Highest Crime in Virginia

Top 100 cities ranked by highest crime

Largest Cities Smallest Cities Most Dense Least Dense Highest Income Lowest Income Lowest Unemployment Highest Unemployment Lowest Poverty Highest Poverty Highest Home Value Most Affordable Highest Rent Lowest Rent Most Educated Youngest Cities Oldest Cities Safest Cities Highest Crime Warmest Cities Coldest Cities Rainiest Cities Driest Cities

All Countries · United States · Virginia

Highest Crime — Virginia

1 Portsmouth 945.8 per 1K

2 Petersburg 748.3 per 1K

3 Newport News 595.5 per 1K

4 Tuckahoe 578.6 per 1K

5 Mechanicsville 578.6 per 1K

6 Meadowbrook 578.6 per 1K

7 Midlothian 578.6 per 1K

8 Laurel 578.6 per 1K

9 Bon Air 578.6 per 1K

10 East Highland Park 578.6 per 1K

11 Highland Springs 578.6 per 1K

12 Brandermill 578.6 per 1K

13 Lakeside 578.6 per 1K

14 Manchester 578.6 per 1K

15 Rockwood 578.6 per 1K

16 Montrose 578.6 per 1K

17 Bellwood 578.6 per 1K

18 Dumbarton 578.6 per 1K

19 Woodlake 578.6 per 1K

20 Sandston 578.6 per 1K

21 Bensley 578.6 per 1K

22 Norfolk 545.7 per 1K

23 Martinsville 518.6 per 1K

24 Timberlake 466.7 per 1K

25 Forest 466.7 per 1K

26 Madison Heights 466.7 per 1K

27 Richmond 462.9 per 1K

28 Galax 458.9 per 1K

29 Chesapeake 456.3 per 1K

30 Fredericksburg 449.3 per 1K

31 Lake of the Woods 449.3 per 1K

32 Spotsylvania Courthouse 449.3 per 1K

33 Stafford Courthouse 449.3 per 1K

34 Falmouth 449.3 per 1K

35 Gloucester Point 429.3 per 1K

36 Marion 429.1 per 1K

37 Lake Monticello 428.5 per 1K

38 University of Virginia 428.5 per 1K

39 Hollymead 428.5 per 1K

40 Colonial Heights 399.0 per 1K

41 Farmville 395.9 per 1K

42 Pulaski 391.6 per 1K

43 Roanoke 387.0 per 1K

44 Lynchburg 383.0 per 1K

45 Fort Lee 376.4 per 1K

46 South Boston 368.4 per 1K

47 Collinsville 356.0 per 1K

48 Cave Spring 343.6 per 1K

49 Hollins 343.6 per 1K

50 Hopewell 333.9 per 1K

51 Vinton 332.9 per 1K

52 Buckhall 328.3 per 1K

53 Sudley 328.3 per 1K

54 Bull Run CDP (Prince William County) 328.3 per 1K

55 Independent Hill 328.3 per 1K

56 Charlottesville 324.0 per 1K

57 Bristol 320.3 per 1K

58 Richlands 307.8 per 1K

59 Suffolk 295.1 per 1K

60 Hampton 295.1 per 1K

61 Winchester 283.7 per 1K

62 Danville 278.7 per 1K

63 Short Pump 260.2 per 1K

64 Glen Allen 260.2 per 1K

65 Wyndham 260.2 per 1K

66 Innsbrook 260.2 per 1K

67 Herndon 259.2 per 1K

68 Waynesboro 251.0 per 1K

69 Manassas 246.1 per 1K

70 Radford 243.4 per 1K

71 Ashland 240.0 per 1K

72 Emporia 240.0 per 1K

73 Belle Haven 207.8 per 1K

74 Harrisonburg 205.9 per 1K

75 Staunton 204.6 per 1K

76 Chester 203.3 per 1K

77 Ettrick 203.3 per 1K

78 Franklin 202.6 per 1K

79 Smithfield 200.4 per 1K

80 Massanetta Springs 198.0 per 1K

81 Reston 194.2 per 1K

82 Ashburn 194.2 per 1K

83 South Riding 194.2 per 1K

84 Sterling 194.2 per 1K

85 Chantilly 194.2 per 1K

86 McNair 194.2 per 1K

87 Franklin Farm 194.2 per 1K

88 Great Falls 194.2 per 1K

89 Sugarland Run 194.2 per 1K

90 Cascades 194.2 per 1K

91 Dranesville 194.2 per 1K

92 Lowes Island 194.2 per 1K

93 Loudoun Valley Estates 194.2 per 1K

94 Countryside 194.2 per 1K

95 Greenbriar 194.2 per 1K

96 Floris 194.2 per 1K

97 Hutchison 194.2 per 1K

98 Moorefield 194.2 per 1K

99 Dulles Town Center 194.2 per 1K

100 Woodstock 189.9 per 1K

Cities with the highest crime rates in Virginia face public safety challenges that affect residents' quality of life and economic development. Portsmouth has 945.8 violent crimes per 1,000 residents.

High crime rates are often linked to economic factors including poverty, unemployment, income inequality, and limited access to education and social services. Addressing crime effectively requires tackling these underlying root causes alongside traditional law enforcement approaches.

Many cities on this list are actively implementing comprehensive safety strategies including community policing, violence intervention programs, youth mentorship, and economic development initiatives aimed at reducing the conditions that contribute to criminal activity.

Did You Know?

1. The violent crime rate in Portsmouth is 236.5x the national average.
2. Crime rates have been declining nationally for decades — even cities on this list have generally seen improvements over time.
3. Violent crime is heavily concentrated in specific neighborhoods — most areas within these cities are considerably safer than the citywide statistics suggest.

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