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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Wheeling, WV has a Safety Score of 20/100 — higher crime than 80% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 2,974.8 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,381 of 2,971 US cities and #6 of 12 in West Virginia.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Wheeling, West Virginia Safe?
Wheeling, a historic Ohio River city, once served as West Virginia's first state capital. Its population of around 27,000 residents reflects a legacy of industry and a unique Appalachian-Rust Belt identity.
Wheeling has a safety score of 20/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 2,974.8 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Wheeling ranks #6 out of 12 cities in West Virginia and #2381 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 20th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 80% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Wheeling is aggravated assault, at 874.7 per 100K — 2.7x the national average. Conversely, murder is relatively low at just 0.0x the national rate.
Year over year, Wheeling's total crime rate decreased by 1.6%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Wheeling Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 255 | 982.6 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 0 | 0.0 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 14 | 54.0 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 14 | 54.0 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 227 | 874.7 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 517 | 1,992.2 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 145 | 558.8 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 343 | 1,321.7 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 29 | 111.8 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Wheeling vs West Virginia Average
How does Wheeling's crime rate compare to the West Virginia state average?
| Metric | Wheeling | West Virginia Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 982.6 | 498.5 | +97.1% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,992.2 | 2,991.1 | -33.4% |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 6.8 | -100.0% |
| Total Crime Rate | 2,974.8 | 3,489.6 | -14.8% |
Wheeling Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Wheeling, West Virginia.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 25,951 | 2,974.8 | 982.6 | 1,992.2 |
| 2023 | 26,104 | 3,022.5 | 992.2 | 2,030.3 |
| 2022 | 26,244 | 3,658.0 | 1,246.0 | 2,412.0 |
| 2021 | 26,081 | 2,856.5 | 1,039.1 | 1,817.4 |
| 2020 | 26,222 | 3,493.3 | 1,258.5 | 2,234.8 |
| 2019 | 26,562 | 3,128.5 | 952.5 | 2,176.0 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wheeling, West Virginia safe?
Wheeling has a safety score of 20/100, meaning it has less crime than about 20% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 2,974.8 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Wheeling is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Wheeling, West Virginia?
According to FBI data for 2024, Wheeling has a violent crime rate of 982.6 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,992.2 per 100,000 residents.
How does Wheeling compare to the national average?
Wheeling's total crime rate of 2,974.8 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 25,951 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Wheeling?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Wheeling include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Wheeling safe to visit?
Like any city, Wheeling has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 20/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.