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

Crime per Capita in Nicholas County

The map below displays the crime rate per 1,000 residents in Nicholas County.

 

Nicholas County, WV Map of Crime Rates
Click the map to explore
A+ B C D F
Safest Highest crime
Colorblind friendly off

A

Overall Crime Grade™

B
A+
Other Crime Grade
B-

$8.34 million

Cost of Crime™ for Nicholas County, WV

In 2025, crime will cost $865 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Nicholas County 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 Nicholas County, WV Safe?

The A grade indicates that the rate of crime is much lower than that of the average US county. Nicholas County ranks in the 85th percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 85% of counties but less safe than 15%. This analysis applies only to Nicholas County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Nicholas County is 19.74 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Nicholas County Residents generally consider the southwest part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Nicholas County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 41 in the northwest areas to 1 in 74 in the southwest.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the central parts of Nicholas County, WV see the most incidents - about 96 per year. In contrast, the northwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 11 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Nicholas County, WV

The total projected cost of crime in Nicholas County for 2025 is $8,344,455. This translates to approximately $340 per resident and $865 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.2% of the median household income in Nicholas County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 55.6%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 31.4%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.9%

How Much Does Crime Cost in Nicholas County Compared to Other Counties?

Nicholas County, WV: $340
Kanawha County, WV: $438
Berkeley County, WV: $239
West Virginia: $362
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Nicholas County is $340 per year, which is $124 less than the national average and $22 less than West Virginia's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Nicholas County:
  • In Kanawha County, WV, crime costs $438 per person, which is $97 more than in Nicholas County.
  • In Berkeley County, WV, crime costs $239 per person, which is $102 less than in Nicholas County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Nicholas County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Nicholas County
Cost per Nicholas County Resident
Murder
$2.50 million
$102
Rape/Sexual Assault
$1.26 million
$51
Robbery
$97,007
$4
Assault
$1.40 million
$57
Kidnapping
$142,559
$6
Vehicle Theft
$214,922
$9
Burglary
$366,217
$15
Theft
$665,624
$27
Arson
$69,383
$3
Vandalism
$484,735
$20
Animal Cruelty
$3,793
$0
Drug Crimes
$1.13 million
$46
Identity Theft
$2,340
$0
Total Cost of Crime
$8,344,455
$340

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Nicholas County, 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 Nicholas County totals $23,004,495 ($939 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $31,348,950 ($1,279 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 Nicholas County 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 central part of the county has more 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, of which Nicholas County has 7, have the same problem. Of Nicholas County’s 24,507 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 Nicholas County, WV at ISP Reports.

Nicholas County 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 Nicholas County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
1.991
Robbery
0.1258
Rape
0.8484
Murder
0.0543
Total Violent Crime
3.020 (B)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
5.244
Vehicle Theft
0.5663
Burglary
1.648
Arson
0.1172
Total Property Crime
7.575 (A+)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.0959
Drug Crimes
6.249
Vandalism
2.769
Identity Theft
0.0123
Animal Cruelty
0.0209
Total "Other" Rate
9.146 (B-)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

Compared to surrounding counties, the rate of crime in Nicholas County is lower. The table below shows Crime Grades for counties close to Nicholas County.

Nearby County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
A-
C+
A
B+
B
B+
B+
B
A-
C+
C
C+
B+
B-
B+
C
C-
C+
B
B-
B-
B
B+
B-
B-
B-
B-
D+
D+
C-

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Nicholas County is lower versus other counties of the same size for crime. The table below compares crime in counties with comparable overall population in the county‘s boundaries.

Similar County
Overall Crime Grade
Violent Crime Grade
Property Crime Grade
B-
B+
B+
B-
D
D
D-
D-
D-
D+
D
D
A-
A-
A-
D
D
D
A+
A+
A+
A+
A+
A+
B+
A-
A-
A
A-
A-

Considering only the crime rate, Nicholas County is safer than the West Virginia state average and safer than the national average.

Safety and school performance are separate topics, but both shape moving decisions. Using SchoolGrade data, schools in Nicholas County, WV average SchoolGrade of D, with 26% actual proficiency versus 28% projected; overall, schools don't meet expectations. See Nicholas County 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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Home Security

A crime occurs on average every 18 hours 6 minutes in Nicholas County. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Nicholas County, WV

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.