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

Crime per Capita in Wayne County

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

 

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

B+

Overall Crime Grade™

B
B+
Other Crime Grade
B

$15.0 million

Cost of Crime™ for Wayne County, WV

In 2025, crime will cost $975 per household.

More cost data

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

The B+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is lower than that of the average US county. Wayne County ranks in the 71st percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 71% of counties but less safe than 29%. This analysis applies only to Wayne County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Wayne County is 23.56 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Wayne County Residents generally consider the northeast part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Wayne County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 30 in the southwest areas to 1 in 61 in the northeast.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the southeast parts of Wayne County, WV see the most incidents - about 169 per year. In contrast, the northeast part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 0 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Wayne County, WV

The total projected cost of crime in Wayne County for 2025 is $15,025,053. This translates to approximately $382 per resident and $975 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.2% of the median household income in Wayne County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 55.5%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 32.0%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.4%

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

Wayne County, WV: $382
Kanawha County, WV: $438
Berkeley County, WV: $239
West Virginia: $362
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Wayne County is $382 per year, which is $82 less than the national average and $20 more than West Virginia's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Wayne County:
  • In Kanawha County, WV, crime costs $438 per person, which is $56 more than in Wayne County.
  • In Berkeley County, WV, crime costs $239 per person, which is $144 less than in Wayne County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Wayne County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Wayne County
Cost per Wayne County Resident
Murder
$4.85 million
$123
Rape/Sexual Assault
$2.02 million
$51
Robbery
$150,833
$4
Assault
$2.19 million
$56
Kidnapping
$274,786
$7
Vehicle Theft
$399,143
$10
Burglary
$622,496
$16
Theft
$1.85 million
$47
Arson
$116,950
$3
Vandalism
$828,832
$21
Animal Cruelty
$6,991
$0
Drug Crimes
$1.71 million
$44
Identity Theft
$4,463
$0
Total Cost of Crime
$15,025,053
$382

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Wayne 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 Wayne County totals $42,390,717 ($1,078 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $57,415,770 ($1,460 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 Wayne 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 east 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 Wayne County has 7, have the same problem. Of Wayne County’s 39,323 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 Wayne County, WV at ISP Reports.

Wayne 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 Wayne County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
1.939
Robbery
0.1219
Rape
0.8475
Murder
0.0656
Total Violent Crime
2.974 (B)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
9.076
Vehicle Theft
0.6555
Burglary
1.745
Arson
0.1232
Total Property Crime
11.60 (B+)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.1152
Drug Crimes
5.885
Vandalism
2.950
Identity Theft
0.0147
Animal Cruelty
0.0240
Total "Other" Rate
8.989 (B)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

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

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

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Wayne 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
A-
A-
A-
D
C-
C-
B
D+
D+
C
C
C
A+
A-
A-
C+
B-
B-
B
B+
B+
D
D+
D+
D
D
D
A
A+
A+

Considering only the crime rate, Wayne County is as safe as 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 Wayne County, WV average SchoolGrade of D, with 26% actual proficiency versus 27% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Wayne 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 9 hours 27 minutes in Wayne County. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Wayne 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.