The Best Home Security Systems in Columbia County, PA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Columbia County, PA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Columbia County, PA home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Columbia County every 18 hours 14 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Columbia County experiences 7.458 property crimes per 1000 people and 4.616 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Columbia County, PA
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Columbia County. The combination of a high amount of renters (28%) and education level (26% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
Best Reputation
ADT
Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Columbia County, PA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Columbia County, PA. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular county rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Columbia County, PA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Columbia County, PA
Our analysis gives Columbia County a property crime grade of: B+. Columbia County is in the 30th percentile of safety, meaning 30% of cities in Pennsylvania are safer and 70% are more dangerous. Please visit our Columbia County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the southwestern part of Columbia County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 99. Compare this to the northwestern part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 183.
B+
B |
|
B+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
C+ |
A crime occurs every 7 hours 32 minutes (on average) in Columbia County, PA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Columbia County safe? Compared to all of Pennsylvania, Columbia County is rated as safe as the average Pennsylvania county, which has a property crime rate of 16.10 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Columbia County, with its burglary rate of 2.241 per 1000, is as safe as the average Pennsylvania county.
In addition, Columbia County is lower than other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Columbia County, PA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Columbia County, PA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
4.304 |
277 |
5.3 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.8968 |
58 |
1.1 |
Burglary |
2.241 |
144 |
2.8 |
Arson |
0.0170 |
1 |
0.0 |
Weather and Climate in Columbia County, PA
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Columbia County, PA
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Columbia County, PA is 49.64 degrees, reaching 90.74 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 86.00 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Columbia County was built in 1970, which is older than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Pennsylvania build in 1970.
Between average seasonal temperatures and newer homes in Columbia County, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Columbia County, PA
Columbia County, PA gets an average rainfall of 1.4" per year. This is higher than the average of 1.2" for Pennsylvania.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Columbia County, PA
Columbia County, PA reaches an average of 35.37 degrees in its cold months of January & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 40.32 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Columbia County is 53 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average Pennsylvania home that's 53 years old and more time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Columbia County home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Columbia County, PA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Columbia County home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 28.23% (18,273) of people in Columbia County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 71.77% or 46,454 of Columbia County residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 87% of people who commute an average of 26 minutes to work in or around Columbia County, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 5% of Columbia County residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Columbia County tend to have a lower median household income than nearby counties, earning $58,809 annually. In addition, 25.7% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Columbia County is $168,303. Compared to the median home value in Pennsylvania of $222,630, your home value will probably be lower. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Columbia County, PA
There are 37 police stations within the boundaries of Columbia County, and 12 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Columbia County center, there are 291 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in Columbia County may be much faster. Even when response times are great, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Pennsylvania State Police 6850 Hidlay Church Road Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 387-4261 psp.state.pa.us |
State Police 6850 Hidlay Church Road Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 387-4701 psp.state.pa.us |
South Center Twp Police Department 6260 4th St Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 784-8552 |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near Columbia County, PA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Columbia County, PA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montour County, PA | A+ | A- | more safe |
| Luzerne County, PA | D- | D- | less safe |
| Union County, PA | F | F | less safe |
| Clinton County, PA | C | C- | less safe |
| Monroe County, PA | A- | A+ | more safe |
| Sussex County, NJ | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Clearfield County, PA | B- | C+ | less safe |
| Passaic County, NJ | D- | D+ | less safe |
| Bergen County, NJ | D- | C | less safe |
| Rockland County, NY | A- | A | more safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to Columbia County, PA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Columbia County, PA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison County, WV | A+ | A- | more safe |
| Kauai County, HI | B+ | A+ | about as safe |
| Jefferson County, AR | C- | C- | less safe |
| Isabella County, MI | D+ | C- | less safe |
| Iron County, UT | D+ | D+ | less safe |
| Iberia Parish, LA | A- | A- | more safe |
| Huron County, OH | C+ | C | less safe |
| Hood County, TX | A | A+ | more safe |
| Haywood County, NC | C- | C | less safe |
| Hawkins County, TN | D+ | D+ | less safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Columbia County, PA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Columbia County, PA can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the county to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Columbia County residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Simplisafe, Ring, and ADT have emerged as the top choices for Columbia County residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Columbia County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 18 hours 14 minutes in Columbia County.
- The county experiences 7.458 property crimes and 4.616 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Columbia County's property crime grade stands at an 'B+', comparably as safe as other Pennsylvania {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Simplisafe: We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Columbia County. The combination of a high amount of renters (28%) and education level (26% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
- ADT: Compelling history and top quality security and smart home products. If you're willing to pay for it, you will get a top notch product.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 90.74 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & February temperatures averaging 35.37 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 1.4" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 53 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 28.23% of Columbia County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 87% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Columbia County's lower household median income of $58,809 and 25.7% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Columbia County hosts 37 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.