Community

Maintaining


Violent Crime Rate

What does this measure?

The number of reported violent crimes per 1,000 residents. Murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault are included in violent crimes.

Why is this important?

Crime affects quality of life for those who directly experience and witness it, sometimes resulting in long-lasting trauma. Indirectly, it also affects the lives of others in the community, as well as housing stability and a community's perceived attractiveness as a place to live, work and do business.

How does our county compare?

In 2021, there were 1.1 violent crimes reported per 1,000 residents in Lancaster County, lower than the Pennsylvania (2.8) and national (4.0) rates. The county rate has been fairly stable since 2005. In contrast, the state's violent crime rate dropped steadily from 2005 to 2021 - a 31% decline, while the US fell 16% in the same period. By comparison, the City of Lancaster had 5.3 violent crimes reported per 1,000 residents, a 27% decline from 2005 when the rate was 7.3.

Violent crime rates in 2021 were slightly higher in Lancaster County than in Cumberland (0.9) and Lebanon (0.8), the same as Chester (1.1), and below York (1.7), Berks (2.0) and Dauphin (3.2). All counties had notable declines in violent crime rates since 2005.

Notes about the data

Crime reports are never complete because not all crimes are reported, and some crimes in particular, such as rape and assault, are believed to be underreported. Data are from the FBI's Uniform Crime Report. It should be noted that this indicator represents crime penetration. Because areas vary in population, counts of criminal incidents do not accurately measure impact. By presenting crimes per 1,000 residents, it is possible to compare rural and urban areas of the state.

Violent Crime Rate
20052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Pennsylvania4.04.24.04.03.83.63.63.63.33.13.13.23.13.13.12.82.8
Lancaster County1.62.01.91.81.61.81.81.71.71.61.81.82.11.81.71.61.1
Lancaster City7.39.28.89.17.88.68.57.88.46.87.98.28.97.17.86.15.3
Berks County3.53.63.13.33.23.43.13.32.93.33.12.72.62.42.22.02.0
Chester County1.71.81.91.81.71.61.61.61.31.31.31.41.21.31.31.01.1
Cumberland County1.31.20.91.21.21.01.10.80.80.90.80.71.00.70.80.90.9
Dauphin County5.05.15.25.05.15.05.05.34.13.73.64.34.54.33.73.73.2
Lebanon County3.12.72.42.31.61.81.72.21.81.51.81.51.81.81.61.30.8
York County2.72.62.82.52.32.13.02.52.22.02.22.32.52.52.31.91.7

Source: Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System




Number of Violent Crimes
20052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Pennsylvania50,31952,43250,73550,44448,02346,31045,96745,39342,75440,25040,18640,35240,01939,13639,08436,80736,119
Lancaster County7899789789308429469388789068759679461,126965939888632
Lancaster City420532515534461511504465497403472487530419461350306
Berks County1,3701,4631,2531,3511,3261,3821,2701,3811,2211,3561,2821,1291,078990936840842
Chester County780850937897837793809827678682670709642670688508610
Cumberland County283271214269276242255185200231205185245188194231246
Dauphin County1,2821,3381,3661,3371,3741,3331,3411,4231,1061,0069811,1821,2501,1941,0301,070911
Lebanon County385352308306218243224292241203241203250250227180118
York County1,0991,0891,1851,0801,0179091,3251,0829728999591,0311,0941,1131,052861793

Source: Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System




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