PENNSYLVANIA - Determining the single "most dangerous" place to live in Pennsylvania is complex, as different analyses and reports often produce different results. While major cities like Philadelphia have high crime rates, many smaller municipalities and boroughs rank highest for crime rates—the number of crimes per 100,000 people—which statisticians use to compare safety levels more accurately. Based on analyses of FBI data and law enforcement statistics, the places that consistently appear at the top of "most dangerous" lists are often smaller communities, particularly for violent crime.
The Contenders Based on Violent Crime Rates
While rankings can shift from year to year, a few municipalities consistently rank among the highest in Pennsylvania for violent crime per capita.
- McKees Rocks: This borough in Allegheny County, just outside of Pittsburgh, is frequently cited in reports as having the highest, or one of the highest, violent crime rates in the state. With a population of around 6,000, the per-capita rate is often exceptionally high, with some analyses showing a resident's chance of being a victim of violent crime is significantly higher than both the state and national averages.
- McKeesport: Also in Allegheny County, this former steel town has experienced severe economic decline and consistently ranks alongside McKees Rocks for its very high violent crime rate. Like other "Rust Belt" cities, it has struggled with poverty and drug-related crime, which contribute to its high crime statistics.
- Chester: This city in Delaware County, with a population of just over 32,000, is perennially listed among the state's most dangerous. It has long battled high rates of both violent and property crime, often linked to deep-seated economic challenges.
Other municipalities that frequently appear on top-10 lists of high crime rates include Darby, Yeadon, Reading, York, and Ambridge.
What About Philadelphia?
As Pennsylvania's largest city, Philadelphia often dominates headlines for its high crime rate. On a national scale, Philadelphia frequently ranks among the most dangerous large cities in the United States.
However, when compared to other municipalities in Pennsylvania on a per-capita basis, its city-wide rate is often lower than those of the smaller boroughs listed above.
The danger in Philadelphia is often hyper-localized. Specific neighborhoods within the city, such as Kensington or Nicetown-Tioga, experience rates of violent crime and drug activity that are exceptionally high and would rank as some of the most dangerous places in the entire country.
