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Safest Cities in West Virginia (2026 Rankings)

Updated October 2026 · Based on 2024 FBI UCR data

Charleston is the safest city in West Virginia with a crime rate of 20.1 per 1,000 residents, earning a B- safety grade. Parkersburg (20.2/1K) and South Charleston (20.2/1K) round out the top three. Rankings based on 13 cities with 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Avg Crime Rate
22.9per 1K
Below National Avg
4of 13 cities
Above National Avg
9of 13 cities

All 13 Cities Ranked by Safety

#CityGradeCrime/1K
1Charleston
B-
20.1
2Parkersburg
B-
20.2
3South Charleston
B-
20.2
4Huntington
B-
21.9
5Morgantown
B-
22.8
6Wheeling
B-
22.8
7Martinsburg
C+
23.5
8Vienna
C+
23.5
9Clarksburg
C+
23.7
10Fairmont
C+
24
11Beckley
C+
24.7
12St. Albans
C+
24.9
13Weirton
C+
25

Violent and property crime rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data.

Most Dangerous Cities in West Virginia

The highest crime rates among tracked cities in West Virginia. These cities have the most crime per capita based on FBI data.

1
C+
Weirton25/1K · Moderate · Violent: 345/100K
2
C+
St. Albans24.9/1K · Moderate · Violent: 378/100K
3
C+
Beckley24.7/1K · Moderate · Violent: 399/100K
4
C+
Fairmont24/1K · Moderate · Violent: 430/100K
5
C+
Clarksburg23.7/1K · Moderate · Violent: 424/100K

Frequently Asked Questions About Safety in West Virginia

What is the safest city in West Virginia?
As of 2026, Charleston is the safest city in West Virginia with a crime rate of 20.1 per 1,000 residents and a B- safety grade. It ranks above 58% of all US cities.
What are the top 10 safest cities in West Virginia?
Based on 2026 FBI Uniform Crime Report data, the top 10 safest cities in West Virginia based on crime rate are: Charleston, Parkersburg, South Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, Wheeling, Martinsburg, Vienna, Clarksburg, Fairmont.
What is the most dangerous city in West Virginia?
Weirton has the highest crime rate in West Virginia at 25 per 1,000 residents, earning a C+ safety grade.
What is the average crime rate in West Virginia?
The average crime rate across 13 tracked cities in West Virginia is 22.9 per 1,000 residents. The average violent crime rate is 381 per 100K and property crime averages 1906 per 100K.
Is West Virginia safe to live in?
West Virginia has a higher-than-average violent crime rate at 381 per 100K (national: 363.8). However, safety varies widely by city. Charleston earns a B- while Weirton gets a C+. 4 of 13 cities have crime rates at or below the national average.
How many cities are ranked in West Virginia?
13 cities in West Virginia are ranked using FBI Uniform Crime Report data. 4 have crime rates at or below the national average.
See 2027 rankings for West Virginia →View all West Virginia city safety gradesSafety index for all 50 states

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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