Crime affects quality of life for those who directly experience and witness it, sometimes resulting in long-lasting trauma. Indirectly, it also affects the lives of others in the community, as well as housing stability and a community's perceived attractiveness as a place to live, work and do business.

In 2023, there were 1.3 violent crimes reported per 1,000 residents in Lancaster County, lower than the Pennsylvania (2.7) and national (3.6) rates. The county rate has decreased notably since 2020 and is 30% below 2010 rates. Likewise, the state's violent crime rate dropped steadily from 2010 to 2023 - a 26% decline, while the US fell 10% in the same period. By comparison, in 2023 the City of Lancaster had 4.9 violent crimes reported per 1,000 residents, a 44% decline from 2010 when the rate was 8.6.

Violent crime rates in 2023 were slightly higher in Lancaster County than in Chester (1.1), Lebanon (1.0), and Cumberland (0.9), and below York (1.7), Berks (1.8) and Dauphin (3.7). All counties had notable declines in violent crime rates since 2010.

Crime reports are never complete because not all crimes are reported, and some crimes in particular, such as rape and assault, are believed to be underreported. Data are from the FBI's Uniform Crime Report. It should be noted that this indicator represents crime penetration. Because areas vary in population, counts of criminal incidents do not accurately measure impact. By presenting crimes per 1,000 residents, it is possible to compare rural and urban areas of the state.