In fact, US News & World Report ranked Virginia as the 6th “safest” place to live in 2017. That could be due to impressively low crime rates—especially if you live in one of the state’s five safest cities. According to FBI crime statistics from 2012, here they are in no particular order. West Virginia bears the distinction of being both the northernmost southern state and the southernmost northern state, but any way you look at it, it's a great place to call home. And it’s understandable when you consider the cost of living here is as low as you will ever get in one of the best places to live in Virginia. Crime can be a significant problem in West Virginia. West Virginia’s safest city is Weirton, a city of 18.5K straddling the counties of Brooke and Hancock in the Northern Panhandle region of the state. ”. West Virginia Welcome Centers. Much of the credit for this can be attributed to the state’s five safest cities. download the Live Safe app. All these things make living in West Virginia heaven-like. The state’s property crime rate of 14.9 is well below the nationwide rate of 22.0 incidents per 1,000. Data from 2,831 law enforcement agencies was then collected to determine police adequacy (TotalCrimes / Number of police employees). It’s also the property crime that survey respondents felt was most likely to occur. As an added bonus, the Virginia Review called it "without a doubt, one of the prettiest towns in Virginia." Most of the eastern panhandle, which is crossed by the Allegheny Mountains, is in the Ridge and Valley region. Keep on reading for a detailed methodology. West Virginia University reported 36 safety-related incidents involving students while off campus but still on property owned or controlled by the school in 2019. All cities came in under both state (2.9) and national (3.7) violent crime rates, with the highest rate being 2.8 per 1,000 in the newbie Ranson. Anyone who says that Huntington is dull is incorrect. Being a small town in West Virginia, teenagers would claim that there is little to do around here. SafeWise is an independent review site. It also lets you virtually walk your friends and family home with SafeWalk. Putnam County The most common property crime in West Virginia was larceny-theft, totalling 71% of the state’s property crime incidents and 81% of the property crimes reported by the safest cities. It’s really fun most of the time! Located in Rockingham County in Northern Virginia, the town maintained its spot on the list -- it has the safest violent and third safest property crime rate of every place we measured. Let’s not forget, however, that like any place on Earth, West Virginia still has crime. Its location between the mid-west and eastern seaboard of the United States means that over 60% of the United States population lives less than 500 miles from West Virginia. 4St. Do you live in one of safest communities in West Virginia? Home to West Virginia University, Morgantown has a lot to offer its residents of all ages. The remainder, or more than two-thirds of the state, is part of the Allegheny Plateau, to the west of a bold escarpment known as the Allegheny Front, and tilts toward the Ohio River. Surprisingly, only three of the safest cities did better than the state’s low property crime rate of 14.9, and only four out five beat the national rate of 22.0. How to Keep Your Smart Home Safe from Hacking. Every city reported 15 or fewer total violent crimes, but there were still two murders counted among the state’s five safest cities. Subscribe to SafeWise for updates on safety news, product releases, and deals! LiveSafe enables direct and discreet two-way communication with WVU Police using text, picture, video, and audio. Ensuring a safe, healthy University experience ... Find programs to help you live a healthy, happy and productive life. Ranking #2 is Fairmont, a city of 18.5K beautifully positioned along the Monongahela River in Marion County. Virginia Beach is best known for its mild climate, beautiful beaches, and family-friendly resorts. See which cities are West Virginia’s five safest of 2020. 39% said they use a firearm to protect their property, which is 11 percentage points higher than the national average. Badlands: High unemployment and poor health has made West Virginia the worst state to live in the United States, according to a Gallup study The SafeWise Team is pleased to release the sixth annual Safest Cities report. How Much Does a Home Security System Cost? The Best Counties To Live In West Virginia For 2021 1. Alarms.org is Copyright 2019 The National Council For Home Safety and Security. That’s seven points lower than the nationwide average of 29%. See if your city made the list. Experience with property crime increased by 12 percentage points this year, which puts West Virginia just over the national average of 26%. As mentioned in another answer, the Eastern Panhandle is a good stepping stone to the rest of the state. With an average elevation of about 1,500 feet (460 metres) above sea level, it is the highest of any U.S. state east of the Mississippi River.It is a region tied economically and socially to the mountain spines that span its length and breadth and to the rivers that enclose it on many sides. Statewide, robbery also made up 11% of all violent crime incidents reported. All of these towns reported no violent crimes, meaning no murder or non-negligent homicides, forcible rapes, robberies or aggravated assaults. Learn what makes Charleston, West Virginia a best place to live, including information about real estate, schools, employers, things to do and more. Despite increases in personal reports of experience with crime, general concern about safety in West Virginia went down this year, according to the 2020 State of Safety study. https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/lewisburg-greenbrier-wv The object of the theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims. Then we transformed the total crime rate variable so that the skewness was reduced and normalized. While West Virginia lags behind much of the U.S. economically, the state boasts impressive violent and property crime rates below the national average in both categories. We discovered that West Virginia has some pretty interesting statistics when it comes to violent and property crime compared to the national average. West Virginia is located in the Appalachian region of the Southern United States. All West Virginia welcome centers and rest areas remain open to travelers during the State of Emergency declared by Gov. However, this is not the case as the two have been different states since 1863, when West Virginia seceded. Anyone who says that Huntington is dull is incorrect. She has been a journalist and blogger for over 25 years, with a focus on home and community safety for the past six. According to the FBI, “Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. But, as with all states, there will always be certain cities that are less safe … Overall, Virginia is a great and safe state to live in. The metro area takes pride in its involved community, is rich in history, has a main street, and is the cheapest place to live in the US. Her safety expertise is sought after by publications, broadcast journalists, non-profit organizations, podcasts, and more. , Morgantown has one of the best reputations of any city in the state for its academics, art & culture scene, and athletics, in addition to a respectively low crime rate. CHARLESTON W.Va (WOWK) – A new report has listed the ten best places to live in West Virginia in 2019. You might wonder why this is considered as the south, and you are right. As an added bonus, the Virginia Review called it "without a doubt, one of the prettiest towns in Virginia." General concern about safety is lower in Virginia than in the rest of the country. All Rights Reserved. And in the end, Grafton ranks as the worst city to live in West Virginia for 2021. Personal Safety Devices for Every Situation, Best Medical Alert Systems for Fall Detection, 10 Ten Cities Where Porch Pirates Strike Most. Rather, this division was made according to the fact that the states in the Southern US were members … Continue reading "Safest Places to Live in West Virginia 2021" According to a report looking at 380 places in the Mountain State by HomeSnacks, Bridgeport is the best place to live in the state!But there are plenty of towns in our area that rank well, too! With a population of 448,290, Virginia Beach is one of the most occupied areas in the Mother of States. West Virginia Welcome Centers. Finally, the two variables were combined to create a safety score for each city. Home to. But more importantly, West Virginians are known for their friendly and polite attitudes. the city has both a low cost of living and a low crime rate. West Virginia: Mountain State. Jim Justice related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia Beach Warnings and Dangers. crimeProperty With certain exceptions, Virginia is largely rural. West Virginia University is among the top 40 safest campuses in the United States, according to the National Council for Home Safety and Security. #5 Martinsburg, the county seat of Berkeley County, is marred by a higher-than-average property crime rate, yet its violent crime rate is comfortably below the national average. Thanks to the university, there are always festivals, shows and sporting events. This left 3,381 cities (out of a total of 9,251). West Virginia’s safest city is Weirton, a city of 18.5K straddling the counties of Brooke and Hancock in the Northern Panhandle region of the state.Weirton recorded just 9 violent crimes in 2018, which adds up to a violent crime rate of 0.49 per 1K that is significantly below the U.S. average, as well as those of all other West Virginia communities. The town has a permanent population of 29,000 and another 26,000 college students. Sometimes, West Virginia is mistaken as the western part of Virginia. 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