Is Beckley or Charleston Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of 2024 FBI data, Charleston is safer than Beckley (Safety Score 11/100 vs 1/100), with a total crime rate of 3,665 per 100,000 versus 8,517 for Beckley — 57% lower. Beckley has higher rates in 2 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Beckley has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Charleston is 2.8x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.
Beckley — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Charleston — 4-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Beckley, WV
Charleston, WV
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Beckley | Charleston | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 8,517.1 | 3,664.7 | +4,852.4 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 604.9 | 544.8 | +60.0 |
| Murder Rate | 0.0 | 13.0 | -13.0 |
| Rape Rate | 116.1 | 58.4 | +57.7 |
| Robbery Rate | 55.0 | 54.1 | +0.9 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 433.8 | 417.3 | +16.5 |
| Property Crime Rate | 7,912.3 | 3,119.9 | +4,792.4 |
| Burglary Rate | 879.8 | 655.1 | +224.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 6,861.4 | 2,281.0 | +4,580.4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 171.1 | 183.8 | -12.7 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beckley or Charleston safer?
Charleston is safer with a total crime rate of 3,665 per 100K vs 8,517 for Beckley — a 57% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Beckley has a violent crime rate of 604.9 per 100K while Charleston has 544.8. Charleston has lower violent crime.
About Beckley, WV
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. With a safety score of 1/100 and a population coverage of 16,367, Beckley has a total crime rate of 8,517.1 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.