Safest Cities in Virginia (2023)

Virginia Safety Analysis

• Virginia ranks #7 out of 51 states for safety, placing it firmly among the safest states in the nation. Across 10 tracked cities with a combined population of 2,090,274, crime rates consistently fall below national benchmarks.
• The average violent crime rate across Virginia cities is 418 per 100K residents, which is 13% below the national average of 481/100K. This lower rate reflects relatively fewer assaults, robberies, and homicides compared to the rest of the country.
• Property crime averages 2,953/100K across Virginia, 6% below the national average of 3,153/100K. Residents face lower risk of burglary, larceny, and vehicle theft compared to most states.
• Only 12% of crime in Virginia is violent, well below the typical 20-25% national share. While property crime remains the primary concern, the risk of violent victimization is comparatively low.
• Portsmouth leads Virginia with a safety score of 76/100, making it one of the safest communities in the state. Cities scoring above 70 typically have violent crime rates less than half the national average.