Many choose Virginia for its beaches, mountains, and D.C. proximity. Certain regions have high violent and property crime rates. The least desirable Virginia neighborhoods are listed here to assist prospective residents in choosing.
Virginia’s Top 10 Riskiest Urban Areas (Photo: Southwest Journal)
Virginia’s 10 Most Criminal Cities
1. Portsmouth: Virginia’s most dangerous city, across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk, has a high violent crime rate. Given its 97,915 population, its crime rate is 228% higher than the state average. The 2022 crime rate was 4,429, including 36 murders, 138 robberies, 529 assaults, and 3,007 thefts. About 1 in 19 residents were victims.
2. Emporia: With 5,766, this Greensville County city is one of the worst in Virginia for crime. Crime is 61% more than the U.S. average at 4,203 per 100,000. There were 166 crimes in 2022, 22 violent and 144 property, including assault, burglary, and theft.
3. Galax: a small Appalachian Foothills town in southwestern Virginia, has 6,720 residents and 3,768 crimes per 100,000. Crime impacts 1 in 27. No murders occurred in 2022, but nine assaults, 25 burglaries, 187 thefts, and 22 motor vehicle thefts did.
4. South Boston: South Boston, with 7,588 residents in Halifax County, is poor. One in 28 people are victims of 3,587 crimes per 100,000. Twenty years of population loss in the city.
5. Norfolk: Naval Station home World’s largest naval base Norfolk is one of Virginia’s most hazardous cities. Norfolk reported 9,850 crimes last year, including 63 murders and 1,364 assaults, at 3,354 per 100,000, 43% higher than the U.S. average. The city has high violent and property crime outside the military base.
6. Richmond: Virginia’s capital, with 204,214 residents and a crime rate of 3,270 per 100,000, 39% higher than the national average. In 2022, Richmond had 7,703 property and violent crimes, including 90 murders, 267 robberies, 534 assaults, and 711 burglaries.
7. Fredericksburg: One of Virginia’s most dangerous cities due to its Civil War history. Residents have a 1 in 33 probability of being a victim of crime at 3,129 per 100,000. Fredericksburg had 947 crimes in 2022, including 153 violent and 794 property crimes.
8. Danville: Danville is one of Virginia’s most dangerous cities with 42,590 residents and a significant Civil War heritage. Crime per 100,000 is 3,118, 37% higher than the national average. The 2022 crime count was 1,406, including 6 murders, 30 robberies, and 107 assaults. Burglaries and other property crimes were frequent.
9. Petersburg: In Petersburg, a historic city of 33,458, crime is 37% higher than the U.S. average, giving victims a 1 in 34 chance. Petersburg had 978 crimes in 2022, including 18 murders, 20 robberies, 191 assaults, 71 burglaries, and 81 car thefts. Median home price is $111,300.
10. Newport News: Crime is high in Newport News, Virginia’s fifth-largest city with 186,247 citizens. In 2022, Newport News had 29 murders, 130 robberies, and 955 assaults, 30% more than Virginia. Property crime is three times more common than violent crime in cities. Business hub Newport News may not be a desirable place to live.
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