Harrisburg, PA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions: Harrisburg, PA Crime & Safety (2026)

Is Harrisburg, PA safe?

Harrisburg carries an overall crime grade of D-, placing it in the lower tier of safety among Pennsylvania cities. Of the 8 neighborhoods analyzed, none earned an A grade, only 1 (12.5%) reached a B, and 3 (37.5%) landed at C. A full 50% of neighborhoods received D grades, meaning half the city's analyzed areas fall into the higher-crime category. That said, safety is not uniform. Harrisburg East (Grade B-) and Uptown (Grade C+) stand out as the city's most livable areas, with median household incomes of $52,118 and $48,912 respectively — both well above the city-wide median of $41,831. Residents in those neighborhoods experience meaningfully lower crime exposure than those in Southern Harrisburg (Grade D) or the Industrial Corridor (Grade D+). Standard urban precautions apply city-wide, but neighborhood selection makes a significant difference.

What is the crime rate in Harrisburg?

Harrisburg's crime picture is best understood through its neighborhood grade distribution rather than a single number. Across 8 analyzed neighborhoods, the breakdown is: 0% Grade A, 12.5% Grade B, 37.5% Grade C, 50% Grade D, and 0% Grade F. That means only about 13% of neighborhoods qualify as safe (A or B combined), while 50% fall into the higher-crime D range. The city's 26.5% poverty rate and 8.5% unemployment rate — both elevated compared to national benchmarks — correlate with the crime pressure seen in neighborhoods like Midtown (D+) and Southern Harrisburg (D), where median incomes drop as low as $29,040. Property crime, including theft and vandalism, tends to be the most prevalent category city-wide, while violent incidents are more concentrated in the lower-graded southern and industrial zones.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Harrisburg?

Based on 2026 data, the five safest neighborhoods in Harrisburg rank as follows:

1. Harrisburg East — Grade B-: The city's top-rated neighborhood, with a population of 23,910 and a median household income of $52,118. It is the only area to achieve a B grade and represents the clearest choice for safety-conscious residents.
2. Uptown — Grade C+: Home to 7,201 residents with a median income of $48,912, Uptown is the second-safest option and offers a more urban feel with relatively manageable crime levels.
3. City Island — Grade C-: A small enclave of 530 residents with a median income of $39,562, City Island earns a C- — below average but still outperforming half the city's neighborhoods.
4. Downtown — Grade C-: With 1,139 residents and a median income of $40,301, Downtown matches City Island's C- grade. Activity levels are higher here, so awareness remains important.
5. Capitol Complex — Grade D+: Though it drops into D territory, Capitol Complex (480 residents, $45,806 median income) edges out Midtown and Industrial Corridor and benefits from the presence of state government facilities.

The contrast between Harrisburg East (B-, $52,118 income) and Southern Harrisburg (D, $29,040 income) illustrates how strongly economic conditions and crime grades align across the city.

Which neighborhoods in Harrisburg have the highest crime?

The neighborhoods with the greatest crime burden in Harrisburg are concentrated in the southern and industrial zones. Southern Harrisburg earns the lowest grade in the dataset at D, with a population of 6,465 and a median household income of just $29,040 — the lowest of any analyzed neighborhood. The Industrial Corridor (Grade D+, 2,114 residents, $35,307 median income) and Midtown (Grade D+, 5,195 residents, $52,655 median income) also fall squarely in the higher-crime tier. Interestingly, Midtown's relatively higher income does not translate to a better safety grade, suggesting that commercial density and foot traffic contribute to incident volume there. Downtown and City Island both hold C- grades, meaning they sit just above the D threshold — safer than the bottom tier but still below the city's already-modest average.

Is Harrisburg a good place to live?

Harrisburg offers genuine affordability — a median home value of $85,374 and median rent of $846 make it one of the more accessible capital cities on the East Coast. For context, the median household income of $41,831 means housing costs consume a relatively modest share of income compared to larger metros. However, the city's D- overall crime grade, 26.5% poverty rate, and 8.5% unemployment rate present real quality-of-life challenges. Only 13% of neighborhoods are classified as safe (Grades A or B), with Harrisburg East being the primary standout. Families and individuals prioritizing safety will want to focus their search on Harrisburg East or Uptown, where incomes are higher and crime grades are meaningfully better. Those drawn by affordability and willing to research micro-level neighborhood data can find pockets of stability, but city-wide metrics suggest Harrisburg requires more diligence than average when evaluating where to live.

How does Harrisburg's crime compare by neighborhood income?

The data reveals a strong correlation between neighborhood income and safety grade in Harrisburg. The two safest neighborhoods — Harrisburg East ($52,118 median income, Grade B-) and Uptown ($48,912, Grade C+) — both sit well above the city-wide median of $41,831. Conversely, Southern Harrisburg, the lowest-graded neighborhood at D, also has the lowest median income at $29,040 — roughly 44% below Harrisburg East. The Industrial Corridor ($35,307, Grade D+) follows a similar pattern. The one notable outlier is Midtown, which carries a $52,655 median income — the highest in the dataset — yet still earns only a D+, likely reflecting the impact of commercial activity and population density on reported incident rates rather than residential risk alone.