The Safest and Most Dangerous Places in Wise County, VA: Crime Maps and Statistics

Crime per Capita in Wise County

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

 

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

C-

Overall Crime Grade™

C
C-
Other Crime Grade
D

$18.4 million

Cost of Crime™ for Wise County, VA

In 2025, crime will cost $1,206 per household.

More cost data

Crime Grade's crime map highlights the safest areas in Wise 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 Wise County, VA Safe?

The C- grade indicates that the rate of crime is slightly higher than that of the average US county. Wise County ranks in the 32nd percentile for safety, meaning it is safer than 32% of counties but less safe than 68%. This analysis applies only to Wise County's official city boundaries. See the table below for nearby counties.

The crime rate in Wise County is 37.20 per 1,000 residents in the typical year. Wise County Residents generally consider the south part of the county to be the safest. Your chance of being a victim of crime in Wise County varies by area - ranging from 1 in 24 in the east areas to 1 in 51 in the south.

When looking at total crime counts (rather than per capita rates), the north parts of Wise County, VA see the most incidents - about 374 per year. In contrast, the northwest part of the county has the fewest, with approximately 3 crimes annually.

The Cost of Crime™ in Wise County, VA

The total projected cost of crime in Wise County for 2025 is $18,392,987. This translates to approximately $514 per resident and $1,206 per household. On average, crime-related costs account for 2.1% of the median household income in Wise County. These figures reflect only tangible costs, which include the following:
  1. Criminal justice system costs (law enforcement, courts, and imprisonment): 57.6%
  2. Direct costs to victims (damaged property, medical expenses, and lost wages): 30.6%
  3. Lost economic contribution from offenders (time in prison or repeat offenses): 11.8%

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

Wise County, VA: $514
Portsmouth City, VA: $867
Loudoun County, VA: $236
Virginia: $432
USA: $464

The Cost of Crime per resident in Wise County is $514 per year, which is $50 more than the national average and $83 more than Virginia's state average. Below we compare counties similar to Wise County:
  • In Portsmouth City, VA, crime costs $867 per person, which is $353 more than in Wise County.
  • In Loudoun County, VA, crime costs $236 per person, which is $278 less than in Wise County

2025 Projected Cost by Type of Crime

The table below shows the total cost of crime to the residents of Wise County for the year 2025 along with the projected cost per resident.
Crime
Cost to Wise County
Cost per Wise County Resident
Murder
$5.53 million
$155
Rape/Sexual Assault
$1.32 million
$37
Robbery
$499,710
$14
Assault
$2.78 million
$78
Kidnapping
$374,994
$10
Vehicle Theft
$440,606
$12
Burglary
$761,127
$21
Theft
$2.93 million
$82
Arson
$85,855
$2
Vandalism
$2.20 million
$62
Animal Cruelty
$38,791
$1
Drug Crimes
$1.25 million
$35
Identity Theft
$170,117
$5
Total Cost of Crime
$18,392,987
$514

The Intangible Cost of Crime in Wise County, VA

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 Wise County totals $43,895,009 ($1,227 per resident). When added to the tangible costs, this brings the total estimated cost of crime to $62,287,996 ($1,741 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 Wise 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 north 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 Wise County has 6, have the same problem. Of Wise County’s 35,769 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 Wise County, VA at ISP Reports.

Wise 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 Wise County residents in a standard year.

Violent Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Assault
2.708
Robbery
0.4441
Rape
0.6073
Murder
0.0823
Total Violent Crime
3.842 (C)
 
 

 


Property Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Theft
15.81
Vehicle Theft
0.7955
Burglary
2.346
Arson
0.0994
Total Property Crime
19.06 (C-)
 
 

 


Other Crime Rates

Crime Type
Crime Rate
Kidnapping
0.1729
Drug Crimes
4.743
Vandalism
8.625
Identity Theft
0.6145
Animal Cruelty
0.1466
Total "Other" Rate
14.30 (D)

 


Crime Maps and Rates for Nearby Counties

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

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

Crime Maps and Rates for County with Similar Populations

Wise County is similar 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
C-
B-
B-
A-
C
C
B-
B-
B-
F
D-
D-
B+
A-
A-
D+
C
C
D
D-
D-
B-
A
A
C+
C-
C-
A+
A-
A-

Considering only the crime rate, Wise County is less safe than the 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 Wise County, VA average SchoolGrade of A+, with 74% actual proficiency versus 56% projected; overall, schools greatly exceed expectations. See Wise 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 6 hours 35 minutes in Wise County. Want to protect your home?

Home Security Companies in Wise County, VA

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.