Safest Cities in Pennsylvania (2026 Rankings)

Feeling unsure about where it's safe to live in Pennsylvania? You're not alone.

Statewide, violent crime climbed to 5.72 incidents per 1,000 residents in 2026 - above the national average - and property crime nearly doubled year over year. It's no surprise that only 40% of Pennsylvanians now say they feel safe, down from 55% the year before, and roughly two-thirds say they worry about safety daily.

But the state-level number only tells part of the story. Underneath it, a cluster of townships and boroughs are getting safer every year - some reporting zero murders, zero rapes, or zero burglaries in the latest FBI data. This guide breaks down the safest cities in Pennsylvania for 2026, whether you're a young family, a retiree, or a remote worker house-hunting this year. If you're also weighing this against Pennsylvania's best places to live more broadly - factoring in schools, jobs, and cost of living, not just crime - we cover that tradeoff below too.

Ready to see where you'll feel most secure in PA? Let's rank the safest towns and cities in the state.

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It depends which number you look at. Pennsylvania's violent crime rate (5.72 per 1,000) now sits above the national average (4.43), and property crime has climbed sharply - driven largely by a spike in package theft, which now affects roughly 44% of residents each year, the second-highest rate in the country.

When people search for the safest places to live in Pennsylvania, they're often really asking a simpler question: does a small town or a bigger city fit their life better?

Here's a closer look at the safest cities in Pennsylvania, organized by region, so you can match a shortlist to wherever you actually need to live or work.

This corridor is home to several of the safest cities in Pennsylvania. Cecil Township has topped the statewide list two years running with no murders or burglaries reported. Cranberry Township and Franklin Park both reported zero motor-vehicle thefts and other serious crimes in the latest data, while still offering commuter access into the city.

Both townships showed year-over-year improvement rather than just a low starting point -Hampden's violent and property crime rates fell, and Upper Allen has now posted declining property crime for three straight years.

Bucks and Chester County communities round out this list of the safest cities in Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. Several reported zero rapes or robberies in the latest FBI figures, and Collegeville — home to Ursinus College - continues to post a violent crime rate roughly a third of the statewide average.

Among all 300+ ranked municipalities (not just larger townships), Bellefonte reports the lowest violent crime rate in the state - effectively zero per 100k residents - holding its own against the larger townships on this list if you're open to a smaller, more rural community.

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Living in one of the safest cities in Pennsylvania comes with real tradeoffs, not just upside.

• Some of the lowest violent crime rates in the country
• Active, well-resourced community policing
• Multi-year downward trends in several townships, not just a one-year snapshot
• Strong fit for families and retirees prioritizing safety

• Statewide property crime and package theft are both rising, even in otherwise safe regions
• Safer townships often carry higher home prices and property taxes than the state average
• Some of the safest towns have less nightlife, retail, or job diversity than nearby cities
• Rankings vary by source, so it's worth checking more than one methodology before deciding

Once you've narrowed down the safest towns in PA that fit your life, the next question is usually financial: what will it actually cost to buy there, and how do you get started?

• Understanding the local housing market:The real estate market in Pennsylvania's safest suburbs tends to move differently than the state's urban cores - inventory is often tighter, and home value in townships like Cecil, Hampden, and Warwick has historically held up better than the statewide average, in part because buyer demand for safety keeps competition steady even when the broader housing market softens.
• Getting pre-approved before you shop. Whether you're a first-time home buyer or moving within Pennsylvania, getting pre-approved for a mortgage (not just pre-qualified) gives you a real budget to work with before you start touring homes. A pre-qualified mortgage is a quick estimate based on self-reported numbers; a pre-approved mortgage involves an actual lender verifying your income, credit, and down payment - and it's what most sellers in competitive safe-suburb markets expect to see with an offer.
• Comparing mortgage rates matters more in these markets. Because home values in the safest cities in Pennsylvania often run higher than the state median, even small differences in your mortgage rate can add up. It's worth taking time to compare rates across a few lenders - looking at the rate for your home mortgage, any mortgage insurance cost tied to your down payment size, and the total house closing cost- rather than accepting the first offer from a single lender. If you already own elsewhere in PA, a mortgage refinance is worth exploring too, especially if today's rate for home mortgage products is lower than what you locked in previously.
• Down payment and first-time buyer programs. First-time home buyers in Pennsylvania have access to state and local down payment assistance programs, and some lenders offer low- or no-down-payment home mortgage options for qualified buyers. If you're comparing a home loan for first-time home buyers, ask each lender about program eligibility, average mortgage price for your target range, and how their pre-approval process works - the details vary more than the advertised rate does.
• Checking home values before you commit. Sites like Zillow are a reasonable starting point for a home's estimated value or recent housing prices nearby, but in-person comps from a local agent are more reliable in the safest cities in Pennsylvania, where limited inventory can make online home value estimates lag behind what homes are actually selling for.