Looking for the safest cities in Pennsylvania? The 2026 SafeWise rankings are out, and the top of the list is dominated by quiet suburbs and townships — places where violent crime runs a fraction of the state average. Built entirely from the latest FBI crime statistics, the list names Cecil Township as Pennsylvania’s safest community for the second year running, with a violent crime rate of just 0.3 per 1,000 residents.
TL;DR: Pennsylvania’s 10 Safest Cities in 2026
SafeWise’s 2026 ranking — based on FBI violent and property crime data measured per 1,000 residents — puts Cecil Township (#1), Hampden Township (#2), and Westtown-East Goshen (#3) at the top. All 10 safest communities are townships or regional police jurisdictions in the Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg metro areas, each with a violent crime rate of 0.8 or lower per 1,000 residents.
How SafeWise Ranks the Safest Cities in Pennsylvania
SafeWise analyzes the latest FBI crime statistics for communities across each state, scoring violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crime (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft) per 1,000 residents, and applies reporting and population thresholds so only reliably reported jurisdictions qualify. Rankings weigh both violent and property crime, which is why a community’s rank doesn’t always track its violent-crime rate exactly — property crime counts too. For context, SafeWise puts Pennsylvania’s statewide violent crime rate at 5.72 per 1,000; every community below sits far beneath that line, according to SafeWise’s 2026 Pennsylvania report.
Pennsylvania’s 10 Safest Cities in 2026
1. Cecil Township — 0.3 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 15,206. A Washington County suburb southwest of Pittsburgh, Cecil Township repeats as Pennsylvania’s safest community, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
2. Hampden Township — 0.2 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 35,576. A Cumberland County suburb of Harrisburg, Hampden climbed to #2 this year and was recognized by the township itself as one of the safest communities in the state, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
3. Westtown-East Goshen Regional — 0.2 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 29,610. This Chester County regional police jurisdiction serves Westtown and East Goshen townships in Philadelphia’s western suburbs, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
4. Warwick Township — 0.2 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 14,703. A Bucks County community northeast of Philadelphia, Warwick debuts on the 2026 list, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
5. Northern Regional — 0.4 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 38,548. A regional police department serving multiple municipalities, Northern Regional is a newcomer to the 2026 rankings, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
6. Franklin Park — 0.7 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 14,871. An Allegheny County borough north of Pittsburgh with a semi-rural feel, Franklin Park enters the list in 2026, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
7. Newtown Township — 0.3 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 22,933. Another Bucks County entry in Philadelphia’s orbit, Newtown Township is new to the 2026 top 10, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
8. Upper Allen Township — 0.8 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 24,279. A Cumberland County suburb near Mechanicsburg in the Harrisburg metro, Upper Allen has appeared on the list in prior years, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
9. Cranberry Township — 0.1 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 34,970. This Butler County suburb north of Pittsburgh has the lowest violent crime rate on the list at just 0.1 per 1,000 — its rank reflects higher property crime — per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
10. Shaler Township — 0.5 violent crimes per 1,000
Population 26,801. An established Allegheny County suburb north of Pittsburgh, Shaler rounds out the top 10, per SafeWise’s analysis of FBI data.
What the Numbers Actually Mean
A violent crime rate of 0.3 per 1,000 means roughly 3 violent crimes per 10,000 residents per year — dramatically below the statewide 5.72 per 1,000 figure SafeWise reports for Pennsylvania. The pattern is clear: the safest communities are suburban townships with well-staffed local or regional police departments. If you’re weighing a move, pair these rankings with neighborhood-level research: our best Pittsburgh neighborhoods guide and Philadelphia family neighborhoods guide break down daily life in the state’s two biggest metros.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest city in Pennsylvania in 2026?
Cecil Township in Washington County, with a violent crime rate of 0.3 per 1,000 residents, according to SafeWise’s 2026 analysis of FBI crime data — #1 for the second consecutive year.
How does SafeWise determine the safest cities?
SafeWise analyzes the latest FBI crime statistics, measuring violent and property crime per 1,000 residents for each qualifying community, and applies reporting and population thresholds. Both violent and property crime factor into the final ranking.
Why are there no big cities on the safest list?
Large cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh report far higher violent crime rates than suburban townships, so they don’t qualify for the top 10. SafeWise’s list reflects communities — mostly suburbs — with the lowest combined violent and property crime rates.
What counts as violent crime in these rankings?
Violent crime covers murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault as reported to the FBI. Property crime covers burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft.
Is Pennsylvania a safe state overall?
It’s mixed. SafeWise reports a statewide violent crime rate of 5.72 per 1,000 — but that figure is pulled up by higher-crime urban areas, while many suburbs and townships rank among the safest places in the country.
Is Cranberry Township safe despite ranking #9?
Yes — Cranberry Township has the lowest violent crime rate on the entire list at 0.1 per 1,000. It ranks #9 because its property crime rate (7.0 per 1,000) is higher than the communities above it; the ranking weighs both crime types.
Are these rankings based on FBI data?
Yes. SafeWise’s annual Safest Cities report is built from the FBI’s published crime statistics, standardized as crimes per 1,000 residents, with reporting and population thresholds.
Does a low crime rate guarantee a safe move?
No ranking can guarantee safety — statistics describe jurisdictions, not individual blocks. Use these rankings as a starting point, then check recent block-level crime data, visit at different times of day, and talk to locals before deciding.
