Share

Altoona, PA vs Reading, PA Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Altoona crime rate · Reading crime rate

Moving from Altoona, PA to Reading, PA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Is Altoona, PA or Reading, PA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Reading, PA is safer than Altoona, PA (Safety Score 47/100 vs 36/100), with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100,000 versus 2,185 for Altoona, PA — 19% lower. Altoona has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Altoona has a 67% lower rate.

Note: Reading is 2.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Altoona, PA?

Altoona — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Flat Total

Reading — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Altoona, PA

Altoona, PA
Safety Score 36/100
Coverage 42,424
Total Crime Rate 2,185.1
Category Wins 4/7

Reading, PA

Reading, PA
Safety Score 47/100
Coverage 97,868
Total Crime Rate 1,772.8
Category Wins 3/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Altoona Reading Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,185.1 1,772.8 +412.3
Violent Crime Rate 334.7 338.2 -3.5
Murder Rate 2.4 7.2 -4.8
Rape Rate 75.4 34.7 +40.7
Robbery Rate 73.1 100.1 -27.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 183.9 195.2 -11.3
Property Crime Rate 1,850.4 1,434.6 +415.8
Burglary Rate 332.4 233.0 +99.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,402.5 973.8 +428.8
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 115.5 227.9 -112.4

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Altoona, PA to Reading, PA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

Get the planner →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Altoona or Reading safer?

Reading, PA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100K vs 2,185 for Altoona, PA — a 19% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Altoona has a violent crime rate of 334.7 per 100K while Reading has 338.2. Altoona has lower violent crime.

About Altoona, PA

Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, Altoona was once a vital railroad town, home to the Pennsylvania Railroad's extensive shops. Its population of around 44,000 reflects a legacy of industrial heritage. With a safety score of 36/100 and a population coverage of 42,424, Altoona has a total crime rate of 2,185.1 per 100,000 residents.

About Reading, PA

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. With a safety score of 47/100 and a population coverage of 97,868, Reading has a total crime rate of 1,772.8 per 100,000 residents.

More Crime Rate Comparisons