Top 10 most dangerous cities in Virginia

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Virginia, known for its rich history and diverse landscapes, offers a unique living experience. From the bustling city life of Richmond to the scenic beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia provides a diverse array of attractions. The state's rich cultural heritage is evident in its music, festivals, and historic sites. However, despite its many positives, Virginia faces safety challenges in certain urban areas. The most dangerous cities in Virginia are identified by their violent crime rates per 100,000 people, highlighting regions where extra caution is necessary. The contrast between Virginia's cultural richness and urban crime issues underscores the complexities of life in this diverse state.

Efforts to improve safety in Virginia involve a combination of enhanced law enforcement measures and community engagement programs aimed at preventing violence and crime. These initiatives are crucial in addressing the safety concerns that affect some of the most dangerous cities in Virginia. While these areas present significant challenges, they also highlight the potential for community-driven solutions and positive change. Virginia's commitment to fostering safer environments is evident in its proactive measures and the resilience of its residents. The state's blend of cultural heritage, natural beauty, and economic opportunities continues to attract people, despite the complexities of urban safety concerns.

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Emporia Population: 5,408 1,069 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.93 chance of being a victim: 1 in 94 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,962

Emporia, VA holds the distinction of being the #1 most dangerous city in Virginia with 1,069 violent crimes per 100,000 people. The area continues to struggle with elevated assault (885), robbery (147), rape (18) and homicide (18) rates, as the violent crime rate comes in at 391% higher than the Virginia average. Contributing to these numbers could be the higher than average rates of poverty, unemployment, and gang activity. Ongoing efforts from local law enforcement and the community have been created to help reduce the crime rates going forward.

Petersburg Population: 30,791 1,044 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.86 chance of being a victim: 1 in 96 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,933

The second most dangerous city is Petersburg. With a population of 30,791 and a violent crime rate that is 379% higher than the Virginia average, the city has seen better days. The higher than average crime rates in Petersburg are not new, as violent crime has been a serious issue for many years and topped 1,044 violent crimes per 100,000 people in the last calendar year. In some areas, the riks are greater than others, as residents have a 1 in 96 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Portsmouth Population: 94,961 752 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.06 chance of being a victim: 1 in 133 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,613

Home to 94,961 residents, Portsmouth, VA ranks #3 on the list of most dangerous cities in Virginia. Unfortunately for residents of Portsmouth, crime is widespread, with more than 752 violent crimes per 100,000 people reported last year. When the numbers are analyzed, this translates to a staggering 2.06 crimes per day and a violent crime rate that is 245% higher than the Virginia violent crime rate.

Newport News Population: 179,582 736 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 2.02 chance of being a victim: 1 in 136 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,152

With a violent crime rate that is 238% higher than the Virginia average, it's not hard to see why Newport News made the list. The city reported crime (per 100,000 residents) in the following categories: robbery (85), assault (610), rape (29) and homicide (12). In regions where employment opportunities are scarce or where many jobs offer insufficient wages, the risk of increased unemployment and homelessness rises, this could be just some of the triggers that make Newport News more vulnerable to high crime.

Roanoke Population: 99,122 620 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.70 chance of being a victim: 1 in 161 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,676

The ongoing battle with crime in Roanoke, VA, is not a new issue - which is why there's no surprise that this city has made the list. With a violent crime rate of 620 and a 1 in 161 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime (per 100,000 people), Roanoke has a violent crime rate that is 185% higher than the Virginia average. Higher than average poverty and unemployment rates as well as a lack of available well-paying jobs, are most likely all contributing to the high rate of violent crime in Roanoke.

Fredericksburg Population: 29,059 604 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.65 chance of being a victim: 1 in 166 Total Crimes / 100k: 3,674

Fredericksburg, VA comes in at number 6 on our list, with a violent crime rate of 604 per 100,000 people, which is 177% higher than the Virginia average. Fredericksburg has a population of 29,059, which translates to 1.65 crimes per day and 1 in 166 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime. As with most cities, a high violent crime rate does not mean that all areas are unsafe, as there are definitely some areas in Fredericksburg which are much safer than others.

Ashland Population: 7,819 595 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.63 chance of being a victim: 1 in 168 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,695

A 1 in 168 chance of becoming a victim of crime and 1.63 violent crimes per day - those are some fairly good reasons why Ashland makes the list at #7. According to the most recent annual crime report, there were 595 violent crimes per 100,000 people, which translates to a violent crime rate that is 173% higher than the Virginia average. The number of violent crimes takes into account the following categories: assault (544), robbery (38), rape (13) and homicide (0).

Pulaski Population: 8,744 567 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.55 chance of being a victim: 1 in 176 Total Crimes / 100k: 2,892

Pulaski, VA is another one of the most dangerous cities in Virginia and tops the list at #8. The city has a population of 8,744 and a violent crime rate of 567 per 100,000 people. Of those crimes, there were 465 counts of assault, 34 counts of robbery, 57 counts of rape and 11 counts of homicide. All told, the Pulaski violent crime rate is 160% higher than the Virginia average.

Farmville Population: 8,152 548 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.50 chance of being a victim: 1 in 182 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,093

Economic conditions, education, social environment, law enforcement and urbanization can all have an impact on crime rates. Feeling the effects of most of those issues, Farmville, VA comes in as the 9th most dangerous city in Virginia with a violent crime rate of 548 per 100,000 people. If we break that down, the city sees 1.50 violent crimes per day and residents have a 1 in 182 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime.

Norfolk Population: 244,300 469 violent crimes per 100k

violent crimes per day: 1.29 chance of being a victim: 1 in 213 Total Crimes / 100k: 4,242

Rounding out our list at #10 is Norfolk, VA. With a population of 244,300 and a violent crime rate of 469 per 100,000 people (115% higher than the Virginia average), some parts of Norfolk are incredible unsafe. The violent crime rate consists of 336 counts of assault, 77 counts of robbery, 40 counts of rape and 16 counts of homicide. Residents can expect to have a 1 in 213 chance of becoming a victim of a violent crime.

Full list of the most dangerous cities in Virginia

Rank	Location	Population	Violent Crimes /100k	Total Crimes /100k
1	Emporia	5,408	1,069	3,962
2	Petersburg	30,791	1,044	3,933
3	Portsmouth	94,961	752	4,613
4	Newport News	179,582	736	3,152
5	Roanoke	99,122	620	4,676
6	Fredericksburg	29,059	604	3,674
7	Ashland	7,819	595	2,695
8	Pulaski	8,744	567	2,892
9	Farmville	8,152	548	4,093
10	Norfolk	244,300	469	4,242
11	South Boston	7,676	464	2,978
12	Colonial Heights	17,283	462	3,644
13	Franklin	8,015	461	2,999
14	Bristol	17,059	435	3,463
15	Orange	5,024	400	1,810
16	Richlands	5,311	397	1,648
17	Martinsville	12,646	387	1,518
18	Hopewell	22,500	381	2,421
19	Suffolk	91,383	371	1,942
20	Danville	40,668	365	3,199
21	Charlottesville	47,217	359	3,550
22	Lynchburg	80,970	357	2,095
23	Chesapeake	242,647	339	2,084
24	Richmond	229,233	337	3,516
25	Front Royal	15,214	335	1,868
26	Poquoson	12,121	313	977
27	Galax	6,402	310	4,845
28	Marion	5,646	287	2,618
29	Manassas	41,038	274	2,180
30	Harrisonburg	53,558	267	1,960
31	Leesburg	53,731	256	1,830
32	Hampton	135,169	248	3,130
33	Waynesboro	22,300	245	1,762
34	Herndon	24,577	239	2,035
35	Winchester	27,912	238	2,567
36	Christiansburg	22,482	224	2,821
37	Alexandria	158,309	219	2,859
38	Radford	17,833	213	1,115
39	Williamsburg	15,034	199	1,404
40	Strasburg	6,643	191	957
41	Bedford	6,599	191	1,760
42	Covington	5,653	181	1,467
43	Smithfield	8,492	175	1,281
44	Vinton	8,102	149	1,914
45	Staunton	24,660	141	1,648
46	Woodstock	5,247	134	1,989
47	Dumfries	5,559	134	1,236
48	Abingdon	7,936	132	1,697
49	Lexington	7,205	131	588
50	Culpeper	18,633	122	1,798

Methodology

The AreaVibes list of the most dangerous cities in Virginia is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reporting program (UCR Program) from their most recent release. To compile this list, we used violent crime data (assualt, robbery, rape and murder) per 100,000 people and only included Virginia cities with a population of 5,000 or more. Displaying violent crime rates based on a population of 100,000 allows for an equal comparison for each city.

Map of Violent Crime By State

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Explore our interactive map to discover the most dangerous cities in each state across the USA. This map highlights the states with the highest crime rates, providing insights into the factors contributing to these statistics. From urban centers facing economic hardships to regions grappling with social challenges, the map offers a visual representation of crime hotspots. Click on each state to learn more about its most dangerous cities, the types of crimes most prevalent, and the underlying causes behind these issues.