Which neighbourhoods are safe and which aren't?

Wyomissing is the easy answer — it's a separate borough adjacent to Reading, much safer, and where the visitor-facing infrastructure (VF Outlet, Reading Hospital, the major hotel chains, calm restaurants) actually sits. West Reading (the gentrified Penn Avenue strip) is calm and increasingly food-and-arts-oriented. The Mount Penn and Pagoda area is fine in daylight for the hilltop landmark view. Where to be aware: downtown Reading after dark has thinner foot traffic and recorded crime is higher; some North Reading and South Reading residential blocks have meaningful street-crime risk and no real tourist draw. Stay in Wyomissing, day-trip the city centre, and the trip is calm.

Safest Neighbourhoods in Reading (and Areas to Avoid)

By The Kakapo Editorial Team · Last updated 2026-05-07 · Part of the Reading safety guide

Areas — Centre, Penn St, West Reading, Wyomissing

Recommended for visitors: Wyomissing (separate borough — VF Outlet, Reading Hospital, hotels, restaurants — safer + nicer than central Reading), West Reading (gentrified Penn Avenue strip), Mount Penn / Pagoda area (daytime).

Stay aware: downtown Reading after dark, some North Reading + South Reading neighbourhoods.

Neighbourhoods + Berks County belt

Wyomissing (separate borough, west of Reading) — the genuinely safe and practical base for visitors. Reading Hospital (Tower Health flagship), the VF Outlet Village (one of the original outlet malls, opened 1970), the Wyomissing Restaurant District along Berkshire Boulevard. Chain hotels: Crowne Plaza Reading, DoubleTree, Hampton Inn — $90-150 most nights.
West Reading (Penn Avenue strip) — separately incorporated from Reading proper, gentrified Penn Avenue between 4th and 8th streets. The Sofrito Gastro Pub, Mike's Sandwich Shop, the Penn Avenue Arts District, GoggleWorks Café. Calm evenings, walkable.
Centre Park Historic District + downtown Reading — the 1880s mansion blocks on North 5th Street are architecturally remarkable but the surrounding downtown thins out after dark. The Santander Performing Arts Center and the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts (the restored 1871 factory) are the daytime anchors.
Mount Penn + the Pagoda — the 1908 Japanese-style hilltop landmark with the panoramic view east over Reading and Berks County. Skyline Drive (the narrow road up the mountain) is daytime-only realistically; Pagoda admission is free, gift shop hours limited.
City Park + the Museum quarter — the Reading Public Museum (with its planetarium and the Foucault pendulum), the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower, Centre Park rows. Daytime visit.
Shillington + Sinking Spring — quiet residential boroughs south-west of Wyomissing. Birthplace of John Updike (Shillington). Calm and unremarkable.
Lancaster County belt (south, 30-50 km) — Bird-in-Hand, Intercourse, Strasburg, the Amish/Pennsylvania Dutch country. The actual reason most visitors are in Berks County. PA-272 and PA-340 are the scenic roads down through the farms.

FAQ

Which neighbourhoods are safe and which aren't?: Wyomissing is the easy answer — it's a separate borough adjacent to Reading, much safer, and where the visitor-facing infrastructure (VF Outlet, Reading Hospital, the major hotel chains, calm restaurants) actually sits. West Reading (the gentrified Penn Avenue strip) is calm and increasingly food-and-arts-oriented. The Mount Penn and Pagoda area is fine in daylight for the hilltop landmark view. Where to be aware: downtown Reading after dark has thinner foot traffic and recorded crime is higher; some North Reading and South Reading residential blocks have meaningful street-crime risk and no real tourist draw. Stay in Wyomissing, day-trip the city centre, and the trip is calm.

Read the full Reading safety guide — score breakdown, every neighbourhood, all 2 sources →

Live Reading safety score (updates daily) →

Sources

Scores are the Kakapo Safety Index — compiled from government travel advisories and public crime, health and transit data. All data sources.