Most dangerous cities in Virginia research summary. We analyzed the most recent FBI crime data using Saturday Night Science to determine the most dangerous cities in Virginia.
We examined the violent and property crime per capita statistics for every place with over 5,000 residents. In total, we analyzed 63 Virginia cities. Here are the results of our analysis:
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The most dangerous city in Virginia is Portsmouth based on the most recent FBI crime data.
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The violent crime rate in Virginia is 875 per 100k people.
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The property crime rate in Virginia is 4,881 per 100k people.
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The safest city in Virginia is Blacksburg.
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Virginia is the 44th most dangerous state in the United States.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Table | Methodology | FAQs | References
There are things more dangerous than being bitten by a blue crab on Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay in Old Dominion.
Turns out, Virginia has its fair share of dangerous cities.
How do you navigate these dangerous Virginia cities when making an informed decision on where to call home?
We did the work for you. Using Saturday Night Science, we looked at violent and property crimes per capita in the 63 cities with a population of at least 5,000. Like all states, some Virginia cities are bound to be more dangerous than others.
The Most Dangerous Cities In Virginia For 2023
What city is the most dangerous place to live in Virginia for 2023? According to the FBI data, the most dangerous place to live in Virginia is Portsmouth.
The Virginia cities on our most dangerous list could definitely use some TLC. If you’re looking for a challenge or just curious to see if your city made the list, take a look at the complete table of crime rates by place in Virginia.
For more Virginia reading, check out:
- Most dangerous cities in the US
- Best Places To Live In Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Virginia
The 10 Most Dangerous Places To Live In Virginia For 2023
/10
Population: 98,003
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 875 (Most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,881 (Most dangerous)
Murders: 47
More on Portsmouth: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
If you thought having a a whole bunch of battleships around would make Portsmouth any safer, think again. Portsmouth ranked #1 in both violent and property crime in Virginia for 2023, with an overall crime rate three times higher than the statewide average.
Residents faced a 1 in 114 chance of being the victim of an attack, murder, or rape reported in 2022, so it’s not a bad idea to keep your guard up on the streets of Portsmouth.
You also want to keep your doors locked in Portsmouth because the city had the third highest burglary rate in Virginia, with 421 cases recorded over the year.
Portsmouth is located on the west bank of the Elizabeth River, across from Norfolk.
/10
Population: 233,419
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 702 (Third most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,871 (Second most dangerous)
Murders: 63
More on Norfolk: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Virginia’s 3rd most populous city, Norfolk, also ranks as the state’s second most dangerous city.
Violent crime is especially bad in Norfolk, where residents had a 1 in 142 chance of being the victim of an assault, rape, or murder in 2022. That’s the kind of thing that makes it hard to stop and smell the flowers at Norfolk Botanical Garden.
That being said, Norfolk is a city of 233,419, so if you steer clear of the worst neighborhoods in Norfolk, you should be as safe as houses.
/10
Population: 98,204
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 604 (Fifth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 4,289 (Third most dangerous)
Murders: 18
More on Roanoke: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Roanoke is the commercial hub of Southwest Virginia and also one of the state’s most dangerous cities.
Property crime is disturbingly high in Roanoke. To give you an idea, a resident living in Roanoke had a 1 in 23 shot of having their stuff stolen or damaged in 2022. And with the second highest burglary rate in Virginia, we hope there’s enough security at Roanoke’s museums to stave off any would-be heists.
On top of property crime, Roanoke experienced about one murder a month on average, so keeping your guard up here is just good protocol.
/10
Population: 45,089
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 541 (Seventh most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,411 (11th most dangerous)
Murders: 2
More on Charlottesville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Charlottesville, the fourth most dangerous place to live in Virginia, has seen concerning crime statistics contributing to its reputation.
The crime rates per capita are approximately 541/100k violent crimes and 3,411/100k property crimes per 100,000 people. These figures indicate a need for increased safety measures and police presence within the city. However, it’s important to note that with concerted efforts and community involvement, Charlottesville has the potential to improve its safety ranking and create a more secure environment for its residents.
/10
Population: 28,844
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 412 (15th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,973 (Fourth most dangerous)
Murders: 0
More on Fredericksburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Located in Virginia, the city of Fredericksburg ranks as the fifth most dangerous place to live in the state for 2023. With a population of 28,844, Fredericksburg has experienced concerning crime statistics contributing to its reputation as a dangerous area. The city has witnessed 119 violent crimes. Additionally, 1,146 property crimes, such as burglaries, have been reported.
Located near the Rappahannock River and with its historical significance during the colonial era and the Civil War, Fredericksburg possesses unique assets that can be leveraged to enhance safety and attract visitors. By working together, residents and authorities can strive towards making Fredericksburg a safer place for all its residents.
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Population: 5,637
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 443 (13th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,530 (Seventh most dangerous)
Murders: 3
More on Emporia: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Ultimately, the word “Emporia” harkens back to ancient Carthage. However, that’s not quite the source of this town’s name. Instead, the moniker comes from a town Kansas — not quite as fancy a namesake..
Wherever the name comes from, this town in south-central Virginia, sits along I-95, about 15 minutes north of the North Carolina border. Fleeing the jurisdiction quickly might be part of the appeal for certain residents of Emporia. After all, this town endures high rate of larceny, robbery and arson.
/10
Population: 33,546
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 813 (Second most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,554 (19th most dangerous)
Murders: 21
More on Petersburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Located just south of the Appomattox River from Colonial Heights, Petersburg has a bigger problem with violent crime than its northern neighbor.
Petersburg experienced 21 murders in 2022, which gave it the highest murder rate in Virginia. Overall, residents faced a 1 in 122 shot of being the victim of an attack over the year.
Makes you wonder if the Petersburg National Battlefield Park is a memorial site or a testament to day-to-day life in Petersburg.
/10
Population: 8,292
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 518 (Ninth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 3,123 (13th most dangerous)
Murders: 3
More on Franklin: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Franklin, the eighth most dangerous place to live in Virginia, is plagued by high crime rates and a concerning level of violence. With a population of 8,292, this small city in Franklin County experiences significant criminal activity. The statistics reveal that there were 43 violent crimes, including 3 murder cases, 3 rapes, 11 robberies, and 26 aggravated assaults
Located in the southwesternmost part of Hampton Roads, Virginia, Franklin is surrounded by Isle of Wight County to the north and east and Southampton County to the north, west, and south.
/10
Population: 7,216
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 457 (11th most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,937 (15th most dangerous)
Murders: 1
More on Farmville: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Farmville, in Virginia’s Cumberland County, has a population of 7,216. However, recent statistics reveal that this locale ranks as the ninth most dangerous place to live in Virginia. The last reporting year saw a distressing rise in violent crimes, with 33 reported incidents.
In addition to violent crime, Farmville’s property crime rates are also cause for concern. The town reported 212 instances of property-related crimes, earning it the 15 spot in the state for this category.
/10
Population: 183,903
Violent Crimes Per 100k: 609 (Fourth most dangerous)
Property Crimes Per 100k: 2,301 (24th most dangerous)
Murders: 31
More on Newport News: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living
Located on the peninsula side of Hampton Roads in the Tidewater region of Virginia, Newport News ranks as the state’s tenth most dangerous city.
While Newport News is home to a the Virginia War Museum, the real violence is going down on the city’s streets. Folks in Newport News had a 1 in 164 chance of being the victim of a violent crime in 2022.
On the bright side, property crime in Newport News ranks as the lowest on this list. Now if they could cut down on aggravated assaults, they’ll be off this list by next year.
Crime By City In Virginia
| Rank | City | Population | Total Crimes Per 100K | Violent Crimes Per 100K | Property Crimes Per 100K | Murders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portsmouth | 98,003 | 5,756 | 875 | 4,881 | 47 |
| 2 | Norfolk | 233,419 | 5,574 | 702 | 4,871 | 63 |
| 3 | Roanoke | 98,204 | 4,893 | 604 | 4,289 | 18 |
| 4 | Charlottesville | 45,089 | 3,952 | 541 | 3,411 | 2 |
| 5 | Fredericksburg | 28,844 | 4,385 | 412 | 3,973 | 0 |
| 6 | Emporia | 5,637 | 3,973 | 443 | 3,530 | 3 |
| 7 | Petersburg | 33,546 | 3,368 | 813 | 2,554 | 21 |
| 8 | Franklin | 8,292 | 3,642 | 518 | 3,123 | 3 |
| 9 | Farmville | 7,216 | 3,395 | 457 | 2,937 | 1 |
| 10 | Newport News | 183,903 | 2,911 | 609 | 2,301 | 31 |
| 11 | Richmond | 227,323 | 3,792 | 359 | 3,432 | 59 |
| 12 | Pulaski | 8,944 | 3,801 | 335 | 3,466 | 0 |
| 13 | Ashland | 7,661 | 2,767 | 574 | 2,192 | 0 |
| 14 | Danville | 42,111 | 3,519 | 325 | 3,193 | 8 |
| 15 | Bristol | 16,909 | 3,069 | 372 | 2,696 | 2 |
| 16 | Colonial Heights | 18,419 | 3,724 | 304 | 3,420 | 1 |
| 17 | Galax | 6,652 | 4,073 | 255 | 3,818 | 0 |
| 18 | Hopewell | 23,395 | 2,500 | 538 | 1,961 | 9 |
| 19 | Lynchburg | 79,421 | 2,819 | 357 | 2,461 | 8 |
| 20 | Chesapeake | 253,745 | 2,428 | 417 | 2,010 | 25 |
| 21 | South Boston | 7,884 | 2,663 | 329 | 2,333 | 3 |
| 22 | Martinsville | 13,660 | 2,496 | 380 | 2,115 | 0 |
| 23 | Suffolk | 98,065 | 2,267 | 476 | 1,791 | 12 |
| 24 | Hampton | 138,843 | 3,176 | 270 | 2,906 | 21 |
| 25 | Winchester | 28,363 | 3,042 | 267 | 2,774 | 1 |
| 26 | Marion | 5,711 | 2,609 | 315 | 2,293 | 0 |
| 27 | Bedford | 6,681 | 3,233 | 224 | 3,008 | 0 |
| 28 | Manassas | 42,836 | 2,507 | 294 | 2,213 | 0 |
| 29 | Orange | 5,254 | 2,017 | 456 | 1,560 | 0 |
| 30 | Wytheville | 8,199 | 3,817 | 121 | 3,695 | 0 |
| 31 | Richlands | 5,158 | 1,686 | 387 | 1,298 | 1 |
| 32 | Christiansburg | 21,746 | 2,547 | 183 | 2,363 | 0 |
| 33 | Waynesboro | 22,903 | 2,100 | 227 | 1,873 | 0 |
| 34 | Harrisonburg | 51,363 | 2,059 | 251 | 1,808 | 1 |
| 35 | Dumfries | 5,659 | 1,908 | 265 | 1,643 | 3 |
| 36 | Vinton | 7,996 | 2,176 | 200 | 1,975 | 0 |
| 37 | Herndon | 24,070 | 1,960 | 253 | 1,707 | 1 |
| 38 | Radford | 16,978 | 1,407 | 318 | 1,089 | 0 |
| 39 | Leesburg | 49,395 | 1,710 | 299 | 1,411 | 2 |
| 40 | Alexandria | 150,957 | 2,137 | 186 | 1,951 | 6 |
| 41 | Fairfax City | 24,509 | 2,419 | 110 | 2,309 | 1 |
| 42 | Covington | 5,733 | 1,238 | 279 | 959 | 0 |
| 43 | Woodstock | 5,929 | 1,652 | 252 | 1,399 | 0 |
| 44 | Culpeper | 20,836 | 1,833 | 206 | 1,626 | 1 |
| 45 | Williamsburg | 15,790 | 1,747 | 208 | 1,538 | 0 |
| 46 | Front Royal | 15,201 | 1,723 | 210 | 1,513 | 0 |
| 47 | Staunton | 25,611 | 2,006 | 140 | 1,866 | 1 |
| 48 | Big Stone Gap | 5,155 | 1,939 | 155 | 1,784 | 0 |
| 49 | Smithfield | 8,827 | 1,314 | 226 | 1,087 | 0 |
| 50 | Abingdon | 8,265 | 1,730 | 193 | 1,536 | 0 |
Methodology: How we determined the most dangerous cities in Virginia for 2023?
Every year the FBI release two crime datasets on cities in Virginia. First a preliminary dataset limited to the biggest cities in Virginia, followed by a more detailed release at the end of the year.
For our analysis, we focused on the 2022 data, specifically the 2022 Crime In The United States Report for Virginia.
So what criteria did we use? Have a look:
- Violent Crimes Per Capita
- Property Crimes Per Capita
In order to make the analysis as apples to apples as possible, we only considered Virginia cities over 5,000 in population. That left us with 63 cities in Virginia.
We then ranked each city from 1 to 63 for the two criteria with a #1 ranking being the most dangerous for the particular criteria.
Next, we averaged the two rankings into one “Dangerous Index”.
Finally, we ranked every city on the “Dangerous Index” with the lowest index being the most dangerous in Virginia — Portsmouth. Any ties went to the smaller city.
This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. It is our tenth time ranking the most dangerous places to live in Virginia and is updated for 2023.
Most Dangerous Places To Live In Virginia FAQs
No, Virginia is not a dangerous state as it ranks as the #7 safest state in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. The violent crime rate in Virginia ranks 45th most dangerous in the United States — 43.58% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the Old Dominion ranks 40th most dangerous in the United States — 25.48% better than US average property crime rate. The latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022.
No, Virginia Beach is not a dangerous city. Virginia Beach ranks as the #48 safest out of 328 major cities over 100,000 people in the United States based on our analysis of the latest FBI Crime Data. Keep in mind that are always safe and dangerous parts of any city, so even though Virginia Beach might be considered safe you still need to be aware of where you are. For example, US Navy Little Creek Amphibious Base is the safest in Virginia Beach, while North Central is considered dangerous by many based on recent crime stats.
Compared to other big cities, the violent crime rate in Virginia Beach ranks 320th highest in America — 84.21% better than US average violent crime rate. The property crime rate in the ranks 268th highest in the United States — 40.98% better than US average property crime rate. Note the latest reporting year from the FBI was 2022 and that no city in America is ‘dangerous’. Despite the uptick in murders, it’s nothing like you’d see in Tijuana or Caracas where the murder rate is 2x any American city.
Graphing The Most Dangerous And Safest Places In Virginia
Summary: Locking It All Up In Virginia
So what is the most dangerous city in Virginia? After analyzing 63 cities in Virginia, Portsmouth takes the top spot as the most dangerous city in Virginia based on the most recently reported FBI data — 2022.
The latest FBI crime data shows that Portsmouth ranks as the most dangerous city in Virginia for 2023.
We want to point out again that there’s still safes places in Portsmouth and that this isn’t a comment on the people that live there. So please don’t beat us up.
What city is the most dangerous place to live in Virginia for 2023? According to the FBI data, the most dangerous place to live in Virginia is Portsmouth.
The Virginia cities on our most dangerous list could definitely use some TLC. If you’re looking for a challenge or just curious to see if your city made the list, take a look at the complete table of crime rates by place in Virginia.
Learn more about the safest places in Virginia.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the most dangerous cities in America or the most dangerous states in America.
Here are the safest cities in Virginia:
- Virginia Beach (Pop. 457,556)
- Warrenton (Pop. 10,218)
- Strasburg (Pop. 7,270)
- Buena Vista (Pop. 6,605)
- Poquoson (Pop. 12,738)
- Vienna (Pop. 16,194)
- Lexington (Pop. 7,628)
- Bridgewater (Pop. 6,215)
- Purcellville (Pop. 9,103)
- Blacksburg (Pop. 45,749)
For more Virginia reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Virginia
- Cheapest Places To Live In Virginia
- Best Places To Raise A Family In Virginia
- Safest Places In Virginia
- Worst Cities In Virginia For 2017
I think we are really not getting a apples to apples review…
Per capita…just saying
Bogus story, to say the least…
Portsmouth Is’nt That BADDD People,…. I’ve Been Here For 54yrs. Just Sayin 🙂
In my opinion it is more dangerous in Newport News than any of these cities (Norfolk resident.)
That’s the problem when you make judgements based solely on numbers with no experience in the actual area. I’m an NN resident, and I agree that we are worse then all these other cities.
Do believe that. NN is not the as dangerous as the numbers we have you to believe. According to the Data Newport News is more dangerous than Compton California. Here’s why; California broke down into smaller cities as to drop the population numbers in given areas below 100,000 so it would be reported in a different category or not at all. Newport is easily on it’s way to 200k in population. What if we took Menchville or Kiln Creek and made them separate cites; what would the numbers say then. No one has walked into a Newport News 7-11 in the last 25 years I’ve lived in the 757 and shot anyone in the face with a shot gun, but it has happened in Williamsburg. Need I say more.
Norfolk and Portsmouth???
Absolutely no surprise there.
NO WAY, should Tappahannock, Virginia be on this list. I moved to Tappahannock when I was about three years old. It is and as always been a wonderful place to live. There has never been any type of high crime of by kind there that warrants us to be on this list. We are a small town with lots of love and compassion for one another. Although I don’t live there anymore, I frequent the area often as my parents still live there. I love my hometown and am very disturbed by this report.
Where’s Newport News? XD
What do all of these cities have in common? They are all high density black communities.
Actually the majority of the towns and cities listed are not high density nor are the black communities. What they are unfortunately as a majority are rural areas that were heavily reliant on single source factories that closed. Thereby destroying their local economies. Whether it was Dan River, Uniroyal or DOD contractors, if a local economy is built on and around a specific company and it closes and there is no contingency plan this is the end result.
Appalachia, VA is the only one that is predominately Caucasian, but it’s an incredibly depressed area since Obama closed so many coal mines and mining is all they know + there is no town/city close for the people to pursue an alternative. Moreover, all they’d have to do is commit possibly two property crimes to be on the list, look at the population.
I am stunned the writer of this article would consider this place since it doesn’t even have it’s own school district/police force or anything. They share everything with Wise County.
There are two more that are about 50/50 Roanoke, and Tapahanach has about 50% people of color and 48% Caucasian and 2% Hispanic. However, you are right on target when it comes to the rest of the towns/cities. Personally, I feel he was grasping at straws when he put Appalachia and Tappahannock in the article. He felt he had to have at least two towns/cities predominately caucasian to make the article seem fairer. OBTW, the word Tappahannock is pronounced (TAPP’-ah-HANN’-ock) Tappahannock.
Richmond (I live) is 54% people of color, and the remaining towns/cities are either higher or about the same. So the person who wrote it’s not based on the racial makeup of the towns/cities is not altogether correct.
And for those of you that are offended by my comment, all I can tell you is read the statistics across the country. The crime rate among men of color is three times higher than any other race in America.
Admittedly, it could be some of the other factors in the article, but being one who’s very familiar with Richmond and Petersburg, I would have to agree more with your analysis.
The “writer” of this story desperately needs to learn when and where to use apostrophes.
in Norfolk, gunshots are so common that no one calls them in, and 24 hours a day we hear sirens up and down Little Creek rd. And really: Newport News may have snatched the Murder Capitol title from Petersburg; gang/drug violence is worse there than it is here in Norfolk. pretty spot-on article.
I live in Lynchburg actually in the city. We hear sirens every night. There are shootings and stabbings every week and Channel 13 doesn’t report any of it. Channel 7 out of Roanoke lets people know whats going on. I think Lynchburg in general needs to be better informed. There was a shooting at the hospital last night.
“Home to a large navy facility and, it’s name sake, a large port, these institutions may contribute to the to large incidence of crime.”
What exactly is meant by this ? Are you suggesting Portsmouth is a sh!thole because of the Navy and yard birds (civilian contractors)?
if you are thinking about moving or visiting Ashland, don’t. its full of herion addicts and meth heads that just want to rob you for your money. its also the drug capital of virginia and the police don’t do a fucking thing about it.
Richmond ( not counted)?
Richmond is likely #1
Richmond should be on this list. Shootings have increased.
How in the world is Norfolk below Portsmouth and Newport News? I lived in Hampton Roads for 10 years and went to school at Old Dominion. No way is this correct.