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Morgantown vs South Charleston Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Morgantown crime rate · South Charleston crime rate

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Is Morgantown or South Charleston Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Morgantown is safer than South Charleston (Safety Score 36/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 2,173 per 100,000 versus 6,009 for South Charleston — 64% lower. Morgantown has lower rates in 6 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where South Charleston has a 100% lower rate.

Note: Morgantown is 2.3x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Morgantown, WV?

Morgantown — 5-Year Trend

Flat Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

South Charleston — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Morgantown, WV

Morgantown, WV
Safety Score 36/100
Coverage 30,510
Total Crime Rate 2,173.1
Category Wins 6/7

South Charleston, WV

South Charleston, WV
Safety Score 2/100
Coverage 13,098
Total Crime Rate 6,008.6
Category Wins 1/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Morgantown South Charleston Difference
Total Crime Rate 2,173.1 6,008.6 -3,835.5
Violent Crime Rate 213.0 488.6 -275.6
Murder Rate 13.1 0.0 +13.1
Rape Rate 59.0 22.9 +36.1
Robbery Rate 19.7 22.9 -3.2
Aggravated Assault Rate 118.0 442.8 -324.8
Property Crime Rate 1,960.0 5,519.9 -3,559.9
Burglary Rate 114.7 282.5 -167.8
Larceny-Theft Rate 1,809.2 5,061.8 -3,252.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 36.1 175.6 -139.6

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Morgantown, WV to South Charleston, WV?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Morgantown or South Charleston safer?

Morgantown is safer with a total crime rate of 2,173 per 100K vs 6,009 for South Charleston — a 64% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Morgantown has a violent crime rate of 213.0 per 100K while South Charleston has 488.6. Morgantown has lower violent crime.

About Morgantown, WV

Morgantown, home to West Virginia University, is a city nestled in the Appalachian Mountains along the Monongahela River. Its population of roughly 30,000 is significantly boosted by its large student body, shaping a vibrant yet often transient community. With a safety score of 36/100 and a population coverage of 30,510, Morgantown has a total crime rate of 2,173.1 per 100,000 residents.

About South Charleston, WV

South Charleston, a Kanawha Valley city, is home to the Mound, an ancient Adena burial site. Situated along the Kanawha River, it has historically been a hub for chemical manufacturing. With a safety score of 2/100 and a population coverage of 13,098, South Charleston has a total crime rate of 6,008.6 per 100,000 residents.

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