When it comes to raising a family, retiring, or simply enjoying a high quality of life, you’ll want to check out the following list of safest places to live in Virginia. Old Dominion really is a wonderful place to live; one of the safest in the South Atlantic region, in fact! But there are a few places that stand out when it comes to safety, peace, and security. We consulted SafeWise for their most recent data on Virginia’s safest cities. The following are the 15 safest and most peaceful places to live in Virginia, based on SafeWise’s various formulas. Take a look and see if your town made the list!

1. Broadway (Rockingham County)
Broadway, VA 22815, USA
The Town of Broadway / Facebook
The town of Broadway came in as the #1 in Safest Places in Virginia according to SafeWise. This small town of just over 3,000 provides plenty of community activities, along with all of the history and beauty of the Shenandoah Valley. But should you ever need to venture out (why would you?), Broadway is also situated close to I-81, making it easy to access to hiking, shopping and events just about anywhere. Broadway, Virginia really is the total package!
2. Bridgewater (Rockingham County)
Bridgewater, VA, USA
Jacksonfiveo/Wikipedia
Bridgewater is constantly ranked among several big-name "Top 10" best places to live lists, and it's not difficult to see why. In addition to being absolutely gorgeous, this small college town has low crime rates across the board.
3. Purcellville (Loudoun County)
Purcellville, VA, USA
Scott Harris[CC BY-SA 4.0] / Wikimedia Commons
Located in Loudoun County, Purcellville has always been at the top of the charts in terms of safety. With a quaint downtown, great schools, and close proximity to both the Blue Ridge Mountains and the D.C. Metropolitan area, Purcellville provides an idyllic family location. Purcellville offers a nearly perfect blend of old Victorian neighborhoods and new suburban communities with safe streets and amazing attractions. Oh, and it's also located in the heart of Virginia wine country!

4. Berryville (Clarke County)
Berryville, VA 22611, USA
Berryville, Virginia / Facebook (photo by Shallowbrooke Farms)
Surrounded by mountains and rolling hills, it doesn't get much more beautiful than Berryville, which has one of the most charming Main Streets in the state! This historic Shenandoah Valley town dates back to the 18th century, but provides modern convenience, small town charm, and an impressive safety record. In addition to its winsome downtown and superb community services, Berryville is home to farmers markets, theater, music and arts programs, and amazing resources, making it an ideal place to raise a family.
5. Lexington (Rockbridge County)
Rockbridge County High School, 143 Greenhouse Rd, Lexington, VA 24450, USA
Lexington Virginia
If you're looking for a small city that pretty much has it all, look no further than Lexington. This beautiful town is constantly a contender on "Top 10" lists, plus it's home to two top-tier colleges (Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee) *and* home to a thriving arts community -- all wrapped in the unparalleled beauty of the Shenandoah Valley.

6. Buena Vista (Rockbridge County)
Old Buena Vista Road, Old Buena Vista Rd, Lexington, VA, USA
City of Buena Vista, Virginia - Government/Facebook
Located just a few miles from Lexington, you'll find Buena Vista. Spanish for "great view," it's hard to find a place more beautiful than Buena Vista. In addition to being one of Virgina's safest places to live, Buena Vista is also one of the most delightful little towns you'll ever visit. If you’re craving a small town experience that will bring you a dose of charm, history, and beautiful mountain scenery, you’ll find it in Buena Vista.
7. Blacksburg (Montgomery County)
Blacksburg, VA, USA
Steve Tatum / flickr
With its great schools and community services, not only is Blacksburg a fantastic place to raise a family, but Forbes named Blacksburg the #1 place in the nation to retire! This quaint mountain town is home to Virginia Tech and offers a cost of living well below the national average, affordable housing, and low crime rates.

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8. Dumfries (Prince William County)
Dumfries, VA, USA
Leonard J. DeFrancisci/Wikipedia
Located in picturesque Prince William County, Dumfries is an absolutely amazing place to call home. In addition to boasting a very low crime rate, Dumfries has a healthy job market, solid schools, affordable housing, great city services, and loads of scenic beauty.
9. Manassas Park (Prince William County)
Parkriver Drive, Parkriver Dr, Virginia 20112, USA
Manassas Park Community Center / Facebook
This small city near Prince William County might be growing quickly, but it has kept safety a top priority. With all the amenities of a big city, Manassas Park's 15,000 residents enjoy small-town closeness with a modern Community Center, a strong recreations program, and amazing parks. Seriously -- if you're into hiking and outdoor recreation, you will be in heaven in Manassas Park!
10. Vienna (Fairfax County)
Vienna, VA 22180, USA
Town of Vienna / Facebook
A regular on SafeWise's "safest places in Virginia" list, Vienna proves to be a trusty choice when it comes to finding a great place to raise a family. Known for its top schools, Vienna is also a vibrant community of just under 16,000, full of music, culture, commerce, and easy access to hiking, biking and all things outdoors.
11. Fairfax (Fairfax County)
Fairfax County Circuit Court, 4110 Chain Bridge Rd, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
Idawriter/Wikipedia
Fairfax is a suburb of Washington, D.C. and is one of the best, safest places to live in Virginia. With a population of 23,580, living in this gorgeous city in the Commonwealth of Virginia offers residents a beautiful suburban feel with urban amenities. Coffee shops, restaurants, parks, attractions... Fairfax has it all!
12. Poquoson (York County)
Poquoson, VA, USA
Bill Dickinson / flickr
This small waterfront city near Hampton Roads is one of the safest in Virginia. With a population of close to 12,000, residents here enjoy a pretty amazing quality of life, including excellent schools, thriving businesses, and lots of community amenities. In fact, CNBC called Poquoson one of the "10 Perfect Suburbs in America" -- and we definitely agree!
13. Warrenton (Fauquier County)
Warrenton, VA, USA
lewsviews/Flickr
Located less than an hour from Washington, D.C. and only 35 minutes from Dulles Airport, Warrenton is the perfect balance of new and old, urban and historical. Warrenton, one of the safest places to live in Virginia, is also incredibly beautiful, too!
14. Falls Church (Fairfax County)
County Road 703, County Rd 703, Falls Church, VA, USA
Ser Amantio di Nicolao/Wikipedia
Also known as Little City, Falls Church is a small, tight-knit community that's within a stone's throw of the nation's capitol. In spite of being located in a very rapidly growing region, Falls Church remains a safe and peaceful place to live.
15. Abingdon (Washington County)
Abingdon, VA, USA
Brent Moore/Flickr
Located in the majestic mountains of Southwest Virginia, Abingdon is known for its heritage, history and charm. It's also one of the safest places to live in Virginia. Abingdon became a town in 1778, and today its historic downtown is home to a thriving arts and culture scene, featuring venues like the historic Barter Theatre, as well as galleries, museums, and markets. With a population of just over 8,000, this charming small town is surrounded by natural beauty, and is a wonderful place to live!

Do you agree that these are the safest places to live in Virginia? Are you surprised by any of the safest cities in Virginia? Do you live in one of these cities or small towns? If so, we would love to hear about your experience living there. (If your town didn’t make the list and you think it’s someplace special, tell us why and nominate it to be featured in an upcoming Only In Virginia article!) We hope this articled helped answer your burning question: “Is Virginia safe?”

Of course, Virginia’s amazing cities don’t *only* offer safety and security… Old Dominion really has small towns that check off all sorts of different boxes! If you are nearing retirement age, you’ll definitely want to check out this roundup of the top 11 places to retire in Virginia; you’ll be pleased to know that many of these towns also are incredibly safe, too. If the irresistible charms of small-town living is your cup of tea, be sure to check out these 25 winsome Virginia towns, all of which could easily have been plucked straight from a Hallmark movie set! And if you’re a big outdoor enthusiast, these 10 small towns in Virginia each offer loads of scenic beauty, and endless opportunities for all sorts of fun and recreation.

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Safest Places To Live In Virginia

Sarah | May 24, 2021

I'm moving to Virginia. What are some things I need to know about living in Virginia?

First of all, welcome to Old Dominion! Virginia really is a treasure of a state, and we're sure you'll love living here. Virginia is a wonderful mix of Southern charm and New England sensibility. It's a state that's rich in scenic beauty (it's home to Shenandoah National Park, after all!) and natural splendor. It's a state that has a ton of history, with museums and attractions offering a near-endless array of adventures. It's a state where outdoor recreation is possible all year long, thanks to its pleasant, moderate climate. Virginia is an absolutely incredible place to live; the best state to live in, if you ask us!

What are the most beautiful small towns in Virginia?

Some of the most beautiful small towns in Virginia:

  • Smithfield
  • Middleburg
  • Lexington
  • Charlottesville

 

One of the best features of Virginia is the abundance of small towns and communities throughout the state. From the beautiful corners of Southwest Virginia to the far Eastern Shore, you’ll find some of the most beautiful small towns in Virginia. One of our very favorite places in the state is Smithfield; it was named one of “America’s Happiest Seaside Towns" by Coastal Living and really lives up to the honor. This lovely little town is also known for its world-famous ham and boasts a long history as part of the Virginia Colony dating back to 1634. Middleburg in Loudoun County is an absolute delight; this town of under 1,000 residents is packed with history and surrounded by some of the most beautiful horse country anywhere in the nation!

Does Virginia have a high crime rate?

As a whole, Old Dominion is a very safe place to live -- and not just the above list of safest places in Virginia, either! Virginia’s violent crime rate is actually the lowest of all states in the South Atlantic region. At 2.1 incidents per 1,000 people, Virginia’s violent crime rate is 43% lower than the national average of 3.7. Property crime rates are also quite low here, too, making Virginia a really safe and wonderful place to live!

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