Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Charleston, WV has a Safety Score of 11/100 — higher crime than 89% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,664.7 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,639 of 2,971 US cities and #9 of 12 in West Virginia.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Charleston, West Virginia Safe?
Charleston, WV, the state capital, sits at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers. Once a major hub for the salt and coal industries, its population is around 47,000.
Charleston has a safety score of 11/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,664.7 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Charleston ranks #9 out of 12 cities in West Virginia and #2639 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 11th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 89% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Charleston is burglary, at 655.1 per 100K — 2.3x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.5x the national rate.
Year over year, Charleston's total crime rate decreased by 16.4%, with violent crime declining 10.4%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Charleston Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 252 | 544.8 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 6 | 13.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 27 | 58.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 25 | 54.1 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 193 | 417.3 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 1,443 | 3,119.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 303 | 655.1 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 1,055 | 2,281.0 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 85 | 183.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Charleston vs West Virginia Average
How does Charleston's crime rate compare to the West Virginia state average?
| Metric | Charleston | West Virginia Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 544.8 | 498.5 | +9.3% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,119.9 | 2,991.1 | +4.3% |
| Murder Rate | 13.0 | 6.8 | +89.9% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,664.7 | 3,489.6 | +5.0% |
Charleston Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Charleston, West Virginia.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 46,252 | 3,664.7 | 544.8 | 3,119.9 |
| 2023 | 46,390 | 4,384.6 | 607.9 | 3,776.7 |
| 2022 | 47,350 | 5,089.8 | 684.3 | 4,405.5 |
| 2021 | 45,378 | 4,658.7 | 711.8 | 3,946.9 |
| 2020 | 46,038 | 5,532.4 | 923.2 | 4,609.2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charleston, West Virginia safe?
Charleston has a safety score of 11/100, meaning it has less crime than about 11% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,664.7 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Charleston is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Charleston, West Virginia?
According to FBI data for 2024, Charleston has a violent crime rate of 544.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,119.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Charleston compare to the national average?
Charleston's total crime rate of 3,664.7 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 46,252 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Charleston?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Charleston include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Charleston safe to visit?
Like any city, Charleston has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 11/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.