Crime per Capita in Berks County
The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Berks County.
Safest
Highest crime
Colorblind friendly
off
A
Overall Crime Grade™
A |
|
B+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
A+ |
$129.0 million
Cost of Crime™ for Berks County, PA
In 2025, crime will cost $768 per household.
Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Berks County in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.
Is Berks County, PA Safe?
The A grade indicates that the rate of crime is much lower than that of the average US county. Berks County ranks in the 88th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 88% of counties but less safe than 12%. This analysis applies only to Berks County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.
The crime rate in Berks County is 18.65 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Berks County Residents generally consider the northeast part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Berks County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 33 in the central areas to 1 in 88 in the northeast.
When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Berks County, PA see the most incidents - about 3,537 per year. In contrast, the north part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 271 crimes annually.
The Cost of Crime™ in Berks County, PA
The total projected cost of crime in Berks County for 2025 is $129,035,497. This translates to approximately $290 per resident and $768 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 0.7% of the median household income in Berks County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:- Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 53.3%
- Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 35.4%
- Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.3%
How Much Does Crime Cost in Berks County Compared to Other Counties?
| Berks County, PA: | $290 |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia County, PA: | $664 |
| Adams County, PA: | $207 |
| Pennsylvania: | $353 |
| USA: | $464 |
The Cost of Crime per resident in Berks County is $290 per year, which is $175 less than the national average and $63 less than Pennsylvania's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Berks County:
- In Philadelphia County, PA, crime costs $664 per person, which is $374 more than in Berks County.
- In Adams County, PA, crime costs $207 per person, which is $82 less than in Berks County
2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime
The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Berks County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.Crime |
Cost to Berks County |
Cost per Berks County Resident |
|---|---|---|
Murder |
$43.1 million |
$97 |
Rape/Sexual Assault |
$9.33 million |
$21 |
Robbery |
$7.28 million |
$16 |
Assault |
$17.9 million |
$40 |
Kidnapping |
$516,085 |
$1 |
Vehicle Theft |
$9.54 million |
$21 |
Burglary |
$5.28 million |
$12 |
Theft |
$21.6 million |
$49 |
Arson |
$1.08 million |
$2 |
Vandalism |
$8.25 million |
$19 |
Animal Cruelty |
$108,491 |
$0 |
Drug Crimes |
$3.55 million |
$8 |
Identity Theft |
$1.54 million |
$3 |
Total Cost of Crime |
$129,035,497 |
$290 |
The Intangible Cost of Crime in Berks County, PA
CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Berks County totals $338,391,014 ($760 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $467,426,510 ($1,049 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.Interpreting the Crime Maps
When interpreting the Berks County crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the central part of the county has more retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.
More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas, of which Berks County has 66, have the same problem. Of Berks County’s 445,449 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.
To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Berks County, PA at ISP Reports.Berks County Crime Breakdown
The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Berks County residents in a standard year.
Violent Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Assault |
1.396 |
Robbery |
0.5196 |
Rape |
0.3456 |
Murder |
0.0515 |
Total Violent Crime |
2.313 (A) |
Property Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Theft |
9.375 |
Vehicle Theft |
1.384 |
Burglary |
1.306 |
Arson |
0.1000 |
Total Property Crime |
12.16 (B+) |
Other Crime Rates
Crime Type |
Crime Rate |
|---|---|
Kidnapping |
0.0191 |
Drug Crimes |
1.078 |
Vandalism |
2.594 |
Identity Theft |
0.4465 |
Animal Cruelty |
0.0329 |
Total "Other" Rate |
4.170 (A+) |
Individual Berks County Crime Maps & Stats
Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties
Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Berks County is similar. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Berks County.
Nearby County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
A- | A- | B- | |
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
A+ | A+ | A | |
A+ | A+ | A | |
A | A- | B+ | |
A | A+ | B+ | |
A+ | A- | A- | |
A | A | B+ | |
A- | B+ | B- | |
A- | A- | B |
Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations
Berks County is lower versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.
Similar County | Overall Crime Grade | Violent Crime Grade | Property Crime Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
A+ | A+ | A+ | |
B- | A+ | A+ | |
F | F | F | |
B- | C+ | C+ | |
C+ | D | D | |
D+ | D+ | D+ | |
C | C- | C- | |
A | B- | B- | |
A | A- | A- | |
C+ | D+ | D+ |
Considering only the crime rate, Berks County is as safe as the Pennsylvania state average and safer than the national average.
Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Berks County, PA average SchoolGrade of B+, with 49% actual proficiency versus 45% projected; overall, schools exceed expectations. See Berks County schools on SchoolGrade
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