West Virginia Crime Statistics

46 years of data (1979–2024)

Key Insights

  • →West Virginia ranks #35 out of 51 states for violent crime rate (248.8 per 100K).
  • →Violent crime decreased 7.5% from 2023 to 2024.
  • →63 cities report crime data. Safest: Weirton (137.7/100K). Most dangerous: Wheeling (982.6/100K).
  • →94 murders in 2024 — a rate of 5.3 per 100K residents.
  • →Since 1979, West Virginia's violent crime rate has changed by +48%.
Violent Crime Rate
248.8
-7.5% YoY
Murder Rate
5.3
94 total
Property Crime Rate
1161.9
20,566 total
Population
1,769,979
2024

2024 Crime Breakdown

Violent Crime: 4,404

Murder94
Rape850
Robbery171
Aggravated Assault3,289

Property Crime: 20,566

Burglary3,156
Larceny-Theft16,020
Motor Vehicle Theft1,390

Violent Crime Rate Trend

Homicide Rate Trend

Violent Crime Breakdown (2024)

Most Dangerous Cities

CityViolent RatePopulation
Wheeling982.625,951
Huntington800.344,860
Beckley604.916,367
Charleston542.746,252
Fairmont520.318,066
South Charleston488.613,098
Clarksburg372.215,316
Parkersburg260.328,815
Martinsburg231.019,044
St. Albans224.510,245

Safest Cities

CityViolent RatePopulation
Weirton137.718,151
Vienna153.910,397
Morgantown209.830,510
St. Albans224.510,245
Martinsburg231.019,044
Parkersburg260.328,815
Clarksburg372.215,316
South Charleston488.613,098
Fairmont520.318,066
Charleston542.746,252

Crime Velocity — Which Cities Are Changing Fastest

Fastest Improving

Charleston-64.8
Clarksburg-61.1
Parkersburg-53.3

Fastest Worsening

Beckley+59.5
Weirton+12.5

Velocity scores measure the direction and speed of crime changes. Negative = improving, positive = worsening. Full methodology →

Hate Crimes in West Virginia

69 incidents reported

Top bias motivations: Sexual Orientation (7), Religion (1)
Explore full hate crime data →
All StatesSafest Cities in West VirginiaMost Dangerous in West VirginiaCompare CitiesArrest DataHate Crimes

Arrest Demographics (National)

The FBI publishes state-level total arrest counts but does not break down arrest demographics by race at the state level in the same detail as national data. For national arrest demographic patterns, see our dedicated pages:

National Arrest Demographics →Racial Disparities Analysis →Crime by Race →Who Commits Crime? →

Related Analysis

The Great Crime Decline →Rural vs Urban Crime →Police Funding & Crime →Compare States Tool →

More for West Virginia

West Virginia Report Card →Compare with Other States →Safest Cities in West Virginia →
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Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer. Rates per 100,000 residents. City data from Table 8.