The Best Home Security Systems in Mercer County, PA
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Mercer County, PA? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Mercer 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 Mercer County every 10 hours 42 minutes, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Mercer County experiences 7.254 property crimes per 1000 people and 5.579 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 Mercer County, PA
Best Overall
Simplisafe
We believe Simplisafe is the best home security system for residents of Mercer County. The combination of a high amount of renters (26%) and education level (23% 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.
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.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Mercer County, PA?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Mercer 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 Mercer County, PA and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Mercer County, PA
Our analysis gives Mercer County a property crime grade of: B+. Mercer County is in the 29th percentile of safety, meaning 29% of cities in Pennsylvania are safer and 71% are more dangerous. Please visit our Mercer County crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the western part of Mercer County, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 108. Compare this to the southern part of the county, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 214.
C+
F |
|
B+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
C |
A crime occurs every 3 hours 46 minutes (on average) in Mercer County, PA.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Mercer County safe? Compared to all of Pennsylvania, Mercer 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 similar pattern, where Mercer County, with its burglary rate of 2.516 per 1000, is as safe as the average Pennsylvania county.
In addition, Mercer County is lower than other counties with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Mercer County, PA.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Mercer County, PA |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
4.148 |
467 |
9.0 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.5561 |
63 |
1.2 |
Burglary |
2.516 |
284 |
5.5 |
Arson |
0.0349 |
4 |
0.1 |
Weather and Climate in Mercer 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 Mercer County, PA
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Mercer County, PA is 47.57 degrees, reaching 85.22 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 80.01 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Mercer County was built in 1966, which is much older than the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in Pennsylvania build in 1970.
Between colder seasonal temperatures and newer homes in Mercer 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 Mercer County, PA
Mercer County, PA gets an average rainfall of 1.2" 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 Mercer County, PA
Mercer County, PA reaches an average of 32.87 degrees in its cold months of January & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 37.51 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Mercer County is 57 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 much 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 Mercer 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 Mercer County, PA
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Mercer 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 26.03% (28,801) of people in Mercer County, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 73.97% or 81,851 of Mercer 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 88% of people who commute an average of 26 minutes to work in or around Mercer 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 3% of Mercer 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 Mercer County tend to have a lower median household income than nearby counties, earning $58,089 annually. In addition, 23.4% 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 Mercer County is $134,650. 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 Mercer County, PA
There are 26 police stations within the boundaries of Mercer County, and 0 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Mercer County center, there are 152 police stations. Compared to other counties, police response times in Mercer County may be about average. When response times are fairly typical, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Mercer County Sheriff Department 205 South Erie St Mercer, PA 16137 (724) 662-6135 mcc.co.mercer.pa.us |
Hermitage Police Department 800 North Hermitage Road Hermitage, PA 16148 (724) 983-6780 hermitage.net |
Pymatuning Township Police 256 Edgewood Drive Extension Transfer, PA 16154 (724) 646-1155 pymtele.net |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Near Mercer County, PA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Mercer County, PA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trumbull County, OH | C- | C- | less safe |
| Clarion County, PA | A | B+ | more safe |
| Portage County, OH | D- | D- | less safe |
| Summit County, OH | D | D+ | less safe |
| Medina County, OH | C+ | A | less safe |
| Lorain County, OH | B+ | A- | about as safe |
| Huron County, OH | C+ | C | less safe |
| Sandusky County, OH | B | B- | about as safe |
| Seneca County, OH | C | C+ | less safe |
| Clinton County, PA | C | C- | less safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Counties Similar to Mercer County, PA
Nearby County | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Mercer County, PA? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayette County, GA | A+ | A+ | more safe |
| Allegan County, MI | A | A+ | more safe |
| Androscoggin County, ME | B- | C+ | less safe |
| Douglas County, KS | F | F | less safe |
| Carroll County, GA | A- | B+ | more safe |
| Wayne County, NC | B+ | B+ | about as safe |
| Tom Green County, TX | C | B- | less safe |
| Monongalia County, WV | C | C | less safe |
| Potter County, TX | D+ | C- | less safe |
| Platte County, MO | D- | D- | less safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Mercer County, PA
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Mercer 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 Mercer 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 Ring have emerged as the top choices for Mercer 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 Mercer County's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 10 hours 42 minutes in Mercer County.
- The county experiences 7.254 property crimes and 5.579 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Mercer 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 Mercer County. The combination of a high amount of renters (26%) and education level (23% 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.
- 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.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 85.22 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & February temperatures averaging 32.87 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 1.2" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 57 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 26.03% of Mercer County residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 88% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Mercer County's lower household median income of $58,089 and 23.4% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Mercer County hosts 26 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.