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C

Is Charleston, West Virginia Safe?

Population 46,117 · Safer than 38% of US cities

Declining· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 46,117, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Charleston earns a C with violent crime below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,568 per 100K.

Charleston Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricCharlestonWest Virginia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate275.9321.1363.8
Property Crime Rate1789.32050.21,832.3
Murder Rate2.0--5.7
Assault Rate155.0--268.2
Theft Rate1568.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate199.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

206.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

276/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1789/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Charleston

Violent crime in Charleston is below the national average. The rate of 275.9 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1789.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,568 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Charleston Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder2
035% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault155
058% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery47
074% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary333
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,568
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft199
063% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Charleston Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Charleston
275.9
State
321.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Charleston
1789.3
State
2050.2
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Charleston Safety

Is Charleston safe?
Not especially. Charleston earns a C with a crime rate of 206.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Charleston?
206.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 275.9 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1789.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Charleston safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Charleston has a C grade, so it's not the safest destination, but tourist areas generally see less violent crime than the citywide average suggests.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Charleston?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Charleston generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Charleston police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Charleston?
Yes, there's been an uptick. Charleston's crime rates have moved in the wrong direction recently, though the city still holds a C grade overall.
How does Charleston compare to other cities in West Virginia?
Middle of the pack for West Virginia. Charleston isn't the safest option in the state, but it's not the most concerning either, ranking around the 46th percentile among West Virginia cities.
How safe is Charleston to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. The upward trend in crime is concerning.
How bad is crime in Charleston?
Mixed. Violent crime is below the national average, and property crime is close to the national average. It's not great, but it's not the worst either, landing at the 38th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Charleston?
275.9 per 100,000, which is 24% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (155), robbery (47), and murder (2.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in West Virginia

Similar-sized communities in West Virginia. Compare crime rates across the state.

C-
See crime rates in Huntington44,815 pop · Grade C-
C-
See crime rates in Morgantown30,293 pop · Grade C-
C
See crime rates in Parkersburg28,593 pop · Grade C
C-
See crime rates in Wheeling25,680 pop · Grade C-
D+
See crime rates in Martinsburg19,211 pop · Grade D+
D
See crime rates in Weirton18,133 pop · Grade D
View all West Virginia city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Charleston

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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