Arlington, Virginia, is a city with more than 230,000 people, situated on the other side of the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. It’s famous for its historic places like Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon, and it has a lively culture and economy.
But, like any city, Arlington also deals with crime and violence. According to crime data from AreaVibes, the riskiest neighborhoods in Arlington for 2024 are:
| Neighborhood | Population | Violent Crime Rate (per 100,000) |
| Columbia Heights West | 7,321 | 201 |
| Arlington Forest Glen | 626 | 187 |
| Columbia Forest | 6,004 | 176 |
| Columbia Heights | 6,804 | 175 |
| Penrose | 4,816 | 174 |
- Columbia Heights West: This neighborhood has around 7,321 people, and the violent crime rate is 201 per 100,000, which is higher than the Arlington average of 156. It’s in the south-central part of the city, near the Columbia Pike corridor.
- Arlington Forest Glen: This smaller neighborhood has about 626 residents, and the violent crime rate is 187 per 100,000. It’s in the northwestern part of the city, surrounded by parks and green spaces.
- Columbia Forest: This area has roughly 6,004 people, and the violent crime rate is 176 per 100,000. It’s in the southern part of the city, near the Four Mile Run stream and the W&OD Trail.
- Columbia Heights: With a population of about 6,804, this neighborhood has a violent crime rate of 175 per 100,000. It’s in the central part of the city, close to the Arlington Boulevard and Glebe Road intersection.
- Penrose: This historic district has around 4,816 residents, and the violent crime rate is 174 per 100,000. It’s in the eastern part of the city, near Pentagon City and Crystal City areas.
Compared to the rest of the city, these neighborhoods have greater incidence of violent crimes like assault, robbery, rape, and murder.
Nonetheless, in contrast to other American cities, they continue to be rather safe. Arlington’s safety ranking, as reported by CrimeGrade, places it in the 24th percentile, with 76% of cities being riskier and 24% being safer.
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Comparison of Arlington’s Crime Rate With Other Cities
Arlington has a higher crime rate compared to the national and state averages, but it’s safer than some of the most dangerous cities in the United States. Here are some statistics for comparison:
1. The overall crime rate in Arlington is 3,082.4 per 100,000 people. This is 31.39% higher than the national rate (2,346.0) and 14.53% higher than the Texas rate (2,691.5).
2. Arlington’s violent crime rate is 580 per 100,000 people, which is 56.9% higher than the national rate (370) and 34.2% higher than the Texas rate (432).
3. The property crime rate in Arlington is 2,525 per 100,000 people, which is 29.2% higher than the national rate (1,954) and 10.2% higher than the Texas rate (2,300).
4. Arlington is safer than 15% of the cities in the United States, ranking in the 24th percentile for safety. This means that 76% of cities are more dangerous, and 24% are safer.
5. Arlington’s crime rate is 4.3 times lower than Memphis, the most dangerous city among the top 19 in the United States, which has a violent crime rate of 2,507 per 100,000 people.
To Conclude
Arlington, Virginia, has a rich culture and history, but it’s not completely free from crime like any other city. While it’s generally safer than many other American cities, there are specific neighborhoods in Arlington with higher rates of violent crime in 2024.
These areas include Columbia Heights West, Arlington Forest Glen, Columbia Forest, Columbia Heights, and Penrose, surpassing the city’s average crime rate.
However, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Although these crime rates are higher compared to Arlington’s overall average, they are much lower when compared to national and state averages, and even more so when contrasted with some of the most dangerous cities in the U.S. Arlington falls into the safer 24th percentile, with 76% of American cities experiencing higher crime rates.
Therefore, while it’s crucial to be aware of high-crime areas in Arlington for informed decision-making and resident safety, it’s equally important to recognize that the city is generally safer than many others nationwide. This balanced perspective avoids creating unnecessary alarm while still promoting necessary vigilance in specific areas.
