Darby, PA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Darby, PA

Is Darby, PA safe?

Darby earns an overall crime grade of D at the city level, though the picture becomes more nuanced when you look at individual neighborhoods. Of the three neighborhoods analyzed, 67% carry a B grade or higher, meaning the majority of Darby's residential footprint falls into the safer tier. Collingdale leads with a solid Grade B, followed by the Darby neighborhood itself at Grade B-. Colwyn is the outlier, rated Grade D+, and accounts for the 33% of the borough in the higher-crime category. In short, safety in Darby is highly location-dependent — residents in Collingdale or central Darby experience meaningfully different conditions than those in Colwyn.

What is the crime rate in Darby, PA?

Darby's city-wide safety rating is a moderate C, and the borough's overall crime grade is a D — reflecting elevated risk relative to state and national benchmarks. Several socioeconomic indicators help contextualize this: the unemployment rate stands at 15.2%, well above the national average, and the poverty rate is 25.5%, affecting roughly one in four residents. Median household income sits at $40,423. Research consistently links these economic stressors to higher crime rates in dense urban areas, and Darby's population density of 4,910 people per square mile amplifies that dynamic. None of the three analyzed neighborhoods received an F grade, and 0% earned an A, so the borough clusters in the B-to-D range — moderate to elevated risk depending on the specific area.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Darby?

Based on current crime grade data, the two safest neighborhoods in Darby are:

• Collingdale — Grade B: With a population of approximately 8,973 and a median household income of $65,543 — the highest of the three neighborhoods analyzed — Collingdale consistently ranks as the borough's safest area. Its income level is roughly 62% higher than the city-wide median of $40,423, a factor strongly associated with lower crime rates.
• Darby (neighborhood) — Grade B-: The central Darby neighborhood, home to about 10,884 residents, earns a B- and has a median household income of $51,057. While slightly below Collingdale, it still represents a relatively safer environment within the borough and offers more affordable housing, with a median home value of $83,719.

Colwyn, by contrast, grades at D+ and has a smaller population of 2,570. Despite having the highest median income of the three at $67,413, its crime grade suggests other localized factors — such as density and specific incident patterns — drive elevated risk there.

Which neighborhood in Darby has the most crime?

Among the three neighborhoods analyzed, Colwyn carries the highest crime burden, rated Grade D+. It is the only neighborhood in Darby to fall into the higher-crime tier (D or F), representing 33% of analyzed neighborhoods. With a population of just 2,570, Colwyn is the smallest of the three communities but shows disproportionately elevated crime indicators relative to its size. Residents and prospective movers should consult the interactive Darby crime map to review specific incident types and concentrations within Colwyn before making decisions.

Is Darby, PA a good place to live?

Darby offers genuine affordability — a median home value of $83,719 and median rent of $1,107 make it one of the more accessible communities in the Philadelphia metro area. However, the borough faces real challenges: a 25.5% poverty rate, 15.2% unemployment, and an overall crime grade of D signal that economic and public-safety pressures are significant. That said, 67% of Darby's analyzed neighborhoods earn a B grade, meaning that for residents who choose Collingdale or the central Darby neighborhood, day-to-day safety conditions are considerably better than the city-wide grade implies. Darby can be a practical choice for budget-conscious residents willing to research specific blocks and neighborhoods — but the data strongly favors prioritizing Collingdale (Grade B, median income $65,543) or Darby proper (Grade B-, median income $51,057) over Colwyn (Grade D+) when selecting a specific location.

How does Darby's crime compare to nearby communities?

Darby's overall D crime grade places it in the higher-risk tier when compared to many surrounding Delaware County municipalities. Its poverty rate of 25.5% and unemployment rate of 15.2% are notably elevated for the region, and these factors correlate with the borough's crime profile. Within Darby itself, the gap between its best neighborhood (Collingdale, Grade B) and its worst (Colwyn, Grade D+) spans two full letter grades — a reminder that borough-level statistics can mask substantial block-by-block variation. Visitors and prospective residents are encouraged to use the Darby crime map to compare specific neighborhoods rather than relying solely on city-wide averages.