Is Battle Creek or Charleston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Battle Creek is safer than Charleston (Safety Score 11/100 vs 11/100), with a total crime rate of 3,644 per 100,000 versus 3,665 for Charleston — 1% lower. Battle Creek has lower rates in 4 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Charleston has a 51% lower rate.
Battle Creek — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Charleston — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Battle Creek, MI
Charleston, WV
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Battle Creek | Charleston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 3,644.4 | 3,664.7 | -20.3 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 1,121.6 | 544.8 | +576.8 |
| Murder Rate | 8.2 | 13.0 | -4.8 |
| Rape Rate | 111.2 | 58.4 | +52.8 |
| Robbery Rate | 55.6 | 54.1 | +1.5 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 946.7 | 417.3 | +529.4 |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,522.8 | 3,119.9 | -597.1 |
| Burglary Rate | 510.1 | 655.1 | -145.0 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,716.7 | 2,281.0 | -564.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 295.9 | 183.8 | +112.2 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Battle Creek or Charleston safer?
Battle Creek is safer with a total crime rate of 3,644 per 100K vs 3,665 for Charleston — a 1% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Battle Creek has a violent crime rate of 1,121.6 per 100K while Charleston has 544.8. Charleston has lower violent crime.
About Battle Creek, MI
Battle Creek, "Cereal City," is home to Kellogg's and lies at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek rivers. This Calhoun County city has a population of around 50,000. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 61,163, Battle Creek has a total crime rate of 3,644.4 per 100,000 residents.
About Charleston, WV
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. With a safety score of 11/100 and a population coverage of 46,252, Charleston has a total crime rate of 3,664.7 per 100,000 residents.