Philadelphia is well-known for its diverse neighborhoods, vibrant culture, and long history. Nonetheless, it has to deal with a high crime rate. According to NeighborhoodScout, Philadelphia is safer than 12% of American cities, ranking in the 12th percentile.
The city’s crime rate, with 28.46 incidents per 1,000 residents, is significantly higher than the national average of 15.69. However, keep in mind that the danger level varies by neighborhood in Philadelphia.
Certain regions have a higher incidence of violent and property crimes than others. Using crime data from USAESTAOnline.com and CrimeGrade.org, we identified Philadelphia’s five most dangerous neighborhoods.
Hunting Park
With 64.77 crimes per 1,000 residents, this North Philadelphia area has the city’s highest crime rate. It has a reputation for being a hotspot of prostitution, gang activity, and drug trafficking.
This location has a staggering 7 times higher rate of violent crime than the national average, as well as a 4 times higher rate of property crime. The neighborhood’s substantial crime problem is aggravated by a high rate of poverty (44%).
Nicetown-Tioga
This region, which borders Hunting Park, faces similar challenges. At 59.5 per 1,000 residents, the crime rate is significantly higher than the national average. The neighborhood suffers issues such as a lack of education, unemployment, and poverty.
Unsettlingly, property crime has increased threefold, while violent crime has increased sixfold, compared to the national average. The majority of Nicetown-Tioga’s approximately 18,000 population are African Americans.
Fairhill
This neighborhood is located in North Philadelphia, and the crime rate is 57.33 per 1,000 people. The majority of residents in the neighborhood are Hispanic, and there is a substantial immigrant community.
This region has five times the national average for violent crime and three times the average for property crime. Fairhill has the city’s highest poverty rate (64%), making it an ideal place to reside.
Strawberry Mansion
The crime rate in this Lower North Philadelphia area is 55.6 per 1,000 people. The neighborhood has a history of racial conflict and violence, with African Americans being the bulk of the population.
The national average rate of property crime is double that of violent crime, which is five times higher. Strawberry Mansion has a poverty rate of 60%, which is higher than the municipal average.
Elmwood
Southwest Philadelphia has 54.77 crime occurrences per 1,000 people. Although the neighborhood has a diverse ethnic population, there are also financial issues.
The rate of violent crime is four times higher than the national average, while the rate of property crimes is twice as high. Elmwood has a 35% poverty rate, which is greater than the city average of 25%.
Conclusion
Travelers and visitors should avoid these areas of Philadelphia, as they are considered to be among the most dangerous. However, they are also home to people who face a range of problems and calamities daily.
As a result, it is crucial to avoid making conclusions or characterizing certain neighborhoods only on the basis of crime statistics. Rather, we should respect their ability and perseverance.
Sources:
- U.S. Census Bureau Data: https://www.census.gov/
- Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community Development
- Local and Regional News Sources