The Best Home Security Systems in Athens, WV
Are you looking for the best home security systems in Athens, WV? Using Crime Grade's exceptional crime data that is accurate down to the neighborhood, we have analyzed Athens, WV home security system options in a way no other source has been able to do. See why
A property crime is committed in Athens every 26 days 23 hours, and nationwide, your home is 300% more likely to be burglarized without a home security system. Athens experiences 7.945 property crimes per 1000 people and 5.297 incidents of vandalism per 1000 people in the typical year. A home security system will protect you when you’re at home or away, 24 hours a day.
Home Security Companies Available in Athens, WV
Best Overall
Vivint
We believe Vivint is the best home security system for home owners. 86% of residents in Athens own their homes. The superior smart home functionality will also appeal to the predominently younger population in Athens where the median age is 30.
Affordable Option
Ring
Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
No Contract Pick
Simplisafe
These guys offer the best all-round balance of equipment, monitoring, customer service, and price. They’re reliable and the keep your home safe—it’s a fairly comfortable #1 spot.
Do You Need a Home Security System in Athens, WV?
Choosing a home security system can seem overwhelming. We’re here to help break down what to consider when living in Athens, WV. We’ll compare different crime rates and weather along with advanced features that make you feel safer and make your life easier.
Why Crime Grade?
Crime Grade has the most robust and accurate nationwide crime model available. In addition, our data is granular enough to identify and compare crime statistics to the neighborhood level. This puts us in the unique position of being able to evaluate the home security needs of people in a particular city rather than making a general assessment. So read on to see what's unique about Athens, WV and our home security system recommendations that result from that.
Property Crime in Athens, WV
Our analysis gives Athens a property crime grade of: A+. Athens is in the 7th percentile of safety, meaning 7% of cities in West Virginia are safer and 93% are more dangerous. Please visit our Athens crime map for details on how this is calculated and what it means.
Crime Grades
Property crime is highest in the southern part of Athens, with your chances of being a victim of 1 in 108. Compare this to the central part of the city, where crime is lower, and your chances of being a victim are 1 in 136.
A
B |
|
A+ |
|
Other Crime Grade |
B+ |
A crime occurs every 12 days 10 hours (on average) in Athens, WV.
Your home is 300% more likely to be robbed with no home security system.
So, is Athens safe? Compared to all of West Virginia, Athens is rated as safe as the average West Virginia city, which has a property crime rate of 15.85 per 1000. Looking at burglary, we see a different pattern, where Athens, with its burglary rate of 2.822 per 1000, is as safe as the average West Virginia city.
In addition, Athens is lower than other cities with similar populations for property crime. The table below shows property crime rates and level of occurrence in Athens, WV.
Crime Type |
Crime Rate (per 1000 residents) |
Avg Number of Crimes per year in Athens, WV |
Avg Crimes Committed Per Week |
|---|---|---|---|
Theft |
4.869 |
8 |
0.2 |
Vehicle Theft |
0.2021 |
0 |
0.0 |
Burglary |
2.822 |
5 |
0.1 |
Arson |
0.0525 |
0 |
0.0 |
Weather and Climate in Athens, WV
As strange as it might sound, some home security system features can be more or less important based on the climate you live in.
Home Security Fire Sensors in Athens, WV
Hotter temperatures can lead to higher risk of fires in the home. The average temperature in Athens, WV is 49.09 degrees, reaching 80.17 degrees in the hottest months like July & August. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the hottest month reached 82.11 degrees in July.
Home age is another factor in determining fire risk, primarily due to electrical issues. The average home in Athens was built in 1981, which is about average compared to the national average of 1978 and is much older than the average home in West Virginia build in 1977.
Between colder seasonal temperatures and average home ages in Athens, you can judge how important fire sensors and immediate response may be. A combination of smoke detectors, CO2 sensors, and fire alarms connected to a home security system can make that response as swift as possible, whether you’re at work or on vacation.
Home Security Flood Sensors in Athens, WV
Athens, WV gets an average rainfall of 1.6" per year. This is higher than the average of 1.4" for West Virginia.
With the risk of flooding and burst pipes, a flood sensor can alert you and authorities as soon as possible. Even a few hours make the difference between an easy restoration and long-term water damage.
Home Security Freeze Sensors in Athens, WV
Athens, WV reaches an average of 37.46 degrees in its cold months of January & February. This temperature has increased compared to 1990, when the coldest month reached 50.75 degrees in January.
The year a home was constructed can also contribute to the risk of damage from cold weather. The average home in Athens is 42 years old, and seasonal temperature changes have had much more time to cause stress on the home compared to the average West Virginia home that's 46 years old and about the same amount of time than the national average of a 45-year-old home.
Temperature fluctuations will weaken the structure and foundation of the home, cold temperatures can cause pipes to leak or burst, and if it snows that can cause additional stress on the roof. However, freeze sensors are not an expensive addon. After assessing your Athens home, you can make a more informed decision if they would be a suitable addition to your home security system.
Cost of Home Security Systems in Athens, WV
To identify the final cost of a home security system for your Athens home, we must determine some of your preferences.
Self-Monitored or Professionally Monitored?
Any home security system you pick will offer a selection of equipment including entry sensors, cameras, etc. The question is, do you actually want to self-monitor your system? If like 13.87% (191) of people in Athens, you are a renter, you might prefer a self-monitored home security system. On the other hand, 86.13% or 1,187 of Athens residents own their homes and may be more likely to consider a professionally monitored system to protect their property.
Whether you rent or buy, how well can you monitor your system on your own? For example, if you're one of the 72% of people who commute an average of 35 minutes to work in or around Athens, can you immediately receive notifications on your phone, check cameras in meetings or while working, and call the police if needed?
If not, you might want a professionally monitored system where a company is available 24/7 to respond, whether on vacation or at work. Please see our comprehensive guide on the best home security systems for a complete comparison.
Self-Installed vs. Professional Installation
Most providers have great self-installation options, so if you're handy or tech-savvy, like the 0% of Athens residents working in computer engineering and science, self-installation can be a great option.
Alternatively, when your security system is installed professionally, you can ensure that your equipment is placed correctly and will function without any problems. That peace of mind is valuable for people willing to spend the extra money.
Residents of Athens tend to have a higher median household income than nearby cities, earning $49,806 annually. In addition, 21.3% of residents have a college degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in the United States.
If you're a homeowner, do you have more to protect? The median home value in Athens is $135,496. Compared to the median home value in West Virginia of $138,399, your home value will probably be lower. With their larger lots, single-family homes tend to be more isolated from view and a tempting target for burglars.
Find an in-depth review of installation options in our best home security systems guide.
Police Stations Near Athens, WV
There are 3 police stations within the boundaries of Athens, and 0 within 5 miles. Within 50 miles of the Athens center, there are 128 police stations. Compared to other cities, police response times in Athens may be about average. When response times are fairly typical, every second your security system saves in reporting a crime will improve the police response.
| Police Department 202 South State St Athens, WV 24712 (304) 384-3525 |
Athens Police Department Po Box 458 Athens, WV 24712 (304) 384-3525 |
State Police Department 910 Oakvale Road Princeton, WV 24740 (304) 425-2101 veterans.wv.gov |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Near Athens, WV
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Athens, WV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speedway, WV | A+ | A | about as safe |
| Gardner, WV | A- | A- | less safe |
| Spanishburg, WV | B | A | less safe |
| Lerona, WV | A- | C- | less safe |
| Lick Creek, WV | B+ | B | less safe |
| Kellysville, WV | A | A+ | about as safe |
| Princeton, WV | C | B- | less safe |
| Oakvale, WV | A- | B | less safe |
| Camp Creek, WV | A- | D+ | less safe |
| Lovern, WV | A | B | about as safe |
Home Security and Property Crime in Cities Similar to Athens, WV
Nearby City | Property Crime Grade | Overall Crime Grade | Safer than Athens, WV? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stahlstown, PA | A- | B+ | less safe |
| Hooper Bay, AK | D+ | D | less safe |
| Wauzeka, WI | C+ | A- | less safe |
| Prewitt, NM | F | F | less safe |
| Dahlgren, IL | B | B | less safe |
| Stockbridge, WI | A+ | A | about as safe |
| Standing Rock, NM | D | D- | less safe |
| Floral, AR | A- | A | less safe |
| Round Mountain, NV | D- | D | less safe |
| Riverton, KS | C- | B+ | less safe |
Summarizing Home Security Considerations in Athens, WV
Deciding whether you need a home security system in Athens, WV can be a complicated decision. We've used distrinctive property crime statistics and varying environment factors about the city to help us make an objective recommendation for most residents. Leveraging CrimeGrade.org's uniquely robust and granular crime data, we've scrutinized the options for home security systems, tailoring them to the unique needs and context of Athens residents.
Combining the property crime Grades, demographic information, and local climate conditions for advanced home security features gives us some companies that stand out.
Vivint, Ring, and Simplisafe have emerged as the top choices for Athens residents due to their distinctive offerings and reliability, each appealing to varied preferences and budget ranges of homeowners and renters alike. Notably, factors such as Athens's climate, housing age, and average income levels further steer the home security considerations.
Property Crime Insights
- A property crime occurs approximately every 26 days 23 hours in Athens.
- The city experiences 7.945 property crimes and 5.297 vandalism insidents per 1,000 people annually.
- Athens's property crime grade stands at an 'A+', comparably as safe as other West Virginia {{place_type__plural_lower}}.
Noteworthy Security Companies
- Vivint: We believe Vivint is the best home security system for home owners. 86% of residents in Athens own their homes. The superior smart home functionality will also appeal to the predominently younger population in Athens where the median age is 30.
- Ring: Ring Alarm is a disrupter whose incredibly low monitoring fees (as low as 1/10th the price of larger and better-known companies) and sharp equipment has already made them a household name.
- Simplisafe: These guys offer the best all-round balance of equipment, monitoring, customer service, and price. They’re reliable and the keep your home safe—it’s a fairly comfortable #1 spot.
Climate Considerations for Security
- Fire sensors could be worth considering, since the average temperature reaches 80.17 degrees in the peak months of July & August.
- Freeze sensors might be worth considering, with January & February temperatures averaging 37.46 degrees.
- Flood sensors are also worth considering due to the 1.6" of average yearly rainfall and house age of 42 years.
Self vs. Professional Monitoring & Installation
- 13.87% of Athens residents are renters, potentially inclining towards self-monitored systems.
- Given the 72% of commuters, professional monitoring might offer valuable peace of mind.
- Considering Athens's higher household median income of $49,806 and 21.3% college-degree holding populace, investment in professional installation and advanced system features might be favorable.
Local Police Presence
- Athens hosts 3 police stations within it's borders, potentially influencing response times.