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C

Is South Charleston, West Virginia Safe?

Population 13,072 · Safer than 39% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

South Charleston is a smaller community of 13,072 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 205.3 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,321 per 100K.

South Charleston Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricSouth CharlestonWest Virginia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate330.4321.1363.8
Property Crime Rate1722.62050.21,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate243.0--268.2
Theft Rate1321.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate225.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC

205.3 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC

330/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC

1723/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for South Charleston

Violent crime in South Charleston is close to the national average. The rate of 330.4 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1722.6 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,321 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

South Charleston Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault243
091% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery36
057% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary335
01.2x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,321
094% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft225
071% of avgAvg: 318.3

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

How South Charleston Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

South Charleston
330.4
State
321.1
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

South Charleston
1722.6
State
2050.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About South Charleston Safety

Is South Charleston safe?
Not especially. South Charleston earns a C with a crime rate of 205.3 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in South Charleston?
205.3 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 330.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1722.6 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is South Charleston safe for tourists?
Stick to well-traveled areas and you'll be fine. South 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 South Charleston?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in South Charleston generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the South Charleston police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in South Charleston?
No. Crime in South Charleston has been trending down, which is good news for the C-rated city.
How does South Charleston compare to other cities in West Virginia?
Below average for the state. South Charleston ranks behind about 66% of West Virginia cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 0.9x the national rate.
How safe is South Charleston to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in South Charleston?
Mixed. Violent crime is close to 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 South Charleston?
330.4 per 100,000, which is 9% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (243), robbery (36), 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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