Is Fairview Heights safe?
Parkersburg, West Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Fairview Heights as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Fairview Heights
“Go with care. Fairview Heights is a quiet, primarily residential neighborhood in Parkersburg that is generally peaceful during daylight hours. While violent crime directed at strangers is rare, property theft, vehicle break-ins, and regional substance-use concerns warrant standard precautions.”
Local law enforcement continues routine patrols addressing localized property crimes and petty theft linked to the wider regional opioid epidemic.
About the area
Fairview Heights is a modest, mid-century residential neighborhood situated northeast of downtown Parkersburg. It features single-family homes, leafy residential streets, and convenient access to local retail corridors and City Park. Visitors generally come for local neighborhood dining or as a quiet base when visiting the Mid-Ohio Valley.
- Quiet Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Working-Class
- Suburban Feel
Walking and biking in Fairview Heights
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 38/100
Dedicated bike lanes are absent in the neighborhood, though quiet residential streets are manageable; off-road cycling is best found along the nearby Parkersburg City Park trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to urban core neighborhoods in Parkersburg
- Established residential pocket with high homeownership rates and stable single-family housing
- Close proximity to City Park and Emerson Avenue commercial conveniences
Cons
- Elevated incidence of opportunistic property crime such as porch piracy and car break-ins
- Aging housing stock with pockets of deferred maintenance and rental turnover
- Limited pedestrian infrastructure with intermittent sidewalks along secondary streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential streets of Fairview Heights, though unhoused individuals and panhandling can occasionally be observed along adjacent major commercial corridors like Emerson Avenue.
What Fairview Heights is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents commute, making it very safe for morning walks or jogs.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Low-traffic and relaxed with routine neighborhood activity and good visibility.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and residential; side streets dim quickly due to sparse streetlighting, so stick to main thoroughfares.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally inactive, but isolated vehicle tampering and property theft can occur in unlit driveways.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority (Easy Rider), with local bus routes connecting Emerson Avenue and Murdoch Avenue to downtown Parkersburg. There is no passenger rail or BRT service in the area.
Free and ample street parking is readily available throughout residential avenues, and local businesses offer dedicated free surface parking lots.
Things to do in Fairview Heights
- Explore the nearby walking paths, pond, and municipal recreation facilities at Parkersburg City Park
- Browse local antiques and collectibles along nearby Emerson and Murdoch Avenue corridors
- Enjoy casual homestyle American dining at classic local diners nearby
Local favorites
- The Workingman's Store · Workwear & Outdoor Clothing Store · 4.6★ (310)Long-running local retailer specializing in durable work boots, apparel, and outdoor gear.
- Pizza Place · Pizza Restaurant · 4.5★ (540)A regional favorite serving Sicilian-style square pizza with rich sauce and gooey provolone.
- Mary B's Diner · Diner · 4.4★ (820)Beloved neighborhood staple offering generous breakfast platters and comfort-food classics.
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.