65% in City Have Heard Gunshots

Nearly two out of three Philadelphians report having heard gunshots in their neighborhood in the past 12 months, according to a new citywide poll conducted by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Four out of five respondents (79%) say Philadelphia has gotten worse as a place to live during the pandemic. The poll surveyed more than 1,500 city residents 18 and older. Just 8% call the city an “excellent” place to live, down from 20% who rated the city “excellent” in 2019.

The poll confirms that crime is residents’ top concern, as A Greater Philadelphia’s February poll showed. Seventy percent call “crime/drugs/safety” the most important issue facing the city, up from 41% two years ago.

In spite of these concerns, the majority of respondents (53%) say the city’s “best days are ahead of it.’ Residents see Philadelphia’s potential, which is why they are so frustrated with the city's current state.