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Reading, PA vs Washington, PA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Reading crime rate · Washington crime rate

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Is Reading, PA or Washington, PA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Reading, PA is safer than Washington, PA (Safety Score 47/100 vs 32/100), with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100,000 versus 2,337 for Washington, PA — 24% lower. Reading has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Washington has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Reading is 7.2x 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 Reading, PA?

Reading — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Washington — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Reading, PA

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

Washington, PA

Washington, PA
Safety Score 32/100
Coverage 13,521
Total Crime Rate 2,337.1
Category Wins 2/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Reading Washington Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,772.8 2,337.1 -564.3
Violent Crime Rate 338.2 695.2 -357.0
Murder Rate 7.2 0.0 +7.2
Rape Rate 34.7 29.6 +5.2
Robbery Rate 100.1 147.9 -47.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 195.2 517.7 -322.6
Property Crime Rate 1,434.6 1,641.9 -207.3
Burglary Rate 233.0 266.3 -33.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 973.8 1,161.2 -187.4
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 227.9 214.5 +13.4

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

Moving from Reading, PA to Washington, PA?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Reading or Washington safer?

Reading, PA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100K vs 2,337 for Washington, PA — a 24% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Reading has a violent crime rate of 338.2 per 100K while Washington has 695.2. Reading has lower violent crime.

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.

About Washington, PA

Washington, PA, a county seat in Southwestern Pennsylvania, was founded in 1781. The city is home to Washington & Jefferson College and lies along Interstate 70, just south of Pittsburgh. With a safety score of 32/100 and a population coverage of 13,521, Washington has a total crime rate of 2,337.1 per 100,000 residents.

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