7 | -31.8% |
| Murder Rate | 7.2 | 7.1 | +0.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,772.8 | 2,462.7 | -28.0% |
Reading Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Reading, Pennsylvania.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 97,868 | 1,772.8 | 338.2 | 1,434.6 |
| 2023 | 97,790 | 2,148.5 | 455.1 | 1,693.4 |
| 2022 | 97,698 | 1,837.3 | 436.0 | 1,401.3 |
| 2020 | 88,412 | 2,123.0 | 566.7 | 1,556.4 |
| 2019 | 88,549 | 2,448.4 | 535.3 | 1,913.1 |
Reading Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Reading 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 Reading, Pennsylvania safe?
Reading has a safety score of 47/100, meaning it has less crime than about 47% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,772.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Reading is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Reading, Pennsylvania?
According to FBI data for 2024, Reading has a violent crime rate of 338.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,434.6 per 100,000 residents.
How does Reading compare to the national average?
Reading's total crime rate of 1,772.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 97,868 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Reading?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Reading are larceny-theft (953 reported incidents) and burglary (228 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 4.2x in the city.
Is Reading safe to visit?
Like any city, Reading has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 47/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.