The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Lester, WV: Crime Maps and Statistics

D+

Overall Crime Grade™

Violent Crime Grade	C-
Property Crime Grade	D
Other Crime Grade	C

Which crimes are included?

$429,257

Cost of Crime™ for Lester, WV

In 2025, crime will cost $1,194 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Lester in green, the most dangerous in red, and moderately safe areas in yellow. Crime rates on the map are weighted based on both the type and severity of the crime. For more information on how to interpret our crime maps, see the Interpreting the Crime Maps section below.

Is Lester, WV Safe?

The D+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is higher than that of the average US city. Lester ranks in the 26th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 26% of cities but less safe than 74%. This analysis applies only to Lester's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby cities.

The crime rate in Lester is 34.25 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Lester Residents generally consider the southeast part of the city to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Lester varies by neighborhood - ranging from 1 in 22 in the east neighborhoods to 1 in 35 in the southeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the northwest parts of Lester, WV see the most incidents - about 10 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the city has the fewest, with approximately 1 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Lester, WV

The total projected cost of crime in Lester for 2025 is $429,257. This translates to approximately $496 per resident and $1,194 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 2.0% of the median household income in Lester. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:

Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 55.8%
Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 32.6%
Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.6%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Lester Compared to Other Cities?

Lester, WV:	$496
Welch, WV:	$655
Bunker Hill, WV:	$179
West Virginia:	$362
USA:	$464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Lester is $496 per year, which is $32 more than the national average and $134 more than West Virginia's state average. Below we compare cities similar to Lester:

In Welch, WV, crime costs $655 per person, which is $159 more than in Lester.
In Bunker Hill, WV, crime costs $179 per person, which is $317 less than in Lester

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Lester for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.

Crime	Cost to Lester	Cost per Lester Resident
Murder	$143,745	$166
Rape/Sexual Assault	$41,331	$48
Robbery	$7,203	$8
Assault	$68,415	$79
Kidnapping	$3,441	$4
Vehicle Theft	$2,973	$3
Burglary	$20,587	$24
Theft	$82,229	$95
Arson	$2,660	$3
Vandalism	$18,059	$21
Animal Cruelty	$131	$0
Drug Crimes	$38,425	$44
Identity Theft	$59	$0
Total Cost of Crime	$429,257	$496

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Lester, WV

CrimeGrade primarily focuses on tangible costs, but the true impact of crime extends beyond economic. Pain and suffering for victims and their families are difficult to quantify, but research-based methodologies help estimate these effects. Using these methodologies, we calculate that the intangible cost of crime in Lester totals $1,169,777 ($1,352 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $1,599,034 ($1,849 per resident). All Cost of Crime facts are based on scholarly research done on the cost of crime. Read more about our methodology here.

Interpreting the Crime Maps

When interpreting the Lester crime map, keep in mind that crime rates are measured per resident. Areas with high visitor traffic, such as shopping districts, may appear to have higher crime rates simply because more crimes occur where people gather - even if few residents live there. For example, the city has few retail establishments, which can artificially inflate crime rates in that area. Red areas on the map do not necessarily mean a neighborhood is unsafe for residents.

More issues arise with places like airports, parks, and schools. Major airports always look like high-crime locations due to the large number of people and the low population nearby. Parks and designated recreational areas have the same problem. Of Lester’s 865 residents, few live near recreational areas. Because many people visit, crime rates may appear higher even for safe parks. Crime occurs where people gather, whether they live there or not. Before assuming an area is unsafe, consider both per-capita crime rates and total crime counts, as well as the types of destinations nearby.

To better understand and navigate these intricate crime maps, a high-speed internet connection can be crucial. Fast and seamless online connectivity ensures that map details load efficiently, providing users with clearer, uninterrupted insights. If you're considering enhancing your online experience, check out high speed internet in Lester, WV at ISP Reports.

Lester Crime Breakdown

The tables below show which crimes are used to calculate the Crime Grades above. All crime rates are shown as the number of crimes per 1,000 Lester residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Assault	2.754
Robbery	0.2647
Rape	0.7880
Murder	0.0884
Total Violent Crime	3.895 (C-)

Property Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Theft	18.36
Vehicle Theft	0.2220
Burglary	2.624
Arson	0.1273
Total Property Crime	21.33 (D)

Other Crime Rates

Crime Type	Crime Rate
Kidnapping	0.0656
Drug Crimes	6.005
Vandalism	2.922
Identity Theft	0.0088
Animal Cruelty	0.0204
Total "Other" Rate	9.023 (C)

Individual Lester Crime Maps & Stats

Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Cities

Compared to surrounding cities, the rate of crime in Lester is higher. The table below shows Crime Grades for cities close to Lester.

Nearby City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Glen White, WV	C-	C-	D+
Surveyor, WV	C+	C	C
Slab Fork, WV	C+	C+	C-
Sophia, WV	C	C+	C-
Eccles, WV	B-	B-	B-
Fairdale, WV	C	C-	C
Crab Orchard, WV	B-	B-	B-
Glen Rogers, WV	A-	A+	B+
Bolt, WV	B-	C-	B-
Princewick, WV	D	D	D

Crime Maps and Rates for City with Similar Populations

Lester is higher versus other cities of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in cities with comparable overall population in the city‘s boundaries.

Similar City	Overall Crime Grade	Violent Crime Grade	Property Crime Grade
Council Hill, OK	F	C+	C+
Stanley, LA	B-	C+	C+
Dorchester Estates, SC	C-	C	C
Deer Park, WI	B+	C-	C-
Dearborn, MO	B+	B	B
Dawson, TX	C-	D	D
Dana, IN	C+	D	D
Damascus, PA	A+	A-	A-
Daisetta, TX	D-	D	D
Cromwell, MN	C	B-	B-

Considering only the crime rate, Lester is less safe than the West Virginia state average and less safe than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Lester, WV average SchoolGrade of D, with 28% actual proficiency versus 27% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Lester schools on SchoolGrade

About the Data

CrimeGrade.org provides highly detailed and accurate crime data, used by insurance companies, home security firms, and other industries. Our data is available for licensing—learn more about our USA crime data and licensing.

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All maps and statistics above are projections, not certainties, and provided without guarantee free of charge. Verify all info before making any decisions based on the data.