The Best Home Security Systems in Lancaster County, PA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Lancaster County, PA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Lancaster 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 Lancaster County every 2 hours 10 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Lancaster County experiences 7.117 property crimes per 1000 people and 2.829 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 Lancaster County, PA
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Lancaster County. The combination of a high amount of renters (30%) and education level (30% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
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.
Upgrade Pick
Vivint
Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Lancaster County, PA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County, PA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Lancaster County, PA
Our analysis gives Lancaster County a property crime grade of: A-. Lancaster County is in the 23rd percentile of safety, meaning 23% of cities in Pennsylvania are safer and 77% are more dangerous. Please visit our Lancaster County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the eastern part of Lancaster County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 87. Compare this to the northwestern part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 205.
A+
A- |
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A- |
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Other Crime Grade |
A+ |
A crime occurs every 1 hour 3 minutes (on average) in Lancaster County, PA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Lancaster County safe? Compared to all of Pennsylvania, Lancaster 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 Lancaster County, with its burglary rate of 1.588 per 1000, is as safe as the average Pennsylvania county.
In addition, Lancaster County is lower than other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Lancaster County, PA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Lancaster County, PA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
4.951 |
2,798 |
53.8 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.5558 |
314 |
6.0 |
Burglary |
1.588 |
897 |
17.3 |
Arson |
0.0229 |
13 |
0.2 |
Weather and Climate in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County, PA
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Lancaster County, PA is 52.70 degrees, reaching 92.35 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 84.38 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Lancaster County was built in 1977, which is about average compared to the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Pennsylvania build in 1970.
Between average seasonal temperatures and average home ages in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County, PA
Lancaster County, PA gets an average rainfall of 1.3" per year. This is similar to 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 Lancaster County, PA
Lancaster County, PA reaches an average of 38.19 degrees in its cold months of January & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 42.30 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Lancaster County is 46 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 about the same amount of 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster County, PA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Lancaster 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 29.66% (164,038) of people in Lancaster County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 70.34% or 388,946 of Lancaster 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 83% of people who commute an average of 28 minutes to work in or around Lancaster 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 4% of Lancaster 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 Lancaster County tend to have a lower median household income than nearby counties, earning $78,022 annually. In addition, 29.9% 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 Lancaster County is $235,271. Compared to the median home value in Pennsylvania of $222,630, your home value will probably be higher. 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 Lancaster County, PA
There are 52 police stations within the boundaries of Lancaster County, and 14 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Lancaster County center, there are 518 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in Lancaster 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.
| Manheim Twp Police Admin 1825 Municipal Drive Lancaster, PA 17601 (717) 569-6401 manheimtownship.org |
Lancaster Police-Comm Rltns 39 East Chestnut St Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 291-4904 |
Lancaster Police-Crime Prvntn 39 East Chestnut St Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 291-4896 |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near Lancaster County, PA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Lancaster County, PA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| York County, PA | B+ | B | about as safe |
| Chester County, PA | D- | D+ | less safe |
| Delaware County, PA | C | C+ | less safe |
| Montgomery County, PA | A | A+ | more safe |
| Philadelphia County, PA | D- | F | less safe |
| Burlington County, NJ | B+ | D- | about as safe |
| Fulton County, PA | B- | C | less safe |
| Ocean County, NJ | D+ | D | less safe |
| Bedford County, PA | D | C- | less safe |
| Somerset County, PA | D | D+ | less safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to Lancaster County, PA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Lancaster County, PA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Arundel County, MD | D- | F | less safe |
| Baltimore City, MD | F | D- | less safe |
| Brevard County, FL | A | A | more safe |
| Bristol County, MA | B+ | B+ | about as safe |
| Bucks County, PA | A- | A | about as safe |
| Burlington County, NJ | B+ | D- | about as safe |
| Camden County, NJ | B- | B | less safe |
| Chester County, PA | D- | D+ | less safe |
| Clark County, WA | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Dane County, WI | F | F | less safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Lancaster County, PA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Lancaster 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 Lancaster 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, ADT, and Vivint have emerged as the top choices for Lancaster 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 Lancaster County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 2 hours 10 minutes in Lancaster County.
- The county experiences 7.117 property crimes and 2.829 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Lancaster County's property crime grade stands at an 'A-', 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 Lancaster County. The combination of a high amount of renters (30%) and education level (30% of residents have a college degree) makes Simplisafe our top pick.
- 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.
- Vivint: Vivint doesn't seem to care about competitive prices; just quality. Their bespoke whole-house systems combine strict security with cutting-edge technology and full-scale home automation, making up the complete package.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 92.35 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & February temperatures averaging 38.19 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 1.3" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 46 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 29.66% of Lancaster County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 83% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Lancaster County's lower household median income of $78,022 and 29.9% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Lancaster County hosts 52 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.