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Reading, PA vs Wilkes Barre City, PA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Reading crime rate · Wilkes Barre City crime rate

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Is Reading, PA or Wilkes Barre City, PA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Reading, PA is safer than Wilkes Barre City, PA (Safety Score 47/100 vs 41/100), with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100,000 versus 1,989 for Wilkes Barre City, PA — 11% lower. Reading has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in robbery, where Wilkes Barre City has a 44% lower rate.

Note: Reading is 2.2x 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

Wilkes Barre City — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Reading, PA

Reading, PA
Safety Score 47/100
Coverage 97,868
Total Crime Rate 1,772.8
Category Wins 4/7

Wilkes Barre City, PA

Safety Score 41/100
Coverage 44,254
Total Crime Rate 1,988.5
Category Wins 3/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Reading Wilkes Barre City Difference
Total Crime Rate 1,772.8 1,988.5 -215.7
Violent Crime Rate 338.2 431.6 -93.4
Murder Rate 7.2 9.0 -1.9
Rape Rate 34.7 42.9 -8.2
Robbery Rate 100.1 56.5 +43.6
Aggravated Assault Rate 195.2 323.1 -128.0
Property Crime Rate 1,434.6 1,556.9 -122.3
Burglary Rate 233.0 165.0 +68.0
Larceny-Theft Rate 973.8 1,281.2 -307.5
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 227.9 110.7 +117.1

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

Moving from Reading, PA to Wilkes Barre City, PA?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Reading or Wilkes Barre City safer?

Reading, PA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,773 per 100K vs 1,989 for Wilkes Barre City, PA — a 11% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Reading has a violent crime rate of 338.2 per 100K while Wilkes Barre City has 431.6. 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 Wilkes Barre City, PA

Wilkes-Barre, a city in Luzerne County, was a major anthracite coal mining hub. Nestled in the Wyoming Valley along the Susquehanna River, it is home to a diverse population. With a safety score of 41/100 and a population coverage of 44,254, Wilkes Barre City has a total crime rate of 1,988.5 per 100,000 residents.

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