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Chester City, PA vs Reading, PA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Chester City crime rate · Reading crime rate

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Is Chester City, PA or Reading, PA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Reading, PA is safer than Chester City, PA (Safety Score 47/100 vs 23/100), with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100,000 versus 2,819 for Chester City, PA — 37% lower. Chester City has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Reading has a 88% lower rate.

Note: Reading is 2.9x 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 Chester City, PA?

Chester City — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Reading — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Chester City, PA

Safety Score 23/100
Coverage 33,944
Total Crime Rate 2,819.4
Category Wins 0/7

Reading, PA

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

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Chester City Reading Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,819.4 1,772.8 +1,046.6
Violent Crime Rate 830.8 338.2 +492.6
Murder Rate 58.9 7.2 +51.8
Rape Rate 58.9 34.7 +24.2
Robbery Rate 194.4 100.1 +94.3
Aggravated Assault Rate 518.5 195.2 +323.3
Property Crime Rate 1,988.6 1,434.6 +554.0
Burglary Rate 332.9 233.0 +99.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,243.2 973.8 +269.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 412.4 227.9 +184.6

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

Moving from Chester City, 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 Chester City or Reading safer?

Reading, PA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100K vs 2,819 for Chester City, PA — a 37% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Chester City has a violent crime rate of 830.8 per 100K while Reading has 338.2. Reading has lower violent crime.

About Chester City, PA

Chester, Pennsylvania, a city along the Delaware River, was once home to the nation's first continuously operating shipyard. Today, it is a diverse community with a significant African American population. With a safety score of 23/100 and a population coverage of 33,944, Chester City has a total crime rate of 2,819.4 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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