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

Crime per Capita in Wetzel County

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

 

Wetzel 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-

$5.63 million

Cost of Crime™ for Wetzel County, WV

In 2025, crime will cost $974 per household.

More cost data

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

The B+ grade indicates that the rate of crime is lower than that of the average US county. Wetzel 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 Wetzel County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Wetzel County is 23.81 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Wetzel County Residents generally consider the south part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Wetzel County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 27 in the northeast areas to 1 in 53 in the south.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the west parts of Wetzel County, WV see the most incidents - about 68 per year. In contrast, the east part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 13 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Wetzel County, WV

The total projected cost of crime in Wetzel County for 2025 is $5,630,396. This translates to approximately $405 per resident and $974 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 1.4% of the median household income in Wetzel County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 54.3%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 33.3%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 12.4%

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

Wetzel County, WV: $405
Kanawha County, WV: $438
Berkeley County, WV: $239
West Virginia: $362
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Wetzel County is $405 per year, which is $59 less than the national average and $43 more than West Virginia's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Wetzel County:
  • In Kanawha County, WV, crime costs $438 per person, which is $33 more than in Wetzel County.
  • In Berkeley County, WV, crime costs $239 per person, which is $166 less than in Wetzel County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Wetzel County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Wetzel County
Cost per Wetzel County Resident
Murder
$2.02 million
$145
Rape/Sexual Assault
$718,251
$52
Robbery
$58,562
$4
Assault
$770,799
$55
Kidnapping
$73,231
$5
Vehicle Theft
$135,194
$10
Burglary
$228,995
$16
Theft
$644,490
$46
Arson
$44,211
$3
Vandalism
$312,260
$22
Animal Cruelty
$2,772
$0
Drug Crimes
$616,563
$44
Identity Theft
$4,141
$0
Total Cost of Crime
$5,630,396
$405

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Wetzel 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 Wetzel County totals $17,029,741 ($1,225 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $22,660,137 ($1,630 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 Wetzel 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 northwest 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 Wetzel County has 1, have the same problem. Of Wetzel County’s 13,903 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 Wetzel County, WV at ISP Reports.

Wetzel 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 Wetzel County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
1.930
Robbery
0.1339
Rape
0.8520
Murder
0.0773
Total Violent Crime
2.994 (B)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
8.951
Vehicle Theft
0.6280
Burglary
1.816
Arson
0.1317
Total Property Crime
11.53 (B+)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.0869
Drug Crimes
5.995
Vandalism
3.144
Identity Theft
0.0385
Animal Cruelty
0.0270
Total "Other" Rate
9.292 (B-)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

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

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

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Wetzel 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+
F
F
F
D
C
C
B-
D+
D+
A
A
A
C+
C-
C-
D
D+
D+
D
B-
B-
D-
C
C
A+
A
A

Considering only the crime rate, Wetzel 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 Wetzel County, WV average SchoolGrade of D-, with 23% actual proficiency versus 25% projected; overall, schools meet expectations. See Wetzel 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 1 day 2 hours in Wetzel County. Want to protect your home?

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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.