Is Boaz safe?
Williamstown, West Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Boaz as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Boaz
“Go. Boaz is a tranquil, semi-rural residential community along the Ohio River corridor that poses almost no personal safety risk to visitors. It is an extremely quiet, car-dependent stretch between Vienna and Williamstown with low crime rates and stable homeownership.”
About the area
Boaz is an unincorporated community situated in northern Wood County along West Virginia Route 14, bordering the Ohio River. It is characterized by single-family homes, small local businesses, golf facilities, and open green spaces. Visitors typically pass through while exploring the greater Parkersburg-Williamstown area.
- Quiet / Peaceful
- Rural / Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- River Corridor
Walking and biking in Boaz
Walk score: 12/100 · Bike score: 24/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes, greenways, or bike-share programs in Boaz; cycling is mostly limited to low-traffic residential side streets or wide shoulders along Route 14.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent and property crime rates compared to national and state averages
- High homeownership rate and well-kept residential properties
- Peaceful, low-density rural-suburban atmosphere along the river valley
- Close proximity to outdoor recreation, golf courses, and Ohio River boat access
Cons
- High-speed traffic along WV Route 14 without continuous sidewalks or pedestrian buffers
- Completely car-dependent with virtually no walkability between destinations
- Limited commercial dining, shopping, and entertainment within the immediate community bounds
- Rural road conditions with limited street lighting outside the main highway corridor
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Boaz. Support services and emergency shelters are concentrated south in Parkersburg.
What Boaz is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Very calm and safe, with light commuter traffic moving along Route 14.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Safe and quiet with local traffic visiting golf courses and regional service businesses.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Peaceful and dark with minimal activity away from the main roadway.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely low activity with negligible street crime, though lack of streetlights requires extra driver caution.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is extremely limited; the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority (Easy Rider) serves the broader Parkersburg-Vienna area but does not offer regular fixed-route service through Boaz.
Free, ample surface lot parking is available at all local businesses and recreational facilities with no metered zones or parking decks.
Things to do in Boaz
- Play a round of golf or practice your swing at the Golf Club of West Virginia
- Enjoy outdoor dining and local bar bites at nearby river corridor taverns
- Take a scenic drive along WV Route 14 connecting to historical sites in Williamstown and Marietta
Local favorites
- Golf Club of West Virginia · Golf Course · 4.3★ (115)An 18-hole public championship golf course featuring rolling hills and scenic valley views.
- The Original Pizza Place · Pizza Restaurant · 4.5★ (320)Popular nearby spot serving Sicilian-style square slices, subs, and Italian comfort staples.
- DaVinci's · Italian Restaurant · 4.4★ (1280)Longstanding local institution nearby in Williamstown known for traditional pasta and German-Italian specialties.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.