Violent
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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Beckley, WV has a Safety Score of 1/100 — higher crime than 100% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 8,517.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,959 of 2,971 US cities and #12 of 12 in West Virginia.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Beckley, West Virginia Safe?
Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, Beckley, West Virginia, is a historic coal mining town. Home to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, it serves as a regional hub for southern West Virginia. Its population is approximately 16,000.
Beckley has a safety score of 1/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 8,517.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Beckley ranks #12 out of 12 cities in West Virginia and #2959 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 0th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 100% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Beckley is larceny-theft, at 6,861.4 per 100K — 4.2x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Beckley's total crime rate increased by 11.1%, with violent crime declining 3%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Beckley Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 99 | 604.9 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 19 | 116.1 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 9 | 55.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 71 | 433.8 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,295 | 7,912.3 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 144 | 879.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,123 | 6,861.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 28 | 171.1 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Beckley vs West Virginia Average
How does Beckley's crime rate compare to the West Virginia state average?
| Metric | Beckley | West Virginia Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 604.9 | 498.5 | +21.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 7,912.3 | 2,991.1 | +164.5% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 6.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 8,517.1 | 3,489.6 | +144.1% |
Beckley Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Beckley, West Virginia.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 16,367 | 8,517.1 | 604.9 | 7,912.3 |
| 2023 | 16,520 | 7,663.4 | 623.5 | 7,040.0 |
| 2022 | 16,843 | 8,484.2 | 742.2 | 7,742.1 |
| 2021 | 15,632 | 6,857.7 | 774.1 | 6,083.7 |
| 2020 | 15,762 | 6,629.9 | 869.2 | 5,760.7 |
| 2019 | 16,010 | 2,823.2 | 412.2 | 2,411.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beckley, West Virginia safe?
Beckley has a safety score of 1/100, meaning it has less crime than about 1% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 8,517.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Beckley is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Beckley, West Virginia?
According to FBI data for 2024, Beckley has a violent crime rate of 604.9 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 7,912.3 per 100,000 residents.
How does Beckley compare to the national average?
Beckley's total crime rate of 8,517.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 16,367 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Beckley?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Beckley include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Beckley safe to visit?
Like any city, Beckley has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 1/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.