Virginia Beach ranks as one of the safest large cities in the United States, according to a Quartz analysis that factored in both crime rates and FEMA's National Risk Index for natural disaster risk. For anyone weighing a move to Hampton Roads, that result is worth understanding in full.
How Virginia Beach Earns Its Place on the Virginia Beach Safest Cities List
Virginia Beach is Virginia's most populous city, home to roughly 450,000 people. Its economy runs on three distinct pillars: the military mission at Naval Air Station Oceana, oceanfront tourism along the resort strip and boardwalk, and working farmland across the southern districts. That mix shapes a city that feels more stable and diversified than most coastal metros its size.
The Quartz ranking leaned on FEMA's National Risk Index alongside crime statistics. FEMA's index does not simply count how many storms hit a county. It compares projected annual losses from natural hazards against a community's ability to absorb and recover from them, weighing both population vulnerability and available resources. A coastal city can score well on that index not because storms avoid it, but because its residents and infrastructure are positioned to handle disruption.
Virginia Beach and Chesapeake are the only two cities in the top 10 to land in FEMA's lowest disaster risk tier. Both sit in southeastern Virginia's Hampton Roads region. That is not a coincidence. The area has invested heavily in emergency preparedness, and the presence of major military installations creates infrastructure and response capacity that most cities simply do not have.
What This Means for Hampton Roads Buyers and Homeowners
This ranking matters practically, not just for bragging rights.
• Buyers relocating from other parts of the country, including military families transferring to NAS Oceana or the broader Hampton Roads installations, often ask directly about safety. A top-10 finish in a credible national ranking gives them a concrete answer backed by federal data.
• The FEMA disaster risk score has real implications for insurance costs and long-term resilience. A lower risk tier can influence what insurers charge and how lenders think about coastal properties.
• Homeowners considering a sale benefit when Virginia Beach carries a strong national reputation. Buyers search for safe cities before they search for specific neighborhoods, so the city's ranking puts it on more shortlists. Find out what your home is worth →
• The ranking does not mean the area is immune to storms or flooding. Hampton Roads residents know that. What it does mean is that the community's resources and recovery capacity are strong relative to projected risk.
If you want to dig deeper into the communities that make up this region, the Virginia Beach community page is a good starting point for understanding the different areas and price ranges within the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Virginia Beach rank on the Virginia Beach safest cities list?
Virginia Beach landed in the top tier of Quartz's analysis of large U.S. cities, which combined crime data with FEMA's National Risk Index scores. The city's low disaster risk rating was a significant factor that separated it from other coastal metros.
Does a low FEMA risk score mean Virginia Beach won't flood or face storm damage?
No. FEMA's National Risk Index measures expected annual losses against a community's capacity to recover, not the likelihood of a storm hitting. Virginia Beach residents should still carry appropriate flood and wind coverage and stay current with local emergency preparedness plans.
Does Virginia Beach's safety ranking affect home values?
National safety rankings influence where people choose to relocate, which affects buyer demand. Strong demand in a market with limited inventory tends to support home values over time. If you own a home in Virginia Beach and want to know what it's worth in the current market, Find out what your home is worth →
Sources
• Quartz
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