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Richmond, VA vs Virginia Beach, VA Crime Comparison

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

Full report: Richmond crime rate · Virginia Beach crime rate

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Is Richmond, VA or Virginia Beach, VA Safer?

According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Virginia Beach, VA is safer than Richmond, VA (Safety Score 49/100 vs 13/100), with a total crime rate of 1,733 per 100,000 versus 3,516 for Richmond, VA — 51% lower. Richmond has higher rates in 0 of 7 crime categories.

The biggest difference is in murder, where Virginia Beach has a 88% lower rate.

Quiz: which of these is MORE DANGEROUS than Richmond, VA?

Richmond — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Virginia Beach — 5-Year Trend

Decreasing Violent Decreasing Property Decreasing Total

Richmond, VA

Richmond, VA
Safety Score 13/100
Coverage 231,805
Total Crime Rate 3,516.3
Category Wins 0/7

Virginia Beach, VA

Virginia Beach, VA
Safety Score 49/100
Coverage 455,155
Total Crime Rate 1,733.3
Category Wins 7/7

Detailed Crime Rate Comparison

Crime Type Richmond Virginia Beach Difference
Total Crime Rate 3,516.3 1,733.3 +1,783.1
Violent Crime Rate 336.9 93.4 +243.6
Murder Rate 24.2 2.9 +21.3
Rape Rate 18.6 18.5 +0.1
Robbery Rate 94.5 31.6 +62.8
Aggravated Assault Rate 199.7 39.3 +160.4
Property Crime Rate 3,179.4 1,639.9 +1,539.5
Burglary Rate 265.3 83.9 +181.4
Larceny-Theft Rate 2,386.9 1,446.8 +940.2
Motor Vehicle Theft Rate 527.2 109.2 +418.0

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

Moving from Richmond, 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Richmond or Virginia Beach safer?

Virginia Beach, VA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,733 per 100K vs 3,516 for Richmond, VA — a 51% difference.

How do violent crime rates compare?

Richmond has a violent crime rate of 336.9 per 100K while Virginia Beach has 93.4. Virginia Beach has lower violent crime.

About Richmond, VA

Richmond, Virginia, a city pivotal during the Civil War, sits along the fall line of the James River. It's a diverse city, home to a vibrant arts scene and a growing population of young professionals. With a safety score of 13/100 and a population coverage of 231,805, Richmond has a total crime rate of 3,516.3 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.

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