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C-

Is Williamsburg, Virginia Safe?

Population 15,861 · Safer than 29% of US cities

Stable· 2023 FBI UCR data

Williamsburg is a smaller community of 15,861 people with a C- safety grade. Crime runs close to the national average for violent offenses, and the overall rate sits at 229.9 per 1,000. Property crime makes up the majority of offenses, with theft at 1,327 per 100K.

Williamsburg Crime Rates vs State and National Averages

MetricWilliamsburgVirginia AvgNational Avg
Violent Crime Rate362.2320.0363.8
Property Crime Rate1937.12045.21,832.3
Murder Rate7.0--5.7
Assault Rate239.0--268.2
Theft Rate1327.0--1,401.5
Vehicle Theft Rate334.0--318.3

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

Overall SafetyC-

229.9 crimes per 1,000 residents

Violent CrimeC-

362/100K (national avg: 364)

Property CrimeC-

1937/100K (national avg: 1,832)

Key Crime Statistics for Williamsburg

Violent crime in Williamsburg is close to the national average. The rate of 362.2 per 100K falls below the national 363.8.

Property crime is close to the national average at 1937.1 per 100K vs. the national 1,832.3.

Theft is the most reported crime at 1,327 per 100K. The national average is 1,401.5.

Williamsburg Crime Breakdown by Category

Murder7
01.2x national avgAvg: 5.7
Assault239
089% of avgAvg: 268.2
Robbery82
01.3x national avgAvg: 63.3
Burglary227
084% of avgAvg: 269.8
Theft1,327
095% of avgAvg: 1,401.5
Vehicle Theft334
01.0x national avgAvg: 318.3

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

How Williamsburg Compares

Violent Crime Rate (per 100K)

Williamsburg
362.2
State
320.0
National
363.8

Property Crime Rate (per 100K)

Williamsburg
1937.1
State
2045.2
National
1832.3

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

Frequently Asked Questions About Williamsburg Safety

Is Williamsburg safe?
Not especially. Williamsburg earns a C- with a crime rate of 229.9 per 1,000 residents, and violent crime runs close to the national average. Standard precautions apply, especially at night.
What is the crime rate in Williamsburg?
229.9 per 1,000 residents. That breaks down to a violent crime rate of 362.2 per 100,000 (the national average is 363.8) and property crime at 1937.1 per 100,000 (national average: 1832.3).
Is Williamsburg safe for tourists?
Exercise extra caution. Williamsburg's C- grade reflects real risk, particularly for property crime. Theft (1,327 per 100K) is the biggest concern for visitors. Stay in well-lit, busy areas at night.
What are the safest neighborhoods in Williamsburg?
Neighborhood-level data varies, but suburban residential areas in Williamsburg generally report lower crime than downtown or commercial districts. For block-level detail, check the Williamsburg police department's crime map.
Is crime increasing in Williamsburg?
Crime rates have held steady in Williamsburg, without significant movement in either direction. The city maintains its C- grade.
How does Williamsburg compare to other cities in Virginia?
Below average for the state. Williamsburg ranks behind about 76% of Virginia cities on safety, with property crime being the bigger issue at 1.1x the national rate.
How safe is Williamsburg to live in?
Worth factoring into your decision. Violent crime is close to the national average, which is encouraging. Rates have been stable.
How bad is crime in Williamsburg?
Bad. A C- grade and 229.9 per-thousand rate put Williamsburg below 71% of US cities. Violent crime at 362 per 100K is the core problem.
What is the violent crime rate in Williamsburg?
362.2 per 100,000, which is 0% below the national average of 363.8. That includes assault (239), robbery (82), and murder (7.0) 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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