Allegheny County, in western Pennsylvania, is the state’s second most populated county, with a population of more than 1.2 million. It includes Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s second-largest city, which is known for its rich industrial heritage, cultural variety, and natural beauty.
Nonetheless, the county has a far higher crime rate, more than double the national average. Crime rates in Allegheny County vary by neighborhood, including violent crimes like murder, rape, robbery, and assault, as well as property crimes like burglary, larceny, and auto theft.
Using the most recent crime data from CrimeGrade.org, we generated a list of the five Allegheny County neighborhoods with the highest total crime rates per 1,000 people, as of 2019.
Read more: Discover 5 Dangerous Neighborhoods in Pennsylvania With the Highest Rates of Violence and Poverty
1. Rankin
Rankin is another eastern county town with about 2,000 people. It is on the Monongahela River and used to be a thriving industrial hub. There are 87.8 crimes for every 1,000 people living in the borough, which is more than four times the average for the county.
Rankin also has high rates of serious crime (16 per 1,000 people) and property crime (71.8 per 1,000 people). This neighborhood has been changed by deindustrialization, poverty, and crime.
2. Braddock
Braddock is in the eastern part of Allegheny County. It has about 2,000 people and is on the Monongahela River. In the past, it was a thriving steel town. Unfortunately, Braddock has the highest crime rate in the county, with 90.6 crimes per 1,000 people.
This is more than four times the county average. Braddock also has high rates of both serious crime (16.6 per 1,000 people) and property crime (74 per 1,000 people). The borough’s economy has been falling hard, and people are leaving and things are getting worse in society.
3. McKees Rocks
The town of McKees Rocks is in the western part of the county and has about 6,000 people. It is on the Ohio River. McKees Rocks has a general crime rate of 83.6 per 1,000 people, which is more than four times the county average of 19.8.
The town is known for making steel and coal. The borough also has high rates of property crime (68.9 per 1,000) and serious crime (14.7 per 1,000). The town has problems with things like poverty, unemployment, and drug abuse.
4. Homestead
Homestead, which has about 3,000 people, is in the eastern part of the county and is on the Monongahela River. It used to be a major center for making steel. The general crime rate in Homestead is 85.4 per 1,000 people, which is more than four times the average for the county.
In the same way, the town has high rates of both serious crime (15.2% per 1,000) and property crime (70.2%). Homestead has had to deal with problems like falling property values, race strife, and social problems.
Also read: These Six Most Dangerous Ohio Neighborhoods: Avoid in 2024
5. Wilkinsburg
Wilkinsburg is a town in the eastern part of the county that is close to Pittsburgh and used to be a bustling suburb. It has about 15,000 people living there. It has a total crime rate of 86 per 1,000 people, which is more than four times the county average.
There are also high rates of serious crime (15.4 per 1,000 people) and property crime (70.6 per 1,000 people) in Wilkinsburg. The neighborhood has had to deal with crime, urban ruin, and blight.