Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI 2024 crime data, Colonial Heights, VA has a Safety Score of 11/100 — higher crime than 89% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,644.2 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,632 of 2,971 US cities and #33 of 38 in Virginia.
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Colonial Heights, Virginia Safe?
Colonial Heights, an independent city in Virginia, is nestled along the Appomattox River, just south of Petersburg. Historically significant for its role in the Bermuda Hundred Campaign during the Civil War, it remains a smaller community, covering only about 7.5 square miles.
Colonial Heights has a safety score of 11/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data for 2024, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,644.2 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,752.3 per 100,000.
Colonial Heights ranks #33 out of 38 cities in Virginia and #2632 out of 2971 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 11th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 89% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Colonial Heights is larceny-theft, at 2,913.2 per 100K — 1.8x the national average. Conversely, motor vehicle theft is relatively low at just 0.3x the national rate.
Year over year, Colonial Heights's total crime rate decreased by 0.1%, with violent crime rising 17.9%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Colonial Heights Crime Statistics Breakdown (2024)
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 86 | 462.2 | 473.3 |
| Murder | 2 | 10.8 | 6.2 |
| Rape | 5 | 26.9 | 43.4 |
| Robbery | 10 | 53.8 | 93.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 69 | 370.9 | 330.0 |
| Property Crime | 592 | 3,181.9 | 2,279.1 |
| Burglary | 30 | 161.3 | 287.8 |
| Larceny-Theft | 542 | 2,913.2 | 1,638.9 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 20 | 107.5 | 352.4 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Colonial Heights vs Virginia Average
How does Colonial Heights's crime rate compare to the Virginia state average?
| Metric | Colonial Heights | Virginia Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 462.2 | 338.9 | +36.4% |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,181.9 | 2,386.6 | +33.3% |
| Murder Rate | 10.8 | 9.8 | +9.6% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,644.2 | 2,725.5 | +33.7% |
Colonial Heights Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Colonial Heights, Virginia.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18,605 | 3,644.2 | 462.2 | 3,181.9 |
| 2023 | 18,363 | 3,648.6 | 392.1 | 3,256.6 |
| 2022 | 18,419 | 4,061.0 | 418.1 | 3,643.0 |
| 2021 | 17,171 | 4,880.3 | 448.4 | 4,431.9 |
| 2020 | 17,360 | 4,072.6 | 374.4 | 3,698.2 |
| 2019 | 17,793 | 4,451.2 | 404.7 | 4,046.5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Colonial Heights, Virginia safe?
Colonial Heights has a safety score of 11/100, meaning it has less crime than about 11% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,644.2 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Colonial Heights is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Colonial Heights, Virginia?
According to FBI data for 2024, Colonial Heights has a violent crime rate of 462.2 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 3,181.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Colonial Heights compare to the national average?
Colonial Heights's total crime rate of 3,644.2 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 18,605 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Colonial Heights?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Colonial Heights include larceny-theft, aggravated assault, and burglary. Property crime is generally more common than violent crime.
Is Colonial Heights safe to visit?
Like any city, Colonial Heights has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 11/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.