West Virginia Home Security Guide

West Virginia has an overall crime rate of 14.11 per 1,000 residents (2024 FBI data). Violent crime is 2.49 per 1,000 - about 31% below the national average. Property crime is 11.62 per 1,000, also below average. However, cities like Huntington and Charleston have crime rates well above the national average.

West Virginia's statewide averages look decent, but the cities tell a different story. Huntington is one of the most dangerous cities in America for its size, with high rates of both violent and property crime. Charleston also has elevated crime. Rural areas and smaller towns are generally much safer.

Huntington has struggled with high crime rates driven by the opioid crisis that hit the region hard. The city has very high property crime and assault rates. Both violent crime at 8.72 per 1,000 and property crime at 39.61 per 1,000 are well above national averages. Auto theft is also elevated.

DIY systems like SimpliSafe work well in West Virginia because they use cellular monitoring - important for rural areas without reliable internet. ADT and Vivint serve Charleston and larger cities. Local companies like Mountain State Security understand West Virginia's unique security challenges.

Rural West Virginia properties benefit from long-range driveway sensors, cellular monitoring that works without internet, battery backup systems for power outages, and motion-activated exterior lighting. Given high burglary rates, reinforced entry points and door/window sensors are also important.