PA · 3 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania recorded 229 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 30% below the national rate and down 28% since 2022. We cover Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Allentown. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
AllentownFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Pennsylvania, ranked
The 3 Pennsylvania cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 3 of 3 run above the state average of 229. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia | 831 | 4,355 | 1,562,379 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh | 468 | 2,370 | 306,794 |
| 3 | Allentown | 264 | 1,435 | 127,494 |
| Pennsylvania average | 229 | 1,360 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2025 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
Pennsylvania crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Pennsylvania?
Of the 3 Pennsylvania cities in our ranking, Philadelphia has the highest violent crime rate: 831 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 3.6 times the state average. Pittsburgh and Allentown come next. Even in Philadelphia, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Philadelphia guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Pennsylvania?
Among the cities we rank, Allentown has the lowest violent crime rate, at 264 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 1.2 times the state average. Pittsburgh follows with 468. All 3 are large cities with rates above the Pennsylvania average, so many smaller towns in the state are safer still.
Is Pennsylvania safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Pennsylvania recorded 229 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 30% below the national rate of 330. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 3 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Pennsylvania cities have above-average crime?
3 of the 3 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Pennsylvania average of 229 per 100,000 residents: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Allentown. The other 0 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Pennsylvania?
Violent crime in Pennsylvania went from 320 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 229 in 2025, down 28%. Property crime went from 1,613 to 1,360 over 2022–2025, down 16%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.