registered sex offenders live in Charleston — that's 1 in every 128 residents, or 78.3 per 10,000, 111% above the West Virginia state average.
Charleston has 78.3 registered sex offenders per 10,000 residents — 111% above the West Virginia state average of 37.1, and above the national average of about 24. Per-capita rates are the fair way to compare cities of different sizes.
Against West Virginia cities of similar size, Charleston has the 2nd-highest rate per resident:
| # | City | Population | Registered offenders | Per 10,000 residents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | 48,810 | 382 | 78.3 |
| 2 | Parkersburg | 29,749 | 261 | 87.7 |
| 3 | Huntington | 46,841 | 241 | 51.5 |
| 4 | Morgantown | 30,068 | 168 | 55.9 |
| 5 | Wheeling | 26,986 | 117 | 43.4 |
Where Charleston's 382 registered offenders live, by the ZIP code on their registry record. Charleston (25302) tops the list with 97 — 25% of the citywide total.
| # | Area | ZIP code | Registered offenders | Share of city |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charleston | 25302 | 25.4% | |
| 2 | Charleston | 25301 | 17.0% | |
| 3 | Charleston | 25387 | 15.7% | |
| 4 | Charleston | 25311 | 10.5% | |
| 5 | Charleston | 25314 | 7.1% | |
| 6 | Charleston | 25306 | 6.0% | |
| 7 | Charleston | 25312 | 5.2% | |
| 8 | Charleston | 25304 | 3.9% | |
| 9 | Charleston | 25313 | 3.7% | |
| 10 | Charleston | 25320 | 3.1% |
Counts as of August 2026, compiled from official registry records. Area names reflect the town or neighborhood most commonly listed on registry records for that ZIP.
West Virginia classifies registrants by assessed re-offense risk — Level 1 (low, never public), Level 2 (moderate), and Level 3 (high, always public with active police notification).
Citywide numbers can't tell you who lives on your street. The free Predator Map app searches any Charleston address and shows every registered offender around it on an interactive map — photos, offenses, and registered addresses from official registry records. You can also search the official West Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry directly.
As of August 2026, there are 382 registered sex offenders in Charleston, West Virginia — about 78.3 for every 10,000 residents, 111% above the West Virginia state average. Charleston ranks #1 of the 10 largest West Virginia cities by offender count.
Charleston, ZIP code 25302, has the most registered sex offenders in Charleston with 97 — 25% of the city's total.
Use the free Predator Map app: search any Charleston address and every registered offender nearby appears on an interactive map with photos, offense details, and registered addresses from official registry records.
Yes. Predator Map Pro monitors up to 5 addresses daily and sends push and email alerts when a registered offender moves in nearby, a new offender registers, or someone moves away.
Free search for any Charleston address — and daily monitoring with instant alerts when something changes.
Search your address freeWant alerts the moment a predator moves in nearby? Get the free app.
Methodology: Statistics are compiled from aggregated official state registry records and refreshed monthly. City figures count the city listed on each registry record. Per-capita rates use 2020 U.S. Census populations. Aggregated counts can exceed what public registry websites display because some classification levels are excluded from public searches. Figures are estimates and change daily as registries update — always verify individual records with the official state registry.