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Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Newport News, VA has a Safety Score of 17/100 — higher crime than 83% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 3,152.1 per 100,000 residents, ranking #2,448 of 2,957 US cities and #27 of 38 in Virginia.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Newport News, VA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Newport News, Virginia Safe?
Newport News, a shipbuilding hub with a deepwater port on the James River, is home to a diverse population. Its economy has long been shaped by military installations and maritime industries, influencing its cultural landscape.
Newport News has a safety score of 17/100 (High Crime). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 3,152.1 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Newport News ranks #27 out of 38 cities in Virginia and #2448 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 17th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 83% of US cities.
The most elevated crime category in Newport News is murder, at 12.0 per 100K — 1.9x the national average. Conversely, rape is relatively low at just 0.7x the national rate.
Year over year, Newport News's total crime rate decreased by 7.1%, with violent crime declining 16%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Newport News Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 1,351 | 736.0 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 22 | 12.0 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 53 | 28.9 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 156 | 85.0 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 1,120 | 610.1 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 4,435 | 2,416.1 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 407 | 221.7 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 3,504 | 1,908.9 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 524 | 285.5 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Newport News vs Virginia Average
How does Newport News's crime rate compare to the Virginia state average?
| Metric | Newport News | Virginia Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 736.0 | 338.9 | +117.2% |
| Property Crime Rate | 2,416.1 | 2,386.6 | +1.2% |
| Murder Rate | 12.0 | 9.8 | +22.1% |
| Total Crime Rate | 3,152.1 | 2,725.5 | +15.7% |
Newport News Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Newport News, Virginia.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 183,563 | 3,152.1 | 736.0 | 2,416.1 |
| 2023 | 183,600 | 3,392.7 | 875.8 | 2,516.9 |
| 2022 | 183,903 | 2,911.3 | 620.4 | 2,290.9 |
| 2021 | 178,662 | 2,658.7 | 659.9 | 1,998.8 |
| 2020 | 178,896 | 2,691.0 | 633.9 | 2,057.1 |
| 2019 | 177,319 | 3,124.3 | 595.5 | 2,528.8 |
Newport News Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Newport News and nearby cities — green is safer, red is higher-crime; circle size is population. Not an incident-level map. Full state view: Virginia crime map.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Newport News, Virginia safe?
Newport News has a safety score of 17/100, meaning it has less crime than about 17% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 3,152.1 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Newport News is among the highest-crime US cities.
What is the crime rate in Newport News, Virginia?
According to FBI data for 2024, Newport News has a violent crime rate of 736.0 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 2,416.1 per 100,000 residents.
How does Newport News compare to the national average?
Newport News's total crime rate of 3,152.1 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 183,563 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Newport News?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Newport News are larceny-theft (3,504 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (1,120 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 3.3x in the city.
Is Newport News safe to visit?
Like any city, Newport News has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 17/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.