Bloomsburg, PA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Bloomsburg, PA

Is Bloomsburg, PA safe?

By the numbers, Bloomsburg earns an overall crime grade of B+, which places it meaningfully above average for Pennsylvania small towns. With a population of roughly 13,916 and a population density of 1,235 residents per square mile, the borough is compact enough that local police can maintain a visible presence across most neighborhoods. Property crime — not violent crime — accounts for the majority of incidents reported here, and the rate of serious violent offenses remains low relative to comparably sized university towns in the state. Residents near the downtown corridor and the Bloomsburg University area generally report feeling secure day-to-day. A B+ grade does not mean zero risk, but it does mean Bloomsburg outperforms a substantial share of Pennsylvania communities on overall safety metrics.

What is the crime rate in Bloomsburg?

Bloomsburg's composite crime performance grades out at a B+ for 2026 data. Drilling into the breakdown, property offenses — including theft, burglary, and vehicle-related incidents — represent the dominant share of reported crimes, a pattern typical of towns with a large transient student population. Violent crime incidents make up a notably smaller slice of the total, keeping Bloomsburg's violent-crime percentage well below state averages. The borough's 25.6% poverty rate and 4.5% unemployment rate are worth contextualizing here: research consistently links economic stress to property crime, which aligns with the local pattern. Even so, the overall B+ grade signals that Bloomsburg's crime environment is more manageable than roughly 60–70% of U.S. cities tracked on similar indices. Residents who consult the interactive crime map can filter by offense type to see exactly where theft clusters differ from the rare assault reports.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Bloomsburg?

While Bloomsburg's overall grade is B+, safety is not uniform across every block. Historically, the areas immediately surrounding Bloomsburg University benefit from heightened campus security patrols and a dense residential presence that discourages opportunistic crime. The established residential streets in the East Bloomsburg section tend to post lower incident frequencies, particularly for property offenses, compared to higher-traffic commercial zones. The downtown district near Market Street sees a higher concentration of minor disturbances and theft reports — consistent with any busy commercial corridor — but violent incidents remain rare even there. Quieter residential pockets in the northern and western edges of the borough typically show the lightest crime footprint on the map. For the most granular, up-to-date picture, filtering the Bloomsburg crime map by neighborhood and date range gives the clearest street-level view.

Is Bloomsburg a good place to live?

On the core livability metrics, Bloomsburg presents a compelling case for many households. The median home value sits at $151,378 — well below the national median — while median rent of $785 per month makes the borough accessible to renters, including the large student population tied to Bloomsburg University. Median household income of $41,035 reflects a modest but stable economic base, and the 4.5% unemployment rate tracks close to Pennsylvania's broader figures. The 25.6% poverty rate is the most significant economic challenge facing the community and does correlate with the property-crime patterns visible on the crime map. Weighed together, a B+ safety grade, affordable housing costs, and a tight-knit community character make Bloomsburg a reasonable choice for families, retirees, and students who prioritize value and small-town atmosphere — provided they go in with clear eyes about the economic pressures that shape parts of the borough.

How does Bloomsburg's crime compare to other Pennsylvania towns?

Bloomsburg's B+ overall crime grade positions it favorably within the Pennsylvania small-city landscape. Many comparably sized boroughs with similar poverty rates (Bloomsburg's stands at 25.6%) score in the C or C+ range, meaning Bloomsburg's community policing and relatively low violent-crime share give it a statistical edge. The borough's population density of 1,235 per square mile is moderate — dense enough to support active street life but not so congested that crime-concentration effects dominate. For context, towns with populations between 10,000 and 20,000 in Pennsylvania average closer to a B or B– on composite crime indices; Bloomsburg's B+ reflects above-average performance at that peer level. Visitors arriving for the famous Bloomsburg Fair or for university events will find a town that, by the data, is safer than its economic indicators alone might suggest.

What types of crime are most common in Bloomsburg?

Property crime is the dominant category in Bloomsburg's incident reports, consistent with the borough's university-town profile and its 25.6% poverty rate. Theft — including shoplifting and items stolen from vehicles — represents the single largest offense type visible on the crime map. Burglary reports are more sporadic and tend to cluster in areas with lower residential density or higher vacancy rates. Vandalism and disorderly conduct incidents tick upward during high-traffic periods like the Bloomsburg Fair and the academic calendar's opening weeks. Violent crimes, including assault and robbery, account for a comparatively small percentage of total incidents and are not concentrated in any single corridor. Drug-related offenses appear throughout the map but at frequencies that do not dramatically skew the overall B+ grade. Understanding this offense-type distribution helps residents prioritize practical precautions — securing vehicles and property — over concerns about violent crime, which the data suggests is a lower-probability risk in most parts of Bloomsburg.