West Virginia has an overall lower crime rate than the rest of the country, but there are a few places that aren’t quite as safe. The focus here is on violent crimes such as rape, assault, and murder. We used FBI data from 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 (the latest available) to determine the cities with the most reported violent crime. A disclaimer: not all cities report their crime rate every year, and it can be difficult to truly compare one city to another based purely on numbers, so this is only an educated guess at the most dangerous places. Here they are as a countdown.

10. Clarksburg
WikiMedia Commons/Tim Kiser
Clarksburg had 112 violent crimes in 2012, the most recent year that data was available. It has a population of 16,649.
9. Moorefield
WikiMedia Commons/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Digital Visual Library
Moorefield most recently reported in 2014, with 21 violent crimes in its tiny community of 2,500.
8. South Charleston
WikiMedia Commons/Acroterion
South Charleston had 112 violent crimes in 2015, with a population of 13,143.
7. Wheeling
WikiMedia Commons/Brandon W. Holmes
Wheeling had 247 violent crimes in 2015 to its 27,617 population. However, Wheeling ranks well in other areas, such as health and education.
6. Elkins
WikiMedia Commons/Tim Kiser
Elkins has 68 violent crimes in 2013, to a population of 7,183. However, a blossoming tourism industry in the town and great educational opportunities may be turning this town around.

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5. Philippi
WikiMedia Commons/Valerius Tygart
The small town of Philippi had 37 violent crimes in 2015 to its 3,307 population.
4. Charleston
WikiMedia Commons/Andreas Faessler
Our largest city and state capital had 622 violent crimes in 2015 to its 50,176 population.
3. Hamlin
WikiMedia Commons/Tim Kiser
This tiny town of 1,136 had 15 violent crimes in 2013, the year with the most recent data.
2. Beckley
WikiMedia Commons/Idawriter
Beckley had 234 crimes in 2015 to a 17,137 population.
1. Oceana
WikiMedia Commons/Idawriter
Oceana has a grim reputation, but it's not quite as dark as the "Oxyana" documentary would have you believe. In 2013, this town of 1,355 had 40 violent crimes. The Rural Appalachian Improvement League (RAIL) has been organizing community meetings and events to try to bring peace and hope back to this troubled town.

For a happier view of West Virginia, here are the best places in West Virginia to retire.

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