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Parkersburg vs South Charleston Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Parkersburg crime rate · South Charleston crime rate

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Is Parkersburg or South Charleston Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Parkersburg is safer than South Charleston (Safety Score 13/100 vs 2/100), with a total crime rate of 3,481 per 100,000 versus 6,009 for South Charleston — 42% lower. Parkersburg has lower rates in 4 of 6 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in violent crime, where Parkersburg has a 46% lower rate.

Note: Parkersburg is 2.2x 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 Parkersburg, WV?

Parkersburg — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

South Charleston — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Parkersburg, WV

Parkersburg, WV
Safety Score 13/100
Coverage 28,815
Total Crime Rate 3,480.8
Category Wins 4/6

South Charleston, WV

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

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Parkersburg South Charleston Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,480.8 6,008.6 -2,527.7
Violent Crime Rate 263.8 488.6 -224.9
Murder Rate 0.0 0.0 +0.0
Rape Rate 65.9 22.9 +43.0
Robbery Rate 20.8 22.9 -2.1
Aggravated Assault Rate 173.5 442.8 -269.3
Property Crime Rate 3,217.1 5,519.9 -2,302.9
Burglary Rate 315.8 282.5 +33.3
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,720.8 5,061.8 -2,341.0
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 180.5 175.6 +4.9

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

Moving from Parkersburg, WV to South Charleston, WV?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Parkersburg or South Charleston safer?

Parkersburg is safer with a total crime rate of 3,481 per 100K vs 6,009 for South Charleston — a 42% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Parkersburg has a violent crime rate of 263.8 per 100K while South Charleston has 488.6. Parkersburg has lower violent crime.

About Parkersburg, WV

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. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 28,815, Parkersburg has a total crime rate of 3,480.8 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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