Top 100 Most Dangerous Cities in Pennsylvania 2024 (FBI Data)

Quick answer

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, the most dangerous city in Pennsylvania is Plymouth Township, PA with a total crime rate of 6,210.8 per 100,000 residents. These 100 cities average 2,040 per 100,000 — 0.7x the national average of 2,752.

Avg Violent Crime Rate

246

0.5x avg

per 100K (these cities)

Avg Murder Rate

5.2

0.8x avg

per 100K (national: 6.2)

Avg Property Crime Rate

1,794

per 100K (these cities)

Crime Hotspots in Pennsylvania (2024)

These 100 cities reported the highest crime rates in Pennsylvania. On average, they experience 0.7x the national crime rate, with violent crime averaging 246 per 100,000 (national average: 473).

Plymouth Township, PA tops the list with a total crime rate of 6,211 per 100,000 — 2.3x the national average. Its violent crime rate of 103 per 100K is 0.2x the national average.

Key Findings: 2024 Highest Crime Rates

The city with the highest crime rate in Pennsylvania, Plymouth Township, PA, reports 6,211 crimes per 100K residents — 2.3x the national average. The city ranked #100 on this list, Pocono Mountain Regional (PA), has a rate of 1,029, still significantly above the national average of 2,752.

Both violent and property crime contribute to these elevated rates. The average murder rate across these cities is 5.2 per 100K (0.8x national average), while property crime averages 1,794 per 100K. In many of these cities, property crime accounts for the majority of total offenses, though the violent crime rate draws the most attention.

It's important to note that citywide statistics can be misleading. Crime is rarely distributed evenly — most cities have neighborhoods that are quite safe alongside areas with concentrated challenges. A high citywide rate doesn't mean every resident faces equal risk. Individual city pages provide additional context including year-over-year trends.

On our Safety Score scale (1–100, where 50 is the national average), these cities average 44/100, with the highest-crime city scoring 2/100. These scores reflect the combined impact of both violent and property crime relative to national norms. Cities with scores below 20 have crime rates more than 1.6 times the national average.

Understanding These Crime Rates

The 100 cities with the highest crime rates in Pennsylvania average 2,040 total crimes per 100,000 residents — 0.7x the national average of 2,752. Violent crime is particularly elevated at 246 per 100K, which is 0.5x the national violent crime rate.

The median city on this list — West Norriton Township, PA — reports a crime rate of 1,821 per 100K. 86 of these cities have populations under 50,000, where even a small number of incidents can significantly affect the per-capita rate.

Context matters when interpreting these numbers. High crime rates often correlate with socioeconomic factors including poverty, unemployment, and inequality rather than reflecting the character of residents. Crime reporting practices also vary — cities with well-funded police departments tend to record more incidents. PA has 100 cities on this list.

Full Rankings

#	City	State	Coverage	Total Crime Rate	Violent Crime Rate	Murder Rate	vs National
1	Plymouth Township	PA	18,484	6,210.8	102.8	0.0	+126%
2	Philadelphia	PA	1,549,259	5,458.5	910.3	16.9	+98%
3	Cheltenham Township	PA	38,819	5,123.8	200.9	0.0	+86%
4	Mckeesport	PA	18,480	4,258.7	1,693.7	32.5	+55%
5	Upper Merion Township	PA	36,408	3,878.3	123.6	0.0	+41%
6	Pottstown Borough	PA	23,324	3,841.5	737.4	0.0	+40%
7	Darby Borough	PA	10,586	3,457.4	831.3	18.9	+26%
8	Johnstown	PA	20,120	3,220.7	586.5	29.8	+17%
9	West Manchester Township	PA	19,209	3,050.7	83.3	0.0	+11%
10	Upper Darby Township	PA	84,668	3,046.0	213.8	4.7	+11%
11	Wilkinsburg Borough	PA	13,646	3,026.5	586.3	14.7	+10%
12	West Mifflin Borough	PA	18,705	3,020.6	379.6	10.7	+10%
13	Bensalem Township	PA	62,843	2,970.9	93.9	1.6	+8%
14	Swatara Township	PA	29,394	2,915.6	153.1	3.4	+6%
15	New Kensington	PA	11,832	2,856.7	456.4	8.5	+4%
16	Chester City	PA	33,944	2,819.4	830.8	58.9	+2%
17	Harrisburg	PA	49,985	2,758.8	766.2	30.0	+0%
18	Pittsburgh	PA	317,177	2,708.6	428.5	11.4	+-2%
19	Ross Township	PA	32,076	2,662.4	53.0	0.0	+-3%
20	Rostraver Township	PA	11,433	2,632.7	43.7	0.0	+-4%
21	Hanover Borough	PA	16,616	2,618.0	108.3	0.0	+-5%
22	Whitehall Township	PA	29,090	2,561.0	216.6	6.9	+-7%
23	Monroeville	PA	27,753	2,540.3	122.5	0.0	+-8%
24	Coatesville	PA	13,256	2,444.2	618.6	7.5	+-11%
25	Norristown Borough	PA	35,764	2,413.0	453.0	8.4	+-12%
26	Pocono Township	PA	10,739	2,393.2	149.0	0.0	+-13%
27	York	PA	44,893	2,392.4	530.2	11.1	+-13%
28	Stroud Area Regional	PA	34,162	2,347.6	155.1	5.9	+-15%
29	Washington	PA	13,521	2,337.1	695.2	0.0	+-15%
30	Columbia Borough	PA	10,445	2,326.5	296.8	0.0	+-15%
31	Erie	PA	92,379	2,304.6	375.6	5.4	+-16%
32	East Norriton Township	PA	14,019	2,254.1	114.1	0.0	+-18%
33	Chambersburg Borough	PA	22,366	2,222.1	469.5	8.9	+-19%
34	Upper Moreland Township	PA	26,020	2,221.4	107.6	3.8	+-19%
35	Colonial Regional	PA	18,785	2,187.9	53.2	0.0	+-21%
36	Altoona	PA	42,424	2,185.1	334.7	2.4	+-21%
37	Sharon	PA	12,709	2,116.6	653.1	47.2	+-23%
38	Butler City	PA	12,973	2,112.1	501.0	7.7	+-23%
39	Yeadon Borough	PA	12,319	2,102.4	219.2	0.0	+-24%
40	Springettsbury Township	PA	27,604	2,086.7	130.4	7.3	+-24%
41	Robinson Township	PA	15,508	2,005.4	70.9	0.0	+-27%
42	Center Township	PA	12,275	2,004.1	114.1	0.0	+-27%
43	Wilkes Barre City	PA	44,254	1,988.5	431.6	9.0	+-28%
44	Meadville	PA	17,363	1,935.2	403.2	0.0	+-30%
45	Lancaster	PA	56,890	1,914.2	462.3	3.5	+-30%
46	Lower Merion Township	PA	64,290	1,869.7	71.6	3.1	+-32%
47	Wyomissing Borough	PA	11,141	1,867.0	71.8	0.0	+-32%
48	North Fayette Township	PA	15,956	1,861.4	87.7	0.0	+-32%
49	Allentown	PA	124,599	1,841.1	272.1	3.2	+-33%
50	East Lampeter Township	PA	26,615	1,829.8	90.2	3.8	+-34%
51	West Norriton Township	PA	16,257	1,820.8	116.9	0.0	+-34%
52	Reading	PA	97,868	1,772.8	338.2	7.2	+-36%
53	Bristol Township	PA	53,784	1,745.9	150.6	0.0	+-37%
54	Lansdowne Borough	PA	11,071	1,743.3	135.5	9.0	+-37%
55	Nanticoke	PA	10,616	1,733.2	263.8	9.4	+-37%
56	Pottsville	PA	13,361	1,676.5	329.3	0.0	+-39%
57	Muhlenberg Township	PA	22,172	1,664.3	63.1	0.0	+-40%
58	Montgomery Township	PA	26,069	1,634.1	69.1	3.8	+-41%
59	Scranton	PA	75,683	1,626.5	281.4	9.3	+-41%
60	Kingston	PA	14,233	1,594.9	140.5	0.0	+-42%
61	Upper Chichester Township	PA	16,747	1,594.3	167.2	0.0	+-42%
62	Lower Allen Township	PA	20,469	1,582.9	78.2	0.0	+-42%
63	Bethlehem	PA	79,194	1,575.9	207.1	2.5	+-43%
64	Caln Township	PA	15,170	1,549.1	276.9	0.0	+-44%
65	Munhall Borough	PA	10,255	1,492.0	117.0	0.0	+-46%
66	West Chester Borough	PA	20,004	1,464.7	215.0	0.0	+-47%
67	South Whitehall Township	PA	21,516	1,454.7	74.4	4.7	+-47%
68	Penn Hills Township	PA	39,203	1,425.9	372.4	2.6	+-48%
69	Lower Gwynedd Township	PA	12,255	1,411.7	73.4	0.0	+-49%
70	Lower Pottsgrove Township	PA	12,891	1,396.3	108.6	0.0	+-49%
71	Bloomsburg	PA	13,256	1,395.6	324.4	0.0	+-49%
72	Logan Township	PA	12,101	1,388.3	0.0	0.0	+-50%
73	Easton	PA	30,064	1,387.0	196.3	0.0	+-50%
74	Hermitage	PA	16,941	1,375.4	94.5	0.0	+-50%
75	Palmer Township	PA	22,423	1,364.7	40.1	0.0	+-50%
76	West Goshen Township	PA	23,889	1,339.5	288.8	4.2	+-51%
77	Mechanicsburg	PA	10,111	1,335.2	59.3	0.0	+-51%
78	West Whiteland Township	PA	20,960	1,326.3	95.4	0.0	+-52%
79	Carlisle Borough	PA	23,144	1,317.8	172.8	21.6	+-52%
80	Beaver Falls	PA	11,696	1,316.7	196.7	34.2	+-52%
81	Spring Garden Township	PA	13,649	1,304.1	131.9	0.0	+-53%
82	Lebanon	PA	26,241	1,280.4	156.2	0.0	+-53%
83	Susquehanna Township	PA	27,762	1,253.5	212.5	7.2	+-54%
84	Richland Township	PA	14,295	1,245.2	70.0	0.0	+-55%
85	Patton Township	PA	15,645	1,227.2	57.5	0.0	+-55%
86	Upper St. Clair Township	PA	20,399	1,225.6	24.5	0.0	+-55%
87	Bethlehem Township	PA	26,492	1,223.0	71.7	0.0	+-56%
88	Lower Paxton Township	PA	55,174	1,192.6	146.8	0.0	+-57%
89	Derry Township	PA	25,016	1,183.2	87.9	0.0	+-57%
90	Lower Southampton Township	PA	20,374	1,173.1	58.9	0.0	+-57%
91	Silver Spring Township	PA	21,585	1,153.6	60.2	0.0	+-58%
92	Waynesboro Borough	PA	11,078	1,146.4	135.4	0.0	+-58%
93	New Castle City	PA	21,252	1,119.9	84.7	9.4	+-59%
94	Berwick Borough	PA	10,243	1,113.0	58.6	0.0	+-60%
95	Lansdale Borough	PA	19,027	1,103.7	94.6	0.0	+-60%
96	Newberry Township	PA	16,123	1,097.8	117.8	0.0	+-60%
97	Central Berks Regional	PA	13,846	1,090.6	72.2	0.0	+-60%
98	Marple Township	PA	24,044	1,068.9	29.1	0.0	+-61%
99	Haverford Township	PA	50,544	1,048.6	21.8	0.0	+-62%
100	Pocono Mountain Regional	PA	42,656	1,029.2	189.9	11.7	+-63%

More Rankings

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How These Rankings Are Calculated

These rankings are based on data from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, which collects crime statistics from law enforcement agencies nationwide. We use the most recent available data (2024) and include only cities with a population of 25,000 or more to ensure statistical reliability — small towns with very few incidents can produce misleadingly extreme rates.

Cities are ranked by total crime rate per 100,000 residents, which combines both violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crime (burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, arson). Using per-capita rates rather than raw counts ensures fair comparison regardless of city size. The 100 cities listed here represent a combined population of 4,555,968 residents.

For a full explanation of our data sources, safety score formula, and methodology, visit our methodology page.

What the Numbers Mean

Crime statistics can be difficult to interpret without context. A total crime rate of 2,000 per 100,000 means that in a city of 100,000 people, approximately 2,000 crimes were reported to police in a given year. This includes everything from petty theft to violent assault. Not all crimes are reported, so actual rates may be higher — the FBI estimates that roughly half of violent crimes and a third of property crimes go unreported.

For the highest-crime cities on this list, the average total crime rate of 2,040 per 100K means roughly 2.0% of the population experiences a reported crime annually. The violent crime rate of 246 per 100K translates to about 0.2% of residents — or roughly 1 in 407 — though crime is not evenly distributed across neighborhoods.

Our Safety Score simplifies these numbers into a single 1–100 scale. A score of 50 equals the national average, and every 10 points above or below represents a meaningful difference in risk. The score accounts for both violent and property crime, weighted by their per-capita rates against national benchmarks.

When using these rankings for decisions about relocation, travel, or investment, consider consulting multiple data points: crime trends over time (available on each city's individual page), the specific types of crime most prevalent in each area, neighborhood-level variation, and quality-of-life factors beyond crime statistics. No single number tells the complete story of any community, but per-capita rates from a verified source like the FBI provide the most objective starting point available.

Violent Crime vs Property Crime

In these 100 highest-crime cities, both violent and property crime exceed national norms substantially. The average violent crime rate of 246 per 100K is 0.5x the national average, while property crime averages 1,794 per 100K. Aggravated assault is typically the most common violent crime, followed by robbery, while larceny-theft dominates property crime categories.

The distinction matters because violent and property crime have different impacts on daily life and different underlying causes. Violent crime tends to concentrate in specific neighborhoods and time periods, often linked to interpersonal disputes, drug markets, or gang activity. Property crime is more widely distributed geographically. Understanding which type of crime drives a city's ranking provides more actionable information than the total rate alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most dangerous city in Pennsylvania?

Plymouth Township, PA has the highest crime rate in Pennsylvania at 6,210.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024.

What makes a city dangerous?

High crime rates, particularly violent crime, indicate elevated risk. Cities on this list average a violent crime rate of 246 per 100K — 0.5x the national average of 473.

Is the crime rate getting worse?

Crime trends vary by city. Some cities on this list have seen decreasing rates in recent years while others have increased. Visit individual city pages for year-over-year trend data.

Are these cities always dangerous?

No. Crime rates fluctuate year to year, and many cities on this list have seen improvements over time. These rankings reflect 2024 data specifically. Visit individual city pages to see multi-year trends and whether crime is rising or falling in each location.

What types of crime drive these rankings?

Rankings are based on total crime rate, which includes both violent and property crime. Among these 100 cities, the average violent crime rate is 246 per 100K (0.5x the national average) and the average property crime rate is 1,794 per 100K. Property crime is typically more common, but violent crime carries greater weight in public perception.

How 2024 Compares to Previous Years

High-crime cities often show more volatility in their year-to-year statistics than the national average. Some cities on this list have seen significant improvements in recent years due to targeted policing strategies, community investment programs, or economic development. Others continue to face persistent challenges. National trends in violent crime, drug trafficking, and economic inequality all influence which cities appear on this list from year to year.

To see whether a specific city on this list is improving or worsening, click its name in the table above to view detailed trend charts covering multiple years. A city with a high current rate but a strong downward trend tells a very different story than one with a rising trajectory. We encourage using these trends alongside the current snapshot when forming conclusions about any community's safety profile.

Geographic Distribution

The 100 cities with the highest crime rates span 1 states. PA (100 cities). The concentration of high-crime cities in certain states often reflects broader regional challenges including economic inequality, urbanization patterns, and historical factors.

City sizes on this list vary considerably, from smaller cities around 25,000 to major metros. 86 cities have populations under 50,000, where a relatively small number of incidents can disproportionately affect per-capita rates. The combined population of these 100 cities is 4,555,968.

Most Dangerous Cities in Pennsylvania