The Safest and Most Dangerous Cities In West Virginia - 2018 Ranking!

West Virginia is a unique state, due to the fact that it separated from Virginia during the Civil War. It became a state in 1861 and was the only state created from breaking apart from a Confederate state during the Civil War.

The Appalachian Mountains are by far one of the best parts about West Virginia. This breathtaking spot will be sure to bring back your zen in a way nothing else can. If you’re into history and outdoor life, then West Virginia is a great state for you, as it has many historical sites and state parks.

The 35th state claims to be the first to ever to observe “Mother's Day” at Andrews Church on May 10, 1908, four years before a joint resolution in the US Congress designated the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

If you are considering moving to West Virginia or you already live there, make sure to continue reading to find out how safe West Virginia is compared to other states, and learn about its safest cities based on the most recent FBI crime report.

Ranking at #18 in terms of safety,  the “Mountain State” is the nation’s 38th most populous state and home to 1.8 million residents. When it comes to safe and dangerous cities, Grafton, a town of roughly 5,145 residents maintains its spot as West Virginia’s safest place, with only a 155 crime rate per 100,000 people. Some of West Virginia’s major cities make the list of safest places in the state, like Fairmont which ranked 4th with a 2178 crime rate per 100,000 people and Morgantown ranked 5th with a 2453 crime rate per 100,000 people. Wheeling also joined the list as it ranked 9th in terms of safety.

As for the capital, Charleston, it is West Virginia’s most dangerous city with a 9521 crime rate per 100,000 people. According to the latest FBI reports, Parkersburg, which previously ranked #10 is now at #5 among the most dangerous cities.

Find out if your city is one of the safest in the state, then review our resources for crime prevention tips and home security information.

More Information About West Virginia

Capital: Charleston

Number of Counties: 55

Overall Population: 1.831 million inhabitants

Land Area: 24,038 square miles

Education Statistics: 19.6% of the population holds a bachelor's degree or higher, (percent of persons age 25 years+, 2011-2015)

Unemployment Rate: 5.3%

Crime Stats In West Virginia

Violent Crime Rate Per 100,000 Inhabitants: 358.1    

Property Crime Rate Per 100,000 Inhabitants: 2,047.2

West Virginia’s Safety Rank: #18

Disclaimer:

In creating this ranking, we excluded all cities with population less than 5,000 residents as well as any cities that failed to submit a complete crime report to the FBI.

Table 1: Top 10 Safest Cities In West Virginia

Table 2: Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities In West Virginia

Table 3: All Cities, Ranked By Population