We West Virginians know just what makes our beautiful state so amazing — but even in a state as lovely as ours, there are greater issues, as with the following list of most dangerous cities in West Virginia. Because even with all of its natural beauty, West Virginia does have its fair share of problems, like any other state. If you’re planning to move to another part of the state or just want to see how your city ranks in terms of safety, you’ll definitely want to check out the following list of the 10 most dangerous towns in West Virginia.

Please note: Statistics reflect the most recent data available from the FBI.

1. Beckley
Beckley, WV 25801, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Mitchazenia
Beckley sits atop the list of the most dangerous towns in West Virginia. With a population of 16,234, Beckley experienced 147 violent crimes – 109 aggravated assaults, 24 rapes, 11 robberies, and three murders/non-negligent manslaughters. Property crime came in at 836, the majority of which were larceny/theft at 669.

Take a drive around Beckley:

2. Charleston
Charleston, WV, USA
Wikimedia Commons/formulaone
Larger cities generally attract more crime, and Charleston is no exception. Charleston ranks number two in the most dangerous cities in 2018. Boasting a population of nearly 47,000, Charleston experienced 331 violent crimes. The majority were aggravated assaults at 223. Fifty rapes were recorded; 48 robberies; and 10 murders/non-negligent manslaughter.
3. Dunbar
Dunbar, WV 25064, USA
Flickr/Forest Wander
Forty-four violent crimes occurred in Dunbar, a city of 7,262, in 2018. Of those violent crimes, 40 were aggravated assault; there were three rapes and one murder/non-negligent manslaughter. Property crimes came in at 299, the majority of which were thefts.
4. Moorefield
Moorefield, WV 26836, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain
A bit of an anomaly, the tiny town of Moorefield – population 2,417 – ranks number four with its 20 violent crimes. Nineteen of those violent crimes were aggravated assaults with one rape. The city also experienced 69 property crimes.
5. South Charleston
South Charleston, WV, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Acroterion
South Charleston ranks fifth in the most dangerous towns in West Virginia for 2018. With a population of approximately 12,300, the city experienced 47 violent crimes – 33 aggravated assaults, 10 rapes, and four robberies. Property crimes, on the other hand, totaled 577.

Get an aerial view of South Charleston:

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6. Nitro
Nitro, WV, USA
Flickr/Quinn Dombrowski
Approximately 6,500 West Virginians reside in Nitro, the sixth most dangerous city in West Virginia in 2018. During that year, violent crimes tallied 25. Twenty-two of those crimes were aggravated assaults while three were rapes. There were no murders recorded.
7. Martinsburg
Martinsburg, WV, USA
Flickr/Ken Lund
Home to just under 17,500 residents, Martinsburg saw its fair share of violent crimes in 2018. In fact, violent crimes totaled 55 with the majority classified as either aggravated assault or robbery. Property crimes totaled 540 and included 456 thefts and 69 burglaries.
8. Vienna
Vienna, WV, USA
Wikimedia Commons/MisterZero
With a relatively small population of nearly 10,500 residents, Vienna experienced 23 violent crimes in 2018, including 19 aggravated assaults and four rapes. Property crimes totaled 351.
9. Bluefield
Bluefield, WV 24701, USA
Wikimedia Commons/SheepNotGoats
Bluefield remains steady at number nine – the same spot it secured last year. The small town of just over 9,700 residents experienced 92 violent crimes in 2018, 88 of which were aggravated assaults. Property crimes tallied 103.

Explore both sides of Bluefield:

10. Wheeling
Wheeling, WV 26003, USA
Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain/Dennis Adams, Federal Highway Administration
Last on this list of the most dangerous places in WV is Wheeling. Wheeling comes in at number 10 in the list of top 10 dangerous places to live in West Virginia, moving up three spots from 2017. With a population of over 25,000, Wheeling has significant violent crime with 229 violent crimes reported in 2018. Two hundred of the violent crimes were aggravated assaults.

Do you agree that these are the most dangerous towns in West Virginia? Let us know what you think in the comments! If you need to read something a bit more light-hearted right about now, see if you’re close to any of the 13 best places to stay safe during a zombie apocalypse.

Now that we’ve covered the most dangerous places in West Virginia, let’s move on to some good news like these beautiful places to visit!

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Dangerous Towns in West Virginia

Sarah | January 25, 2021

Is West Virginia a dangerous place to live?

These are the reasons why West Virginia may be a dangerous place to live:

  • Venomous snakes and spiders
  • Inclement weather
  • Wild animals
  • Mining accidents

 

By and large, West Virginia is not a dangerous place to live, ranking in the lower 50% of USA Today's "Most Dangerous States" polls. Violent crimes aside, there are some hidden dangers lurking in WV to which you should be aware. Venomous snakes and spiders, inclement weather, and wild animals such as deer and bears -- West Virginians know to be on the lookout for these dangers. And, as a mining town,  the accidents associated with this profession are many. Read more about a particularly devastating West Virginia mining accident.

What are the prettiest towns in West Virginia?

The prettiest towns in West Virginia are:

  • Charles Town
  • Lewisburg

 

West Virginia is a wonderful place to live -- this mountainous state is filled with great views and much to see and do. And since the cost of living is not very high, you can enjoy scenic mountain living, for a fraction of what you'd pay in other mountain communities in the U.S. Locate in the Shenandoah Valley, where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers converge, Charles Town is drop-dead gorgeous -- and a stone's throw from the nation's capital to boot. And Lewisburg is not only a stunning mountain town, but it's also very close to both George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.

Where's the best place to live in West Virginia?

The best place to live in West Virginia is Wheeling.

Despite the data in this article, West Virginia is truly a great place to live overall! There are a lot of things that make a town a great place to live -- great schools, fun things to do, good parks and recreation, and low unemployment rates -- and many West Virginia towns fit the bill. We absolutely love Wheeling -- the schools are highly ranked first, the jobs and economy are solid, and the quality of life is high. In addition to its stunning Victorian architecture, Wheeling is also home to iconic West Virginia landmarks such as the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, Oglebay Resort, and Coleman’s Fish Market. 

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