VA · 8 cities
Dangerous neighborhoods in Virginia
Virginia recorded 211 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 36% below the national rate and down 12% since 2022. Of the 8 cities we cover, Newport News, Richmond and Norfolk have the highest rates and Virginia Beach the lowest. Each guide breaks down the specific blocks, transit points and hours where a little more attention pays off.
Virginia Beach
Richmond
Alexandria
Chesapeake
Hampton
Newport News
Norfolk
SuffolkFBI data · 2025
Most dangerous cities in Virginia, ranked
The 8 Virginia cities we cover, ordered by their official violent crime rate: murders, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults per 100,000 residents. 7 of 8 run above the state average of 211. A high citywide rate doesn't make a whole city unsafe: crime clusters in a few areas, and each guide above shows where.
- 1
Newport News
794 violent crimes per 100k
3.8× the state average
- 2
Richmond
442 violent crimes per 100k
2.1× the state average
- 3
Norfolk
400 violent crimes per 100k
1.9× the state average
| # | City | Violent per 100k | Property per 100k | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newport News | 794 | 2,282 | 182,798 |
| 2 | Richmond | 442 | 3,350 | 235,995 |
| 3 | Norfolk | 400 | 3,191 | 230,068 |
| 4 | Suffolk | 365 | 1,252 | 105,574 |
| 5 | Chesapeake | 320 | 1,480 | 257,012 |
| 6 | Hampton | 277 | 2,878 | 138,041 |
| 7 | Alexandria2024 | 264 | 2,689 | 155,153 |
| 8 | Virginia Beach | 101 | 1,486 | 454,805 |
| Virginia average | 211 | 1,395 | ||
| US average | 330 |
Safest cities in Virginia we cover
At the other end of the list, these have the lowest violent crime rates of the 8 cities in this ranking.
- Virginia Beach101 per 100k · 52% below the state average
- Alexandria264 per 100k · 1.2× the state average
- Hampton277 per 100k · 1.3× the state average
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer, offenses reported by each city's police department per 100,000 residents; most cities use 2025 data, and a small year next to a name marks a different latest complete year. Only cities with a neighborhood guide are included, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. How we rank cities.
Virginia crime: frequently asked questions
What is the most dangerous city in Virginia?
Of the 8 Virginia cities in our ranking, Newport News has the highest violent crime rate: 794 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2025, 3.8 times the state average. Richmond and Norfolk come next. Even in Newport News, crime is concentrated in a few areas, and our Newport News guide shows which ones.
What is the safest city in Virginia?
Among the cities we rank, Virginia Beach has the lowest violent crime rate, at 101 per 100,000 residents in 2025, 52% below the state average. Alexandria follows with 264. A low citywide rate doesn't mean every block is the same, but day-to-day risk is lower.
Is Virginia safe to visit?
For most visitors, yes, with ordinary precautions. Virginia recorded 211 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2025, 36% below the national rate of 330. Crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods and hours rather than spread evenly, so knowing where those areas are matters more than the statewide figure; our 8 city guides cover them block by block.
Which Virginia cities have above-average crime?
7 of the 8 cities we rank have a violent crime rate above the Virginia average of 211 per 100,000 residents: Newport News, Richmond, Norfolk, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton and Alexandria. The other 1 are below it.
Is crime going up or down in Virginia?
Violent crime in Virginia went from 240 offenses per 100,000 residents in 2022 to 211 in 2025, down 12%. Property crime went from 1,725 to 1,395 over 2022–2025, down 19%.
Where do these crime figures come from?
From the FBI Crime Data Explorer, which collects the offenses reported by each police department. Rates are offenses per 100,000 residents, so cities of different sizes can be compared, and years with incomplete reporting are left out. Our methodology explains the details.