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C

Is Petersburg, Virginia Safe?

Population 33,734 · Safer than 33% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Petersburg is a smaller community of 33,734 people with a C safety grade. Crime runs below the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 218.7 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,722 per 100K.

Petersburg Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricPetersburgVirginia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate248.8320.0363.8
Property Crime Rate1938.42045.21,832.3
Murder Rate4.0--5.7
Assault Rate188.0--268.2
Theft Rate1722.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate256.0--318.3

All rates per 100,000 residents. 2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report + Census Bureau population estimates.

Overall SafetyC

218.7 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeB-

249/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1938/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Petersburg

Violent crime in Petersburg is below the national average. The rate of 248.8 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1938.4 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,722 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Petersburg Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder4
070% of avgAvg: 5.7
Assault188
070% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery27
043% of avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary237
088% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,722
01.2x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft256
080% of avgAvg: 318.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. Vertical marker = national average.

How Petersburg Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Petersburg
248.8
State
320.0
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Petersburg
1938.4
State
2045.2
National
1832.3

Rates per 100,000 residents. National averages from 2023 FBI UCR data.

Frequently Asked Questions About Petersburg Safety

Is Petersburg safe?
Not especially. Petersburg earns a C with a crime rate of 218.7 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs below the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Petersburg?
218.7 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 248.8 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1938.4 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Petersburg safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Petersburg's C grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,722 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Petersburg?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Petersburg generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Petersburg police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Petersburg?
Crime rates have held steady in Petersburg, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C grade.
How does Petersburg compare to other cities in Virginia?
Below average for the state. Petersburg ranks behind about 69% of Virginia cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Petersburg to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is below the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Petersburg?
Bad. A C grade and 218.7 per-thousand rate put Petersburg below 67% of US cities. Violent crime at 249 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Petersburg?
248.8 per 100,000, which is 32% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (188), robbery (27), and murder (4.0) per 100,000.

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View all Virginia city safety grades

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2024 FBI Uniform Crime Report data and Census Bureau population estimates. Safety grades calculated using national and state-level crime rate distributions. Not a substitute for local law enforcement guidance.

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