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C-

Is Morgantown, West Virginia Safe?

Population 30,293 · Safer than 27% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Morgantown is a smaller community of 30,293 people with a C- safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 235.9 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,760 per 100K.

Morgantown Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricMorgantownWest Virginia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate254.3321.1363.8
Property Crime Rate2104.32050.21,832.3
Murder Rate3.0--5.7
Assault Rate191.0--268.2
Theft Rate1760.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate283.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

235.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC+

254/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD+

2104/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Morgantown

Violent crime in Morgantown is below the national average. The rate of 254.3 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 2104.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,760 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Morgantown Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder3
053% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault191
071% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery35
055% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary289
01.1x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,760
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft283
089% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Morgantown Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Morgantown
254.3
State
321.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Morgantown
2104.3
State
2050.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Morgantown Safety

Is Morgantown safe?
Not especially. Morgantown earns a C- with a crime rate of 235.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Morgantown?
235.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 254.3 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2104.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Morgantown safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Morgantown's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,760 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Morgantown?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Morgantown generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Morgantown police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Morgantown?
No. Crime in Morgantown has been trending down, which is good news for the C--rated city.
How does Morgantown compare to other cities in West Virginia?
Below average for the state. Morgantown ranks behind about 78% of West Virginia cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Morgantown to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Morgantown?
Bad. A C- grade and 235.9 per-thousand rate put Morgantown below 73% of US cities. Violent crime at 254 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Morgantown?
254.3 per 100,000, which is 30% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (191), robbery (35), and murder (3.0) per 100,000.

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View all West Virginia city safety grades

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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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