Is Vienna safe?
Vienna, West Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Vienna as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Vienna
“Go. Vienna is a safe, family-oriented suburban community located just north of Parkersburg along the Ohio River. Violent crime is rare, and the city functions as the primary retail and quiet residential hub of Wood County. Visitors can explore local parks, shopping centers, and dining spots with minimal safety concerns.”
About the area
Vienna is a pleasant, quiet suburban town characterized by mature residential streets, community parks, and the bustling Grand Central Avenue commercial corridor. It serves as the commercial focal point of the Mid-Ohio Valley while maintaining a peaceful small-town ambiance.
- Suburban Quiet
- Family-Friendly
- Commercial Hub
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Vienna
Walk score: 44/100 · Bike score: 42/100
There are no bike-share programs in the area, and cycling is mostly confined to residential neighborhoods or recreational paths within Jackson Memorial Park rather than dedicated on-street bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than state and national medians
- High rate of homeownership and well-maintained single-family neighborhoods
- Plentiful retail, dining, and outdoor recreation amenities in a close radius
- Strong local emergency service response times and active municipal policing
Cons
- Retail-driven property crime like shoplifting occurs near the Grand Central Mall corridor
- Heavy vehicular traffic along Grand Central Avenue / Route 14 during rush hours
- Virtually no nightlife, with most local establishments closing early
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in Vienna, though occasional unhoused individuals or panhandlers may be observed near major commercial intersections along Route 14; primary social services and shelters are concentrated to the south in Parkersburg.
What Vienna is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm, with school buses, morning commuters, and joggers active through residential side streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active and bustling along Grand Central Avenue as shoppers and diners frequent local plazas and stores.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential winding down with moderate family dining traffic around restaurants and the mall.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet and largely deserted with minimal safety concerns aside from standard late-night visibility precautions.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by the Mid-Ohio Valley Transit Authority (Easy Rider), with Route 1 and Route 2 connecting Vienna to downtown Parkersburg and major retail hubs; no rail transit exists in the region.
Parking is abundant, hassle-free, and universally free in large surface lots across retail centers and along residential streets.
Things to do in Vienna
- Hike the forested walking and nature trails at the McDonough Wildlife Refuge
- Browse local and national retailers inside the Grand Central Mall complex
- Enjoy the aquatic facilities, sports courts, and community playground at Jackson Memorial Park
Local favorites
- DaVinci's · Italian Restaurant · 4.5★ (1420)Long-standing local institution famous for its signature German pizza and classic Italian-American entrees.
- The Original Pizza Place · Pizza Restaurant · 4.6★ (750)Beloved regional pizzeria inside Grand Central Mall serving Sicilian-style square slices and subs.
- Holl's Swiss Chocolatier · Chocolatier & Confectionery · 4.8★ (310)Family-run boutique crafting authentic, high-end Swiss chocolates and confections.
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.