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Charlottesville, VA vs Norfolk, VA Crime Comparison

Side-by-side crime rates, safety scores, and trends based on FBI data.

Full report: Charlottesville crime rate · Norfolk crime rate

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Is Charlottesville, VA or Norfolk, VA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Charlottesville, VA is safer than Norfolk, VA (Safety Score 12/100 vs 7/100), with a total crime rate of 3,550 per 100,000 versus 4,242 for Norfolk, VA — 16% lower. Charlottesville has lower rates in 7 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Charlottesville has a 86% lower rate.

Note: Norfolk is 5.1x larger by coverage, which can affect crime rate comparisons. Larger cities tend to report higher rates due to density and more comprehensive reporting.

Quiz: which of these is SAFER than Charlottesville, VA?

Charlottesville — 5-Year Trend

Increasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Norfolk — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Increasing Property Increasing Total

Charlottesville, VA

Charlottesville, VA
Safety Score 12/100
Coverage 44,844
Total Crime Rate 3,550.1
Category Wins 7/7

Norfolk, VA

Norfolk, VA
Safety Score 7/100
Coverage 230,460
Total Crime Rate 4,242.0
Category Wins 0/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Charlottesville Norfolk Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,550.1 4,242.0 -691.9
Violent Crime Rate 359.0 469.5 -110.5
Murder Rate 2.2 16.1 -13.8
Rape Rate 42.4 40.4 +2.0
Robbery Rate 60.2 77.2 -17.0
Aggravated Assault Rate 254.2 335.9 -81.6
Property Crime Rate 3,191.1 3,772.5 -581.4
Burglary Rate 240.8 254.3 -13.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,660.3 3,122.9 -462.6
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 289.9 395.3 -105.4

All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.

Moving from Charlottesville, VA to Norfolk, VA?

The Moving Checklist Planner turns your move-in date into a dated checklist, packing inventory and budget — seven tabs for Google Sheets or Excel, $12 once.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charlottesville or Norfolk safer?

Charlottesville, VA is safer with a total crime rate of 3,550 per 100K vs 4,242 for Norfolk, VA — a 16% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Charlottesville has a violent crime rate of 359.0 per 100K while Norfolk has 469.5. Charlottesville has lower violent crime.

About Charlottesville, VA

Charlottesville, home to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, is a university town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The city is predominantly white, with a significant student population from the University of Virginia. With a safety score of 12/100 and a population coverage of 44,844, Charlottesville has a total crime rate of 3,550.1 per 100,000 residents.

About Norfolk, VA

Norfolk, a historic port city in Southeast Virginia, is home to the world's largest naval base. Its waterfront location at the mouth of the Elizabeth River shapes its identity and economy, drawing a diverse population. With a safety score of 7/100 and a population coverage of 230,460, Norfolk has a total crime rate of 4,242.0 per 100,000 residents.

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