Top 10 most dangerous cities in West Virginia

West Virginia, known for its rugged landscapes and rich cultural heritage, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Charleston to the scenic beauty of the Appalachian Mountains, West Virginia provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, West Virginia faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in West Virginia are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where vigilance is necessary. The contrast between West Virginia's natural serenity and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in West Virginia involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in West Virginia. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. West Virginia's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Bluefield Population: 9,776 1,392 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.81 chance of being a victim: 1 in 72 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,477

Bluefield, WV holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in West Virginia with 1,392 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (1,349), robbery (0), rape (21) and homicide (21) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 401% higher than the West Virginia average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Wheeling Population: 27,046 1,231 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 3.37 chance of being a victim: 1 in 81 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,643

The second most dangerous city is Wheeling. With a population of 27,046 and a violent crime rate that is 343% higher than the West Virginia average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Wheeling are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,231 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 81 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Beckley Population: 16,240 742 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.03 chance of being a victim: 1 in 135 Total Crimes / 100k: 8,443

Home to 16,240 residents, Beckley, WV ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in West Virginia. Unfortunately for residents of Beckley, crime is widespread, with more than 742 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.03 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 167% higher than the West Virginia violent crime rate.

Charleston Population: 47,273 638 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.75 chance of being a victim: 1 in 157 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,741

With a violent crime rate that is 130% higher than the West Virginia average, it's not hard to see why Charleston made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (74), assault (450), rape (93) and homicide (21). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Charleston more vulnerable to high crime.

Huntington Population: 46,139 632 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.73 chance of being a victim: 1 in 158 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,429

The ongoing battle with crime in Huntington, WV, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 632 and a 1 in 158 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Huntington has a violent crime rate that is 128% higher than the West Virginia average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Huntington.

South Charleston Population: 12,461 624 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.71 chance of being a victim: 1 in 160 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,267

South Charleston, WV comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 624 per 100,000 people, which is 125% higher than the West Virginia average. South Charleston has a population of 12,461, which translates to 1.71 crimes per day and 1 in 160 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in South Charleston which are much safer than others.

Parkersburg Population: 29,732 442 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.21 chance of being a victim: 1 in 226 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,905

A 1 in 226 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.21 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Parkersburg makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 442 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 59% higher than the West Virginia average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (305), robbery (31), rape (89) and homicide (17).

Fairmont Population: 18,443 392 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.07 chance of being a victim: 1 in 255 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,777

Fairmont, WV is another one of the most dangerous cities in West Virginia and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 18,443 and a violent crime rate of 392 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 309 counts of assault, 28 counts of robbery, 50 counts of rape and 6 counts of homicide. All told, the Fairmont violent crime rate is 41% higher than the West Virginia average.

Morgantown Population: 30,953 287 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.79 chance of being a victim: 1 in 349 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,729

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Morgantown, WV comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in West Virginia with a violent crime rate of 287 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 0.79 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 349 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Bridgeport Population: 8,675 272 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 0.74 chance of being a victim: 1 in 368 Total Crimes / 100k: 1,401

Rounding out our list at #10 is Bridgeport, WV. With a population of 8,675 and a violent crime rate of 272 per 100,000 people (2% lower than the West Virginia average), some parts of Bridgeport are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 239 counts of assault, 0 counts of robbery, 33 counts of rape and 0 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 368 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in West Virginia

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Bluefield	9,776	1,392	1,477
2	Wheeling	27,046	1,231	3,643
3	Beckley	16,240	742	8,443
4	Charleston	47,273	638	4,741
5	Huntington	46,139	632	3,429
6	South Charleston	12,461	624	5,267
7	Parkersburg	29,732	442	3,905
8	Fairmont	18,443	392	1,777
9	Morgantown	30,953	287	2,729
10	Bridgeport	8,675	272	1,401
11	Vienna	10,261	181	3,802
12	Nitro	6,498	171	4,190
13	Weirton	18,458	92	469
14	Buckhannon	5,473	57	1,698
15	Grafton	5,035	0	677

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in West Virginia is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included West Virginia cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

Well Below nat. avg.
Below nat. avg.
Similar to nat. avg.
Above nat. avg.
Well above nat. avg.

Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.