Violent
Property
Total
Quick answer
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI crime data, Virginia Beach, VA has a Safety Score of 49/100 — higher crime than 51% of US cities — with a total crime rate of 1,733.3 per 100,000 residents, ranking #1,518 of 2,957 US cities and #11 of 38 in Virginia.
Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Virginia Beach, VA?
Safety Score
Violent Crime Rate
Property Crime Rate
Is Virginia Beach, Virginia Safe?
Virginia Beach, a coastal city where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic, is home to the Naval Air Station Oceana, a major employer. Its population of nearly half a million is diverse, with significant military and retiree communities.
Virginia Beach has a safety score of 49/100 (Higher Crime Than Average). Based on FBI data, the city reported a total crime rate of 1,733.3 per 100,000 residents, compared to the national average of 2,785.9 per 100,000.
Virginia Beach ranks #11 out of 38 cities in Virginia and #1518 out of 2957 nationally (safest first). This places it in the 49th percentile for safety — with higher crime than 51% of US cities.
Year over year, Virginia Beach's total crime rate decreased by 1.1%, with violent crime declining 2.1%.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Virginia Beach Crime Statistics Breakdown
| Crime Type | Incidents | Rate per 100K | National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime | 425 | 93.4 | 478.2 |
| Murder | 13 | 2.9 | 6.3 |
| Rape | 84 | 18.5 | 43.8 |
| Robbery | 144 | 31.6 | 94.0 |
| Aggravated Assault | 179 | 39.3 | 333.5 |
| Property Crime | 7,464 | 1,639.9 | 2,307.7 |
| Burglary | 382 | 83.9 | 292.0 |
| Larceny-Theft | 6,585 | 1,446.8 | 1,657.7 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 497 | 109.2 | 358.0 |
| Arson | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Virginia Beach vs Virginia Average
How does Virginia Beach's crime rate compare to the Virginia state average?
| Metric | Virginia Beach | Virginia Avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent Crime Rate | 93.4 | 338.9 | -72.5% |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,639.9 | 2,386.6 | -31.3% |
| Murder Rate | 2.9 | 9.8 | -70.8% |
| Total Crime Rate | 1,733.3 | 2,725.5 | -36.4% |
Virginia Beach Crime Rate Trends
Year-over-year crime rate changes for Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Between 2019 and 2024, Virginia Beach's total crime rate is down 8% (1,890 → 1,733 per 100,000). Violent crime is down 28% and property crime down 7% over the same period.
| Year | Coverage | Total Crime Rate | Violent Crime Rate | Property Crime Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 455,155 | 1,733.3 | 93.4 | 1,639.9 |
| 2023 | 453,991 | 1,751.8 | 95.4 | 1,656.4 |
| 2022 | 457,556 | 1,840.7 | 95.7 | 1,744.9 |
| 2021 | 451,938 | 1,690.1 | 114.6 | 1,575.4 |
| 2020 | 450,858 | 1,630.9 | 101.8 | 1,529.1 |
| 2019 | 449,038 | 1,890.0 | 129.4 | 1,760.7 |
Virginia Beach Crime Map — Surrounding Area
City-level crime rates from FBI data for Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach, Virginia safe?
Virginia Beach has a safety score of 49/100, meaning it has less crime than about 49% of US cities in our FBI dataset. With a total crime rate of 1,733.3 per 100,000 residents in 2024, Virginia Beach is higher-crime than most US cities.
What is the crime rate in Virginia Beach, Virginia?
According to FBI data for 2024, Virginia Beach has a violent crime rate of 93.4 per 100,000 and a property crime rate of 1,639.9 per 100,000 residents.
How does Virginia Beach compare to the national average?
Virginia Beach's total crime rate of 1,733.3 per 100,000 can be compared to the national average. The data covers 455,155 residents.
What types of crime are most common in Virginia Beach?
Based on FBI 2024 data, the most reported crimes in Virginia Beach are larceny-theft (6,585 reported incidents) and motor vehicle theft (497 reported incidents). Property crime outnumbers violent crime 17.6x in the city.
How many murders were reported in Virginia Beach in 2024?
13 murders were reported to the FBI for Virginia Beach in 2024 — a homicide rate of 2.9 per 100,000 residents.
Is crime in Virginia Beach going up or down?
Virginia Beach's total crime rate is falling: 8% lower in 2024 than in 2019 (1,733 vs 1,890 per 100,000, FBI data).
Is Virginia Beach safe to visit?
Like any city, Virginia Beach has areas that are safer than others. The city's overall safety score is 49/100 based on FBI crime data. Standard travel precautions are recommended.