Philadelphia ranks among America's least safe cities. An analyst explains why

Philadelphia is known for its amazing food scene, rich history and passionate sports fans, but a new report suggests the City of Brotherly Love isn t among the safest cities in the United States. The largest city in Pennsylvania ranked 178th out of 182 cities in WalletHub s Safest Cities in America 2026 report, released on Oct. 19. Juneau, Alaska, and Warwick, Rhode Island, ranked as the safest cities, while New Orleans, Louisiana, ranked as the least safe city in the country. But what makes a city safe? According to WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo, the report considered more than just crime rates when looking at safety. The analysis examined 41 metrics, ranging from crime and traffic fatalities to unemployment and poverty rates, across three main categories: home and community safety, natural disaster risk and financial safety. There s more that goes into determining a safe city. You could be in the most crime-free city in South Florida, but be subject to a hurricane at