Is Van Voorhis safe?
Star City, West Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Van Voorhis as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Van Voorhis
“Go. Van Voorhis is a safe, bustling suburban and residential corridor connecting Star City with Morgantown's Suncrest area. It primarily serves medical professionals, university students, and local families, presenting very few personal safety concerns for visitors.”
About the area
Van Voorhis is a lively mixed-use corridor lined with modern apartment complexes, medical clinics, and strip shopping plazas. Positioned just minutes from West Virginia University's health sciences campus and the Monongahela River, it offers suburban convenience in a rolling Appalachian setting.
- Car-Dependent
- Suburban / Residential
- University Adjacent
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Van Voorhis
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 30/100
Van Voorhis Road itself is steep and lacks dedicated bike lanes, but nearby access points in Star City link cyclists directly to the paved Mon River Rail-Trail and Caperton Trail network. There is currently no municipal bike-share system.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to national and regional urban centers
- Close proximity to major healthcare infrastructure, including WVU Medicine Ruby Memorial Hospital
- High concentration of well-maintained residential complexes with private lighting and security features
Cons
- Suburban design with disjointed sidewalks makes pedestrian movement along main roadways challenging
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes like vehicle break-ins in large student apartment parking lots
- Heavy vehicular traffic and bottlenecking during university rush hours and event days
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent in this corridor, as shelters and social services are concentrated in downtown Morgantown several miles away.
What Van Voorhis is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Crisp and peaceful with healthcare workers, students, and residents heading out for morning commutes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy with vehicular traffic and patrons running errands at local plazas with no safety concerns.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Active around dining spots and apartment complexes with standard lighting providing good visibility.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and generally safe, though standard caution is advised in darker peripheral parking areas.
Transit, parking and getting around
Mountain Line Transit Authority (MLTA) operates local bus routes through the corridor, connecting residents to WVU's Health Sciences Center, Downtown campus, and Suncrest Towne Centre. There is no heavy rail, though WVU's PRT system is accessible roughly two miles away at the Health Sciences station.
Parking is abundant and free throughout the area in dedicated commercial shopping plazas and residential complex lots, with virtually no metered street parking.
Things to do in Van Voorhis
- Explore riverside walking and running along the nearby Caperton Trail in Star City
- Dine at popular local eateries along the Van Voorhis and Chestnut Ridge dining corridors
- Visit Star City Riverfront Park for seasonal festivals, boat launches, and views of the Monongahela River
Local favorites
- Ta-Khrai Thai Cafe · Thai Restaurant · 4.6★ (420)Authentic and casual Thai spot on Van Voorhis Road known for curries, noodle dishes, and fresh spring rolls.
- Terra Cafe · Cafe & Bakery · 4.6★ (1450)Farm-to-table riverfront eatery serving artisanal sandwiches, local pastries, and craft coffee just down the hill.
- Los Mariachis · Mexican Restaurant · 4.3★ (1280)Energetic, family-friendly Mexican restaurant offering traditional specialties and margaritas.
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.