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D-

Is Virginia Beach, Virginia Safe?

Population 453,737 · Safer than 13% of US cities

Improving· 2023 FBI UCR data

Virginia Beach has a crime problem that shows up in the data. The D- safety grade reflects a violent crime rate above the national average and an overall rate of 281.5 per 1,000 residents. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,801 per 100K.

Virginia Beach Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricVirginia BeachVirginia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate432.4320.0363.8
Property Crime Rate2382.32045.21,832.3
Murder Rate6.0--5.7
Assault Rate319.0--268.2
Theft Rate1801.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate481.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyD-

281.5 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeD

432/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeD-

2382/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Virginia Beach

Violent crime in Virginia Beach is above the national average. The rate of 432.4 per 100K exceeds the national 363.8.

Property crime is above the national average at 2382.3 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,801 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Assault is notable at 319 per 100K, above the national 268.2.

Virginia Beach Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder6
01.1x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault319
01.2x national avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery77
01.2x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary411
01.5x national avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,801
01.3x national avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft481
01.5x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Virginia Beach Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Virginia Beach
432.4
State
320.0
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Virginia Beach
2382.3
State
2045.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Virginia Beach Safety

Is Virginia Beach safe?
Not especially. Virginia Beach earns a D- with a crime rate of 281.5 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs above the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Virginia Beach?
281.5 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 432.4 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 2382.3 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Virginia Beach safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Virginia Beach's D- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,801 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Virginia Beach?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Virginia Beach generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Virginia Beach police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Virginia Beach?
No. Crime in Virginia Beach has been trending down, which is good news for the D--rated city.
How does Virginia Beach compare to other cities in Virginia?
Below average for the state. Virginia Beach ranks behind about 93% of Virginia cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.3x the national rate.
How safe is Virginia Beach to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is above the national average. Crime has been dropping, which helps.
How bad is crime in Virginia Beach?
Bad. A D- grade and 281.5 per-thousand rate put Virginia Beach below 87% of US cities. Violent crime at 432 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Virginia Beach?
432.4 per 100,000, which is 19% above the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (319), robbery (77), and murder (6.0) per 100,000.

Nearby Cities in Virginia

Similar-sized communities in Virginia. Compare crime rates across the state.

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See crime rates in Alexandria160,662 pop · Grade D
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See crime rates in Hampton137,315 pop · Grade D-
View all Virginia city safety grades

Looking for things to do? See activities, events and places in Virginia Beach

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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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