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C

Is Parkersburg, West Virginia Safe?

Population 28,593 · Safer than 39% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

In a community of 28,593, each crime incident has a bigger statistical impact. Parkersburg earns a C with violent crime well below the national average. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,598 per 100K.

Parkersburg Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricParkersburgWest Virginia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate215.5321.1363.8
Property Crime Rate1834.22050.21,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate177.0--268.2
Theft Rate1598.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate382.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

205 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

216/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1834/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Parkersburg

Violent crime in Parkersburg is well below the national average. The rate of 215.5 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1834.2 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,598 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Parkersburg Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault177
066% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery37
058% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary313
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,598
01.1x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft382
01.2x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Parkersburg Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Parkersburg
215.5
State
321.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Parkersburg
1834.2
State
2050.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Parkersburg Safety

Is Parkersburg safe?
Not especially. Parkersburg earns a C with a crime rate of 205 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs well below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Parkersburg?
205 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 215.5 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1834.2 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Parkersburg safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. Parkersburg 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 Parkersburg?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Parkersburg generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Parkersburg police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Parkersburg?
Crime rates have held steady in Parkersburg, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Parkersburg compare to other cities in West Virginia?
Below average for the state. Parkersburg ranks behind about 69% of West Virginia cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.0x the national rate.
How safe is Parkersburg to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is well below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Parkersburg?
Mixed. Violent crime is well 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 39th percentile nationally.
What is the violent crime rate in Parkersburg?
215.5 per 100,000, which is 41% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (177), robbery (37), and murder (4.0) 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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