Moving from Salem, 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 Salem, VA or Virginia Beach, VA Safer?
According to crimebycity.com's analysis of FBI data, Salem, VA is safer than Virginia Beach, VA (Safety Score 55/100 vs 49/100), with a total crime rate of 1,550 per 100,000 versus 1,733 for Virginia Beach, VA — 11% lower. Salem has lower rates in 5 of 7 crime categories.
The biggest difference is in robbery, where Salem has a 100% lower rate.
Note: Virginia Beach is 17.6x 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 Salem, VA?
Salem — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Virginia Beach — 5-Year Trend
Violent
Property
Total
Salem, VA
Virginia Beach, VA
Detailed Crime Rate Comparison
| Crime Type | Salem | Virginia Beach | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Crime Rate | 1,550.3 | 1,733.3 | -183.0 |
| Violent Crime Rate | 38.7 | 93.4 | -54.7 |
| Murder Rate | 7.7 | 2.9 | +4.9 |
| Rape Rate | 15.5 | 18.5 | -3.0 |
| Robbery Rate | 0.0 | 31.6 | -31.6 |
| Aggravated Assault Rate | 15.5 | 39.3 | -23.9 |
| Property Crime Rate | 1,511.6 | 1,639.9 | -128.2 |
| Burglary Rate | 81.2 | 83.9 | -2.7 |
| Larceny-Theft Rate | 1,279.7 | 1,446.8 | -167.1 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft Rate | 150.8 | 109.2 | +41.6 |
All rates per 100,000 residents. Source: FBI UCR.
Moving from Salem, 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 Salem or Virginia Beach safer?
Salem, VA is safer with a total crime rate of 1,550 per 100K vs 1,733 for Virginia Beach, VA — a 11% difference.
How do violent crime rates compare?
Salem has a violent crime rate of 38.7 per 100K while Virginia Beach has 93.4. Salem has lower violent crime.
About Salem, VA
Salem, VA, nestled in the Roanoke Valley, is a city with roots tracing back to the 1800s as a railroad town. Home to Roanoke College, it boasts a population of around 25,000 residents. With a safety score of 55/100 and a population coverage of 25,866, Salem has a total crime rate of 1,550.3 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.