Pennsylvania is known for its rolling farmland, historic landmarks, and postcard-perfect small towns, but not every quaint main street tells a peaceful story. Across the Keystone State, there are communities where crime rates rise far above the state average, where shuttered factories and economic decline have left more than just empty buildings. In some of these places, the odds of becoming a victim of theft, assault, or worse are surprisingly high for towns of their size.
This list counts down the 30 most dangerous small towns in Pennsylvania, based on the latest crime data from state and federal sources. From boroughs struggling with property crime to former industrial hubs facing persistent violence, each community here has its own challenges. What they all share is the reality that safety is an everyday concern for the people who live there.
30. Swatara Township
Population: 26,643
Crime Rate: Violent – 285 per 100,000; Property – 2,950 per 100,000
Swatara Township, near Harrisburg, posts a moderate violent crime rate but a very high property crime rate, particularly larceny-theft. Residents have about a 1 in 34 chance of experiencing a property crime each year. While assaults and robberies are relatively infrequent, thefts and burglaries drive overall danger levels.
29. New Kensington
Population: 12,273
Crime Rate: Violent – 336 per 100,000; Property – 2,116 per 100,000
This Allegheny River town saw its fortunes decline after the collapse of manufacturing, and crime rose with economic hardship. Property crime is more than 40% above the state average, with burglaries and thefts especially common. While violent crime isn’t the highest on this list, it still outpaces safer towns of similar size.
28. Lebanon
Population: 25,477
Crime Rate: Violent – 395 per 100,000; Property – 2,346 per 100,000
Lebanon’s crime profile leans heavily on property offenses, from petty theft to break-ins. The combination of economic challenges and relatively low police staffing contributes to its elevated rates. Residents are significantly more likely to experience theft compared to the state average.
27. Coatesville
Population: 13,100
Crime Rate: Violent – 324 per 100,000; Property – 1,926 per 100,000
Coatesville has a long history of gang and drug-related activity. While recent policing efforts have brought some improvement, the town’s violent crime rate remains above average, and property crimes such as burglary continue to be a problem.
26. Norristown
Population: 34,324
Crime Rate: Violent – 416 per 100,000; Property – 1,919 per 100,000
Norristown is a county seat with urban crime challenges in a small-town setting. Theft, burglary, and drug-related incidents keep crime rates well above state norms. Its location in the Philadelphia metro area adds to pressures from spillover crime.
25. Carbondale
Population: 8,891
Crime Rate: Violent – 297 per 100,000; Property – 1,761 per 100,000
A former coal mining hub in Lackawanna County, Carbondale has never fully recovered from the loss of industry. Economic decline has fueled theft, and property crime rates remain higher than average for a town of its size.
24. Hazleton
Population: 25,703
Crime Rate: Violent – 381 per 100,000; Property – 2,263 per 100,000
Hazleton has contended with gang activity and drug trafficking, along with a property crime rate roughly 25% above Pennsylvania’s average. Burglaries and larcenies are common, and the community faces ongoing challenges in tackling both violent and non-violent offenses.
23. Washington
Population: 13,176
Crime Rate: Violent – 333 per 100,000; Property – 1,977 per 100,000
Once a prosperous county seat, Washington has seen a rise in theft and burglary as the local economy has struggled. Violent crime rates are above the state average, though the bulk of incidents involve property-related offenses.
22. Uniontown
Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Population: 9,751
Crime Rate: Violent – 322 per 100,000; Property – 1,911 per 100,000
Uniontown’s crime rate has improved from past spikes but still sits well above state norms. The town’s small population means even modest increases in reported incidents significantly affect per-capita rates, particularly for theft and assault.
21. Ambridge
Population: 6,972
Crime Rate: Violent – 1,080 per 100,000; Property – 1,701 per 100,000
A former steel town in Beaver County, Ambridge has a violent crime rate more than double the Pennsylvania average, with aggravated assaults leading the way. Property crime is also above average, making it a risky place for residents and businesses alike.
20. Pottstown
Population: 23,433
Crime Rate: Violent – 775 per 100,000; Property – 3,799 per 100,000
Pottstown’s burglary and theft rates are among the highest in the state for towns of its size. Residents face about a 1 in 26 chance of being a victim of property crime each year, and the violent crime rate is also well above average.
19. York
Population: 44,800
Crime Rate: Violent – 526 per 100,000; Property – 2,331 per 100,000
York is a regional hub in South Central Pennsylvania but faces persistent crime challenges, from gang-related violence to high rates of theft. Economic inequality plays a role in keeping crime levels elevated.
18. East Lansdowne
Population: 2,700
Crime Rate: Violent – 486 per 100,000; Property – 8,486 per 100,000
This tiny Delaware County borough has the second-highest property crime rate in Pennsylvania, inflated by its small population and high density. The majority of incidents are thefts, but burglary is also a recurring issue.
17. Johnstown
Population: 18,411
Crime Rate: Violent – 424 per 100,000; Property – 2,517 per 100,000
Johnstown, another town hit hard by the steel industry’s collapse, continues to face property crime rates well above average. Burglaries, thefts, and assaults are common in a community struggling with long-term economic decline.
16. Erie
Population: 94,831
Crime Rate: Violent – 508 per 100,000; Property – 1,866 per 100,000
While Erie’s violent crime rate is high for Pennsylvania, much of its crime problem comes from assaults and robberies concentrated in certain neighborhoods. Property crime, especially theft, remains a widespread concern.
15. Yeadon
Population: 11,512
Crime Rate: Violent – 292 per 100,000; Property – 1,730 per 100,000
Yeadon experiences higher-than-average burglary and theft rates. While violent crime is lower than some entries here, the overall risk level is significant due to property-related offenses.
14. Duquesne
Population: 5,544
Crime Rate: Violent – ~500 per 100,000; Property – ~1,800 per 100,000
This Mon Valley borough has a violent crime rate well above the state average. Assault and robbery are the most common violent incidents, and property crime levels remain stubbornly high.
13. Harrisburg
Population: 49,209
Crime Rate: Violent – 1,063 per 100,000; Property – 1,624 per 100,000
As the state capital, Harrisburg faces big-city crime patterns in a small-city package. Drug trafficking and gang activity drive violent crime, while theft and burglary also contribute to its high overall crime rate.
12. Reading
Population: 95,000
Crime Rate: Violent – 433 per 100,000; Property – 1,715 per 100,000
Reading’s crime issues are linked to economic hardship and a high poverty rate. The city sees steady levels of assault and robbery, along with significant property crime.
11. Darby
Population: 10,667
Crime Rate: Violent – ~1,220 per 100,000; Property – ~3,846 per 100,000
Darby’s violent crime rate is among the highest in the state, with assaults and robberies occurring at troubling frequency. Property crime, particularly theft, compounds the problem.
10. Wilkinsburg
Population: 15,389
Crime Rate: Violent – ~449 per 100,000; Property – ~2,500 per 100,000
Wilkinsburg has struggled with violence and property crime for decades. While homicides have dropped in recent years, theft and burglary rates keep it among Pennsylvania’s most dangerous small towns.
9. Plymouth
Population: 5,747
Crime Rate: Assault rate – ~905 per 100,000; Property – ~313 per 100,000 (methodologies vary)
Plymouth has one of the state’s highest assault rates for its size. Economic distress, tied to the collapse of the coal industry, continues to fuel crime and instability.
8. Farrell
Population: ~4,000
Crime Rate: Violent – 1,487 per 100,000; Property – 1,247 per 100,000
Once called “The Magic City,” Farrell now suffers from high violent crime and significant economic decline. The violent crime rate is roughly four times the national average.
7. McKeesport
Population: 17,700
Crime Rate: Violent – 1,599 per 100,000; Property – ~3,000 per 100,000
McKeesport consistently ranks among Pennsylvania’s most violent towns. The combination of economic collapse, population decline, and high rates of assault and robbery make it one of the most unsafe places per capita.
6. Chester
Population: 32,600
Crime Rate: Violent – ~1,235 per 100,000; Property – ~3,846 per 100,000
Chester has a violent crime rate far above the state average and a property crime rate that leaves residents with about a 1 in 26 chance of victimization each year. Economic struggles and abandoned industrial spaces contribute to chronic safety issues.
5. Wilkes-Barre
Population: ~40,000
Crime Rate: Violent – 413 per 100,000; Property – 1,523 per 100,000
Wilkes-Barre’s crime problem is rooted in property offenses, particularly theft and burglary. Though violent crime is lower than the worst towns, the overall rate is still well above state averages.
4. McKees Rocks
Population: 5,920
Crime Rate: Total – ~6,500 per 100,000; 1 in 15 overall risk
This small borough outside Pittsburgh has one of the highest total crime rates in the state, with both violent and property offenses far above the national average. Poverty and population decline play a large role in its safety challenges.
3. East Pittsburgh
Population: 1,927
Crime Rate: Violent – ~1,200 per 100,000; Property – ~2,800 per 100,000
Though small, East Pittsburgh has crime rates that rival much larger cities. A high proportion of incidents involve assault, with burglary also a recurring issue.
2. Braddock
Population: 1,721
Crime Rate: Violent – ~1,300 per 100,000; Property – ~3,200 per 100,000
Braddock’s steep economic decline has coincided with persistent crime problems. Assaults and robberies are frequent, and property crime rates remain high given its tiny population.
1. Most Dangerous Small Town – Varies by Year (Chester, McKeesport, McKees Rocks, Farrell)
Depending on the year and methodology, these four towns consistently rank at or near the top for overall danger in Pennsylvania:
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Chester (Delaware County) — Violent: ~1,235 per 100,000 (≈ 12.3 per 1,000; 1 in 81 risk). Property: ~3,800 per 100,000 (≈ 38 per 1,000; 1 in 26 risk). Chester’s high aggravated-assault and robbery rates, coupled with widespread theft, keep both violent and property crime well above state averages.
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McKeesport (Allegheny County) — Violent: ~1,599 per 100,000 (≈ 16.0 per 1,000; 1 in 63 risk). Property: ~3,000 per 100,000 (≈ 30 per 1,000; 1 in 33 risk). Economic decline, concentrated poverty, and repeat incidents of assault and robbery drive McKeesport’s high per-capita rates.
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McKees Rocks (Allegheny County) — Total crime: ~6,500 per 100,000 (≈ 65 per 1,000; 1 in 15 overall risk). Violent and property offenses are both far above national averages, making this small borough one of the riskiest places in the state.
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Farrell (Mercer County) — Violent: 1,487 per 100,000 (1 in 68 risk). Property: 1,247 per 100,000 (1 in 81 risk). Farrell’s violent crime rate is roughly four times the U.S. average, fueled by long-term economic hardship and limited community resources.
References
- Swatara Township, PA Crime – Niche
- New Kensington, PA Crime Rates and Statistics – NeighborhoodScout
- Lebanon, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Coatesville, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Norristown, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Carbondale, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Hazleton, PA Crime – NeighborhoodScout
- Washington, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Uniontown, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Ambridge, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Pottstown, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- York, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- East Lansdowne, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Johnstown, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Erie, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Yeadon, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Duquesne, PA Crime – City-Data
- Harrisburg, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Reading, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Darby, PA Crime Rates and Statistics – NeighborhoodScout
- Wilkinsburg, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- Plymouth, PA Crime – City-Data
- Farrell, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- McKeesport, PA Crime Rates and Statistics – NeighborhoodScout
- Chester, PA Crime Rates and Statistics – NeighborhoodScout
- Wilkes-Barre, PA Crime – AreaVibes
- McKees Rocks, PA Crime Rates and Statistics – NeighborhoodScout
- East Pittsburgh, PA Crime – City-Data
- Braddock, PA Crime – City-Data
