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Bethlehem, PA vs Reading, PA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Bethlehem crime rate · Reading crime rate

Moving from Bethlehem, PA to Reading, PA?

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Is Bethlehem, PA or Reading, PA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Bethlehem, PA is safer than Reading, PA (Safety Score 54/100 vs 47/100), with a total crime rate of 1,576 per 100,000 versus 1,773 for Reading, PA — 11% lower. Bethlehem has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Bethlehem has a 72% lower rate.

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

Bethlehem — 4-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Reading — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Bethlehem, PA

Bethlehem, PA
Safety Score 54/100
Coverage 79,194
Total Crime Rate 1,575.9
Category Wins 6/7

Reading, PA

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

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Bethlehem Reading Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,575.9 1,772.8 -196.9
Violent Crime Rate 207.1 338.2 -131.1
Murder Rate 2.5 7.2 -4.6
Rape Rate 40.4 34.7 +5.7
Robbery Rate 27.8 100.1 -72.4
Aggravated Assault Rate 135.1 195.2 -60.1
Property Crime Rate 1,368.8 1,434.6 -65.8
Burglary Rate 84.6 233.0 -148.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,150.3 973.8 +176.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 133.9 227.9 -94.0

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

Moving from Bethlehem, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bethlehem or Reading safer?

Bethlehem, PA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,576 per 100K vs 1,773 for Reading, PA — a 11% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Bethlehem has a violent crime rate of 207.1 per 100K while Reading has 338.2. Bethlehem has lower violent crime.

About Bethlehem, PA

Bethlehem, PA, known as "The Christmas City" for its annual celebrations, is a city in the Lehigh Valley. Once a major industrial hub for Bethlehem Steel, it now has a diverse economy and a population of over 75,000. With a safety score of 54/100 and a population coverage of 79,194, Bethlehem has a total crime rate of 1,575.9 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.

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