West Virginia Crime Rate & Safety (2024)
FBI-verified crime statistics | Population: 278,028 | 0 reporting agencies
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Total Crime Rate
West Virginia Crime Overview
In 2024, West Virginia reported a total crime rate of 3,489.6 per 100,000 residents — 27% above the national average of 2,752.3. This ranks West Virginia #38 out of 50 states (safest first).
The most elevated crime category in West Virginia is rape at 1.6x the national rate.
Compared to the previous year, West Virginia's crime rate increased by 1.4%, with violent crime down 2.1%.
Within the state, Weirton is the safest city (crime rate: 468), while Beckley has the highest rate (8,517).
Crime Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,386 | 498.5 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 19 | 6.8 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 193 | 69.4 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 119 | 42.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,051 | 378.0 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 8,316 | 2,991.1 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 1,121 | 403.2 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 6,771 | 2,435.4 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 424 | 152.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Cities in West Virginia by Crime Rate
Cities ranked from safest to most dangerous (population 10,000+).
| # | City | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Safety Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weirton | 18,151 | 468.3 | 137.7 | 91/100 |
| 2 | Fairmont | 18,066 | 1,843.2 | 520.3 | 66/100 |
| 3 | Morgantown | 30,510 | 2,173.1 | 213.0 | 60/100 |
| 4 | Saint Albans | 10,245 | 2,313.3 | 224.5 | 57/100 |
| 5 | Clarksburg | 15,316 | 2,592.1 | 372.2 | 52/100 |
| 6 | Wheeling | 25,951 | 2,974.8 | 982.6 | 45/100 |
| 7 | Vienna | 10,397 | 3,462.5 | 153.9 | 37/100 |
| 8 | Parkersburg | 28,815 | 3,480.8 | 263.8 | 36/100 |
| 9 | Charleston | 46,252 | 3,664.7 | 544.8 | 33/100 |
| 10 | Huntington | 44,860 | 4,404.8 | 802.5 | 19/100 |
| 11 | South Charleston | 13,098 | 6,008.6 | 488.6 | 1/100 |
| 12 | Beckley | 16,367 | 8,517.1 | 604.9 | 1/100 |
West Virginia Crime Rate Trends
| Year | Population | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 278,028 | 3,489.6 | 498.5 | 2,991.1 |
| 2023 | 298,055 | 3,442.7 | 509.3 | 2,933.4 |
| 2022 | 299,732 | 3,683.0 | 541.5 | 3,141.5 |
| 2021 | 272,447 | 3,656.9 | 554.2 | 3,102.6 |
| 2020 | 283,558 | 3,984.0 | 605.9 | 3,378.1 |
| 2019 | 223,278 | 3,358.2 | 444.3 | 2,913.9 |
West Virginia vs Neighboring States
How does West Virginia's crime rate compare to its neighbors?
| State | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate | vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | 3,489.6 | 498.5 | 2,991.1 | — |
| Pennsylvania | 2,462.7 | 359.1 | 2,103.7 | -29.4% |
| Ohio | 2,571.1 | 437.5 | 2,133.6 | -26.3% |
| Virginia | 2,725.5 | 338.9 | 2,386.6 | -21.9% |
| Kentucky | 2,872.7 | 404.1 | 2,468.7 | -17.7% |
| Maryland | 4,163.0 | 985.4 | 3,177.6 | +19.3% |
Among neighboring states, Pennsylvania has the lowest crime rate (2,463 per 100K). Maryland has the highest (4,163 per 100K).