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New Kensington, PA vs Reading, PA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: New Kensington crime rate · Reading crime rate

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Is New Kensington, PA or Reading, PA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Reading, PA is safer than New Kensington, PA (Safety Score 47/100 vs 22/100), with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100,000 versus 2,857 for New Kensington, PA — 38% lower. New Kensington has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in property crime, where Reading has a 40% lower rate.

Note: Reading is 8.3x 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 New Kensington, PA?

New Kensington — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Reading — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

New Kensington, PA

New Kensington, PA
Safety Score 22/100
Coverage 11,832
Total Crime Rate 2,856.7
Category Wins 2/7

Reading, PA

Reading, PA
Safety Score 47/100
Coverage 97,868
Total Crime Rate 1,772.8
Category Wins 5/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type New Kensington Reading Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,856.7 1,772.8 +1,083.9
Violent Crime Rate 456.4 338.2 +118.2
Murder Rate 8.5 7.2 +1.3
Rape Rate 25.4 34.7 -9.4
Robbery Rate 67.6 100.1 -32.5
Aggravated Assault Rate 355.0 195.2 +159.8
Property Crime Rate 2,400.3 1,434.6 +965.7
Burglary Rate 371.9 233.0 +138.9
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,859.4 973.8 +885.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 169.0 227.9 -58.8

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

Moving from New Kensington, 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 New Kensington or Reading safer?

Reading, PA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100K vs 2,857 for New Kensington, PA — a 38% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

New Kensington has a violent crime rate of 456.4 per 100K while Reading has 338.2. Reading has lower violent crime.

About New Kensington, PA

New Kensington, a former industrial hub along the Allegheny River, was once home to Alcoa's research facilities. Its population has steadily declined since its mid-20th century peak, reflecting broader trends in many Rust Belt communities. With a safety score of 22/100 and a population coverage of 11,832, New Kensington has a total crime rate of 2,856.7 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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