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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Scranton, PA has a Safety Score of 52/100 — safer than 52% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,626.5 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,430 of 2,971 US cities and #139 of 197 in Pennsylvania.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Scranton, Pennsylvania Safe?
Scranton, once a booming hub of the anthracite coal industry, is the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania. Nestled in the Lackawanna River valley, its population is predominantly white, with a growing Hispanic community.
Scranton has a safety score of 52/100 (Near National Average). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,626.5 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Scranton ranks #139 out of 197 cities in Pennsylvania and #1430 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 52nd percentile for safety — safer than 52% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Scranton is rape, at 92.5 per 100K — 2.1x the national average. Conversely, robbery is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Scranton's total crime rate decreased by 5.7%, with violent crime declining 9.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Scranton Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 213 | 281.4 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 7 | 9.3 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 70 | 92.5 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 24 | 31.7 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 112 | 148.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,018 | 1,345.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 146 | 192.9 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 774 | 1,022.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 98 | 129.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Scranton vs Pennsylvania Average
How does Scranton's crime rate compare to the Pennsylvania state average?
| Metric | Scranton | Pennsylvania Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 281.4 | 359.1 | -21.6% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,345.1 | 2,103.7 | -36.1% |
| Murder Rate | 9.3 | 7.1 | +30.5% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,626.5 | 2,462.7 | -34.0% |
Scranton Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Scranton, Pennsylvania.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 75,683 | 1,626.5 | 281.4 | 1,345.1 |
| 2023 | 75,687 | 1,724.2 | 310.5 | 1,413.7 |
| 2022 | 75,798 | 2,116.2 | 414.3 | 1,701.9 |
| 2021 | 76,580 | 1,802.0 | 398.3 | 1,403.8 |
| 2020 | 76,719 | 2,150.7 | 920.2 | 1,230.5 |
| 2019 | 77,323 | 3,292.7 | 1,550.6 | 1,742.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scranton, Pennsylvania safe?
Scranton has a safety score of 52/100, meaning it has less crime than about 52% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,626.5 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Scranton is about average for a US city.
What is the crime rate in Scranton, Pennsylvania?
According to FBI data for 2024, Scranton has a violent crime rate of 281.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,345.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Scranton compare to the national average?
Scranton's total crime rate of 1,626.5 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 75,683 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Scranton?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Scranton include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Scranton safe to visit?
Like any city, Scranton has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 52/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.