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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Parkersburg, WV has a Safety Score of 13/100 — higher crime than 87% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,480.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,591 of 2,971 US cities and #8 of 12 in West Virginia.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Parkersburg, West Virginia Safe?
Parkersburg, a city in Wood County, sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers. Once a key stop on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, it has a dwindling population of just under 30,000 residents.
Parkersburg has a safety score of 13/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,480.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Parkersburg ranks #8 out of 12 cities in West Virginia and #2591 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 13th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 87% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Parkersburg is larceny-theft, at 2,720.8 per 100K — 1.7x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Parkersburg's total crime rate decreased by 7.8%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Parkersburg Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 76 | 263.8 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 19 | 65.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 6 | 20.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 50 | 173.5 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 927 | 3,217.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 91 | 315.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 784 | 2,720.8 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 52 | 180.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Parkersburg vs West Virginia Average
How does Parkersburg's crime rate compare to the West Virginia state average?
| Metric | Parkersburg | West Virginia Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 263.8 | 498.5 | -47.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,217.1 | 2,991.1 | +7.6% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 6.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,480.8 | 3,489.6 | -0.3% |
Parkersburg Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Parkersburg, West Virginia.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 28,815 | 3,480.8 | 263.8 | 3,217.1 |
| 2023 | 28,959 | 3,774.3 | 265.9 | 3,508.4 |
| 2022 | 29,190 | 3,905.5 | 441.9 | 3,463.5 |
| 2021 | 28,793 | 4,431.6 | 461.9 | 3,969.7 |
| 2020 | 29,096 | 4,729.2 | 367.8 | 4,361.4 |
| 2019 | 29,482 | 5,311.7 | 369.7 | 4,942.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parkersburg, West Virginia safe?
Parkersburg has a safety score of 13/100, meaning it has less crime than about 13% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,480.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Parkersburg is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Parkersburg, West Virginia?
According to FBI data for 2024, Parkersburg has a violent crime rate of 263.8 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,217.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Parkersburg compare to the national average?
Parkersburg's total crime rate of 3,480.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 28,815 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Parkersburg?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Parkersburg include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Parkersburg safe to visit?
Like any city, Parkersburg has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 13/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.