Top 10 most dangerous cities in Virginia

Virginia, known for its rich history and diverse landscapes, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Richmond to the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Virginia faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Virginia are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Virginia's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Virginia involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Virginia. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Virginia's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

Portsmouth Population: 94,961 875 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.40 chance of being a victim: 1 in 114 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,757

Portsmouth, VA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Virginia with 875 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (565), robbery (213), rape (49) and homicide (48) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 274% higher than the Virginia average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Petersburg Population: 30,791 814 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.23 chance of being a victim: 1 in 123 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,369

The second most dangerous city is Petersburg. With a population of 30,791 and a violent crime rate that is 248% higher than the Virginia average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Petersburg are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 814 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 123 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Norfolk Population: 244,300 703 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.92 chance of being a victim: 1 in 142 Total Crimes / 100k: 5,575

Home to 244,300 residents, Norfolk, VA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Virginia. Unfortunately for residents of Norfolk, crime is widespread, with more than 703 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 1.92 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 200% higher than the Virginia violent crime rate.

Newport News Population: 179,582 610 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.67 chance of being a victim: 1 in 164 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,911

With a violent crime rate that is 160% higher than the Virginia average, it's not hard to see why Newport News made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (96), assault (465), rape (32) and homicide (17). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Newport News more vulnerable to high crime.

Roanoke Population: 99,122 605 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.66 chance of being a victim: 1 in 165 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,894

The ongoing battle with crime in Roanoke, VA, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 605 and a 1 in 165 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Roanoke has a violent crime rate that is 158% higher than the Virginia average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Roanoke.

Ashland Population: 7,819 574 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.57 chance of being a victim: 1 in 174 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,767

Ashland, VA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 574 per 100,000 people, which is 145% higher than the Virginia average. Ashland has a population of 7,819, which translates to 1.57 crimes per day and 1 in 174 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Ashland which are much safer than others.

Charlottesville Population: 47,217 541 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 185 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,952

A 1 in 185 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.48 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Charlottesville makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 541 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 131% higher than the Virginia average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (379), robbery (78), rape (80) and homicide (4).

Hopewell Population: 22,500 539 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.48 chance of being a victim: 1 in 186 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,501

Hopewell, VA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Virginia and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 22,500 and a violent crime rate of 539 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 329 counts of assault, 128 counts of robbery, 43 counts of rape and 38 counts of homicide. All told, the Hopewell violent crime rate is 130% higher than the Virginia average.

Franklin Population: 8,015 519 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.42 chance of being a victim: 1 in 193 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,642

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Franklin, VA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Virginia with a violent crime rate of 519 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.42 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 193 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Suffolk Population: 91,383 476 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.30 chance of being a victim: 1 in 210 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,268

Rounding out our list at #10 is Suffolk, VA. With a population of 91,383 and a violent crime rate of 476 per 100,000 people (104% higher than the Virginia average), some parts of Suffolk are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 367 counts of assault, 61 counts of robbery, 36 counts of rape and 12 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 210 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Virginia

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Portsmouth	94,961	875	5,757
2	Petersburg	30,791	814	3,369
3	Norfolk	244,300	703	5,575
4	Newport News	179,582	610	2,911
5	Roanoke	99,122	605	4,894
6	Ashland	7,819	574	2,767
7	Charlottesville	47,217	541	3,952
8	Hopewell	22,500	539	2,501
9	Franklin	8,015	519	3,642
10	Suffolk	91,383	476	2,268
11	Farmville	8,152	457	3,395
12	Orange	5,024	457	2,018
13	Emporia	5,408	443	3,974
14	Chesapeake	242,647	417	2,428
15	Fredericksburg	29,059	413	4,386
16	Richlands	5,311	388	1,687
17	Martinsville	12,646	381	2,496
18	Bristol	17,059	373	3,069
19	Richmond	229,233	360	3,792
20	Lynchburg	80,970	358	2,819
21	Pulaski	8,744	335	3,801
22	South Boston	7,676	330	2,664
23	Danville	40,668	325	3,519
24	Radford	17,833	318	1,408
25	Marion	5,646	315	2,609
26	Colonial Heights	17,283	304	3,724
27	Leesburg	53,731	300	1,711
28	Manassas	41,038	294	2,507
29	Covington	5,653	279	1,238
30	Hampton	135,169	270	3,176
31	Winchester	27,912	268	3,043
32	Dumfries	5,559	265	1,908
33	Galax	6,402	256	4,074
34	Herndon	24,577	253	1,961
35	Woodstock	5,247	253	1,653
36	Harrisonburg	53,558	251	2,060
37	Waynesboro	22,300	227	2,100
38	Smithfield	8,492	227	1,314
39	Bedford	6,599	225	3,233
40	Front Royal	15,214	211	1,724
41	Williamsburg	15,034	209	1,748
42	Culpeper	18,633	206	1,833
43	Vinton	8,102	200	2,176
44	Abingdon	7,936	194	1,730
45	Alexandria	158,309	186	2,138
46	Christiansburg	22,482	184	2,548
47	Strasburg	6,643	165	935
48	Poquoson	12,121	165	644
49	Warrenton	9,928	157	1,233
50	Big Stone Gap	5,209	155	1,940

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Virginia is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Virginia cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.