Virginia: The Best and Worst Cities for Crime

The cities with the lowest violent crime rates were Pearisburg and Shenandoah, located near stunning natural parks.
Derek Prall
July 24, 2024 Derek Prall Derek Prall , Home Security Expert | July 24, 2024
Statewide Crime Property Crime Violent Crime

Virginia is a unique state. It’s one of just four states that are considered “commonwealths” (the other three are Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and neighboring Kentucky). It’s also unique among southern states because it has a relatively low property crime rate and a very low violent crime rate.

The historic village of Chatham, founded in 1777, has the lowest property crime rate of all cities in Virginia. Norton has the highest property rate in Virginia, but the small Appalachian community is one of the least populous cities in the entire state.

virginia-city-map

The city with the highest violent crime rate was Portsmouth, which is home to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. This base is the Navy’s largest industrial facility. On the other hand, the cities with the lowest violent crime rates were Pearisburg, Shenandoah, and Berryville. Pearisburg is a small, quiet town located near the Appalachian Trail, and Shenandoah is another mountain town located near the Shenandoah National Park.

Statewide Crime Trends in Virginia

Violent crime in Virginia hovers at a low rate of 234 per 100,000 residents annually, making it the 42nd most violent state by reported crime statistics. However, crime in Virginia has been on a steady rise since the pandemic.

According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, Virginians aged 20 to 29 were most likely to be victims and perpetrators of violent crime in 2022. Those in the 30 to 39 age group were most likely to be victims of property crime.

Property Crime in Virginia

Property crime in Virginia occurred at a rate of 1,696 per 100,000 residents per year, 13 percent lower than the national average, and ranking the commonwealth in 30th place among the 50 states for property crimes.

virginia-property crime ratesFor every 100,000 people living in Virginia, the most recent year of reported crime data revealed 125 burglaries, 161 car thefts, and 1,410 incidents of larceny-theft.

Violent Crime in Virginia

Virginia currently has an annual violent crime rate of approximately 234 incidents per 100,000 residents, which makes its rate the 9th lowest in the nation.

While Virginia’s violent crime rate is 39 percent lower than the national average, its crime rates are on the rise. It may be advisable for Virginia residents living there long-term to take reasonable precautions for their personal and home safety.

virginia-violent crime ratesFor every 100,000 residents, there were 7 murders or non-negligent manslaughters, 30 rapes, 38 robberies, and 158 aggravated assaults.

Our Data

Our data comes from comprehensive reporting compiled by the FBI and accessed via the Crime Data Explorer website. Property and violent crime state figures were drawn from Table 5 of the 2022 Crime in the U.S. Report. Metropolitan figures were found in Table 6, Crime in the U.S. by Metropolitan Statistical Area. City-level figures were drawn from Table 8, Offenses Known to Law Enforcement by State by City. The population figures in that table are U.S. Census Bureau provisional estimates as of July 1, 2020.

Limitations: According to the FBI, the data in the publication tables may differ from those released on the Explorer Pages of the CDE. These variations are due to the difference in methodologies between the publication tables and data displayed on the CDE. Please note that crime statistics are not the sole measure of a city’s safety.

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