The 10 Safest Cities In West Virginia For 2026

Built along the Ohio River, across the water from Ohio, New Martinsville sits in a rural region in the northwest part of West Virginia. It may look like your stereotypical small town, with a population of just 5,049 residents. However, New Martinsville has a special distinction: it ranks number 1 on the list of West Virginia's safest communities.

Over the course of a year, the town reported just 4 property crimes. This includes 0 burglaries. Violence is almost unheard of in New Martinsville. The area saw just 3 violent crimes in a year. That leads to a per-capita rate of 59/100k people, the second safest pace in West Virginia.

Economically speaking, New Martinsville has a median income of $48147. The median home price is $105000 and the unemployment rate is 6.63%.

Weirton is the ideal destination when you're trying find that true West Virginia feel with small city vibes. This is definitely one of the reasons it has held strong from last year to be our second safest city in "the WV".

It might not be Beverly Hills, but this little town with a vibrant downtown scene, unforgettable summer festivals, and year-round fun is just as notable and just as safe. Probably why it's one of the most populous towns in West Virginia's northern panhandle region. This city, on the Ohio River, is known for its low crime and A+ education rating. There is a sense of true community in this little village in Hancock County.

Weirton is the kind of place where packages from Amazon won't get stolen from your front porch when you're not home. But, hey, what do you expect from this safe city that is "The Gateway to the Valley."

No one is going to hold you for a ransom in Ranson, West Virginia. In fact, it's the third safest place in the state. Ranson had the fourth safest incidence of property crime in West Virginia in 2024, with a rate about four times lower than the national average. That's good news for folks heading home with a pocket full of winnings after a day at Hollywood Casino. If Ranson can get its slightly less impressive violent crime rate down over the next year, expect it to jump even higher up this list.

Ranson is located in Jefferson County in the eastern part of the state.

Where West Virginia State Road 9 meets West Virginia State Road 340 is Charles Town. This town, known for its bootlegging stories from the late 1800s, is our fifthsafest city in West Virginia 2026.

All bootlegging aside, Charles Town is also known for its safe, family friendly atmosphere. There is a ton of stuff to do in this little town of 6,000 residents in the tiny tip of Jefferson County. They have a boat load of places to shop and dine, and their immaculate parks provide the backdrop for safe, friendly games of basketball, volleyball, and tennis for all ages.

So grab the fam, pack up the pick-up, and get moving so you don't miss out on any of their safe, family friendly, activities scheduled for 2026.

Bridgeport is next in our safest cities in West Virginia list, at number 6. They crushed our snackability scale with a 7/10 safety ranking and an 8.5/10 affordability score.

Bridgeport's town motto is "Opportunity Lives Here". And we can't deny the numbers. This city scored a 9/10 job rating, the highest on our list, and a 9/10 education rating. Nothing says safe like a bunch of smart people with jobs.

In Buckhannon they love their wide open spaces, their parks, their safe neighborhoods, and they take pride in their Wesleyan College Bobcats. Home to West Virginia's Strawberry Festival, this city is our eighth safest city. It's a place where work and play meet at the corner of Upshur County and the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains.

Buckhannon is so safe, that the only crime, here, is a bad haircut or a terrible outfit. Its small town charm delivers big opportunities to all that are searching for a safe place to call home.

Morgantown, situated along the banks of the Monongahela River, is our ninth safest city in West Virginia. This little town is super family-friendly and virtually crime-free. It is one of the safest places to call home on our list.

Morgantown's overall HomeSnacks snackability score was a 7/10. It's unsurprising, considering their safety rating is 7/10, and the percentage of educated residents is 8.5/10. Home to the West Virginia University Mountaineers, you've got nothing to fear when you wear the blue and gold in Monongalia County.