Moving from Portsmouth, VA to Virginia Beach, 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.
Is Portsmouth, VA or Virginia Beach, VA Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Virginia Beach, VA is safer than Portsmouth, VA (Safety Score 49/100 vs 5/100), with a total crime rate of 1,733 per 100,000 versus 4,613 for Portsmouth, VA — 62% lower. Portsmouth has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in murder, where Virginia Beach has a 92% lower rate.
Note: Virginia Beach is 4.7x 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 MORE DANGEROUS than Portsmouth, VA?
Portsmouth — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Virginia Beach — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Portsmouth, VA
Virginia Beach, VA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Portsmouth | Virginia Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 4,613.2 | 1,733.3 | +2,879.9 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 752.4 | 93.4 | +659.0 |
| Murder Rate | 37.1 | 2.9 | +34.2 |
| Rape Rate | 36.0 | 18.5 | +17.6 |
| Robbery Rate | 167.8 | 31.6 | +136.1 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 511.6 | 39.3 | +472.2 |
| Property Crime Rate | 3,860.8 | 1,639.9 | +2,220.9 |
| Burglary Rate | 424.1 | 83.9 | +340.1 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 2,920.1 | 1,446.8 | +1,473.3 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 516.7 | 109.2 | +407.5 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Portsmouth, VA to Virginia Beach, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Portsmouth or Virginia Beach safer?
Virginia Beach, VA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,733 per 100K vs 4,613 for Portsmouth, VA — a 62% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Portsmouth has a violent crime rate of 752.4 per 100K while Virginia Beach has 93.4. Virginia Beach has lower violent crime.
About Portsmouth, VA
Portsmouth, Virginia, established in 1752, sits across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk. Home to the historic Gosport Shipyard, it's a diverse city with a significant African American population. With a safety score of 5/100 and a population coverage of 97,156, Portsmouth has a total crime rate of 4,613.2 per 100,000 residents.
About Virginia Beach, VA
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. With a safety score of 49/100 and a population coverage of 455,155, Virginia Beach has a total crime rate of 1,733.3 per 100,000 residents.