If you are thinking about visiting Virginia Beach and have some qualms about the safety of the city, we got you covered.
We are going to deep dive into crime rates, crime statistics, crime maps, crime graphs and talk to the residents of the city to give you a better understanding of how safe Virginia Beach really is.
What is Virginia Beach’s crime rate?
In 2020, Virginia Beach reported 534 violent crimes and had a crime rate of 115.99 per 100,000 people, which is 71% less than the national average. It’s property crime rate of 1,497.43 per 100,000 people is 24% less than the national average.
Virginia Beach crime rate breakdown
Violent Crime Rate
In 2021, Virginia Beach reported 17 homicides, 84 rapes, 135 robberies and 297 aggravated assaults.
Year over year violent crime has not increased or decreased and has remained the same.
Virginia Beach has a similar violent crime rate to Irvine, Plano and Scottsdale.
Here’s a graph showing you how violent crime has trended over the last 11 years in Virginia Beach:
Violent crime in Virginia beach has been steadily declining over the last 12 years.
*Violent crimes includes; homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults and the violent crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
Murder Rate
In 2021, Virginia Beach reported 13 murders and had a murder rate of 2.82 per 100,000 people.
Year over year murders has decreased by 24%
Virginia Beach’s murder rate is 57% less than the national average and 54% less than the state average.
Virginia Beach murder rate is similar to San Diego, El Paso and Austin
Here’s a graph showing you how homicides has trended over the last 11 years in Virginia Beach:
Property Crime Rate
In 2021 Virginia Beach reported 6,894 property crimes and had a property crime rate of 1,497.43 per 100,000 people.
Virginia Beach’s property crime rate is 24% less than the national average and 3% greater than the state average.
Year over year property crime in Virginia Beach has increased by 1%.
Virginia Beach property crime rate is similar to New York, Santa Clara and Chula Vista.
*Property crimes include; burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson and property crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
How are Virginia Beach’s crime rates calculated?
Crime rate is calculated by dividing the number of reported crimes by the total population; the result is multiplied by 100,000.
For example, in 2021 there were 13 murders in Virginia Beach and the population was 460,389. This equals a murder rate of 2.82 per 100,000 residents.
Virginia Beach’s crime rate vs other cities in Virginia
Here’s a table showing you the crime rates of the 10 most populous cities in Virginia. Virginia Beach had the lowest crime rate of all cities listed.
City |
Population |
Violent Crime Rate |
Portsmouth |
97,915 |
885.46 |
Norfolk |
238,005 |
648.31 |
Newport News |
186,247 |
600.82 |
Roanoke |
100,011 |
447.95 |
Chesapeake |
249,422 |
408.95 |
Richmond |
226,610 |
359.21 |
Hampton |
137,148 |
260.30 |
Alexandria |
159,467 |
184.99 |
Arlington |
238,643 |
155.46 |
Virginia Beach |
459,470 |
116.00 |
Virginia Beach, VA vs The Most Dangerous Cities in the United States
Here’s a list of the top 19 most dangerous cities in the United States ranked by violent crime rates. Virginia Beach’s violent crime rate is 21 times less than Memphis, the most dangerous city on the list.
Virginia Beach Crime Stats (2021)
Here’s a breakdown of all the crimes in the city for 2020 compared to 2021:
|
2020 |
2021 |
% Change |
Homicide |
17 |
13 |
-24% |
Rape |
84 |
68 |
-19% |
Robbery |
135 |
154 |
14% |
Aggravated Assault |
297 |
299 |
1% |
Commercial Burglary |
207 |
102 |
-51% |
Residential Burglary |
281 |
264 |
-6% |
Motor Vehicle Theft |
680 |
792 |
16% |
Larceny from Motor Vehicle |
2329 |
2634 |
13% |
All Other, Larceny |
3342 |
3102 |
-7% |
TOTAL CRIME |
7372 |
7428 |
1% |
*All data is from the Virginia Beach Police Department and cross referenced with the FBI UCR*
How much has crime increased in Virginia Beach?
In 2021, Virginia Beach reported 7428 total crimes, which is a 1% increase over 2020.
In 2021, Virginia Beach reported 534 violent crimes, which is a 0% increase over 2020.
In 2021, Virginia Beach reported 13 murders, which is a 24% decrease over 2020.
In 2021, Virginia Beach reported 6,894 property crimes, which is a 1% increase over 2020.
Is the Virginia Beach Boardwalk safe?
The Virginia Beach boardwalk is generally a safe area to visit day and night.
You should keep in mind that the area around the boardwalk has a higher concentration of bars and clubs, where alcohol mixed with a typically younger crowd and seasonal tourists is more likely to be a factor.
Is Virginia Beach safe from hurricanes?
Virginia Beach is not safe from hurricanes and is susceptible to them due to its location on the coast.
Hurricane season in Virginia Beach is from June 1st through November 30th and the peak of hurricane season is mid-August to mid-October. Although hurricanes can and have occurred outside this time frame.
Is the public transportation in Virginia Beach safe?
The public transportation system in Virginia Beach is handled by Hampton Roads Transit and it offers many routes that interweave throughout the entire city. The HRT is generally a safe method of transportation to get around the city
There is also a trolley that goes up and down Atlantic Avenue that makes stops at bars and restaurants, with service running every 15 minutes. The trolley is only operational during the summer time.
Is Virginia Beach safe at night?
Virginia Beach is a safe place to visit at night. It’s one of the few places that you can walk anywhere in the city at night and not feel in danger. However, you shouldn’t throw all caution to the wind and you should always maintain awareness at all times.
What do residents of Virginia Beach say about it’s safety?
- "VB is very safe. I’ve never felt unsafe anywhere here. The biggest crimes is the drivers and traffic."
- "Virginia Beach is the safest city in the nation of its size."
- "There are VERY few areas in Virginia Beach to avoid when it gets dark, and even then it is rare that something happens."
- "The worst parts of Virginia Beach aren’t even remotely close to a bad area of Los Angeles or Chicago."
- "I’m an EMT driver here and there’s rarely any violent crime calls. Most of our trauma calls are from car wrecks."
- "VB is very safe. There aren’t really any “bad” areas, just ones that are perhaps less desirable than others."
- "VB consistently ranks high up on every ‘safest cities in the country’ lists. There’s not really any rough areas besides a few small patches of low income neighborhoods."
- "I’m a small woman and I’ve never ever felt unsafe here. I walk late at night, go out to the bars/restaurants frequently, and I’ve never encountered anything that made me feel unsafe."
Tips to stay safe while visiting Virginia Beach
- Be aware of your surroundings at all times.
- Don’t leave valuables in plain sight in your car. Take them with you or put it in the trunk.
- Walk with confidence and like you know where you are going. Don’t look like a lost tourist.
- Trust your gut. Walk away if something or someone doesn’t give you a good feeling.
- Don’t drink in excess and always keep an eye on your drink.
Is Virginia Beach, VA Safe To Visit?
Statistically speaking, Virginia Beach is a very safe city. It is one of the safest cities in the nation and it’s crime rate is the lowest in the nation for a city of its size.
Here’s a scale to give you some perspective on Virginia Beach’s crime rate:
Facts about Virginia Beach, VA
- The population of Virginia Beach in 2020 was 459,470 and is the 43rd most populous city in the United States.
- The city covers a land area of 244.72 square miles.
- The median age in the city is 33 years old.
- The median income for a household in the city was $76,610. The per capita income for the city was $34,329.
- 7.3% of the population live below the poverty line.
- The median home value in Virginia Beach is $355,526 in 2022.
- In 2022, the average rent for a Virginia Beach 2-bedroom apartment is $1,500.
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