Arlington, VA Crime Map

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions About Arlington, VA Crime

Is Arlington, VA safe?

Arlington earns a city-wide safety rating of Very Safe (A), making it one of the more secure mid-sized cities in the country. Of the 68 neighborhoods analyzed, 83.8% received an A grade and 14.7% received a B grade — meaning a combined 99% of Arlington neighborhoods fall into the safe category. Only one neighborhood, Buckingham, received a C grade, and not a single neighborhood in Arlington received a D or F. For context, areas like Leeway Overlee, Rock Spring, and Donaldson Run all hold A+ ratings, reflecting extremely low criminal activity. While no urban area is entirely without crime, Arlington's data profile places it well above average for safety.

What is the crime rate in Arlington, VA?

Arlington's overall crime profile earns a B- grade on our composite index, which accounts for both violent and property crime relative to population. The city's 236,434 residents are spread across a moderately dense area of about 3,511 people per square mile, and the low unemployment rate of 2.8% and poverty rate of just 6.4% correlate with the city's strong safety outcomes. At the neighborhood level, 57 out of 68 neighborhoods (83.8%) are graded A, while 10 neighborhoods (14.7%) hold B grades. Only one neighborhood — Buckingham — sits at a C, and higher-traffic areas like Crystal City and Boulevard Manor grade out at B+ and B respectively, reflecting modestly elevated but still manageable crime levels compared to the city norm.

Which neighborhoods in Arlington have the most crime?

Even Arlington's higher-crime neighborhoods remain relatively safe by national standards. Buckingham is the only neighborhood graded C — the lowest grade in the entire city — indicating a noticeable but not severe elevation in crime risk. Boulevard Manor holds a B grade, placing it in the lower tier of Arlington's safety rankings. Nauck, Foxcroft Heights, and Crystal City each received B+ grades, suggesting slightly above-average crime activity compared to Arlington's predominantly A-rated neighborhoods, but still well within the safe range. Residents in these areas are encouraged to use the interactive crime map to monitor incident trends and take standard precautions around property security.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Arlington, VA?

Ten neighborhoods in Arlington hold the top A+ safety grade. Leading the list are Rock Spring (population 3,067; median income $256,244), Washington Golf and Country Club (median income $241,307), Rivercrest (median income $237,146), and Bellevue Forest (median income $237,176). Other A+ neighborhoods include Donaldson Run, Yorktown, Tara / Leeway Heights, Highland Park / Overlee Knolls, Leeway Overlee, and The Pentagon. These neighborhoods share characteristics of high median household incomes — ranging from roughly $100,000 to over $256,000 — and consistently low crime activity, making them among the most desirable places to live in the entire Washington, D.C. metro area.

Is Arlington a good place to live in 2026?

By nearly every measurable indicator, Arlington ranks as an excellent place to live. The median household income of $122,604 is well above the national median, and the median home value of $731,989 reflects strong demand and long-term investment confidence. The unemployment rate of 2.8% is among the lowest in the country, and the poverty rate of just 6.4% suggests broad economic stability across the population. On the safety side, 99% of Arlington's 68 analyzed neighborhoods grade A or B, and the city-wide rating is Very Safe (A). Median rent of $2,005 reflects the premium placed on living here, but for families, professionals, and anyone prioritizing safety and economic opportunity near Washington, D.C., Arlington consistently delivers.

How does Arlington's crime compare to other Virginia cities?

Arlington compares favorably to most Virginia cities of similar or larger size. With 83.8% of neighborhoods graded A and zero neighborhoods graded D or F, Arlington's crime distribution is heavily skewed toward safety. The city's overall crime grade of B- on our composite index reflects the reality that no dense urban area near a major metro is entirely free of crime — but Arlington's outcomes are significantly better than many comparable jurisdictions. The combination of a low poverty rate (6.4%), low unemployment (2.8%), and high median income ($122,604) creates social conditions that are strongly correlated with lower crime rates, and the neighborhood-level data bears that out across the vast majority of Arlington's communities.