Montgomery County, Virginia, is a place with around 98,000 people in the southwest part of the state. It’s known for Blacksburg, home to Virginia Tech, a public research university. The county has beautiful natural spots like Jefferson National Forest, the New River, and the Appalachian Trail.
However, not all areas in Montgomery County are safe. According to CrimeGrade.org, the county has a high crime rate of 110.8 per 1,000 residents, much above the national average.
The overall crime grade for the county is an F, putting it in the 4th percentile for safety. This means it’s less safe than 96% of counties, and only 4% are more dangerous.
CrimeGrade.org identifies these as the five most dangerous neighborhoods in Montgomery County, Virginia:
| Neighborhood | Crime Rate (per 1,000) | Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) | Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) |
| Merrimac | 65 | 97.6 | 51.4 |
| Christiansburg | 66 | 16 | 50.2 |
| Elliston | 68 | 22 | 45.6 |
| Shawsville | 77 | 31 | 46.2 |
| Blacksburg | 86 | 18 | 68.1 |
Merrimac
Merrimac is a place in the southeast part of the county with around 2,100 people. The crime rate there is 64.5 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is 42% higher than the county average and 184% higher than the national average.
For violent crimes, the rate is 97.6 incidents per 1,000 residents, a whopping 776% higher than the national average. Property crimes happen at a rate of 51.4 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is 125% higher than the national average. The chance of being a crime victim in Merrimac is 1 in 16.
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Christiansburg
Christiansburg is a town in the middle of Montgomery County, with around 22,000 people. It’s the biggest town and serves as the county seat.
The crime rate in Christiansburg is 66.1 per 1,000 people, which is higher than the county average by 47% and higher than the national average by 193%. The violent crime rate is 15.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 27% higher than the national average.
For property crime, the rate is 50.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 120% higher than the national average. The chance of being a crime victim in Christiansburg is 1 in 15.
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Elliston
Elliston is a small community with around 900 people in the northwest part of the county. Unfortunately, it has a higher crime rate compared to the county and national averages.
The overall crime rate is 67.8 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is 51% higher than the county average and 199% higher than the national average. Specifically, the violent crime rate is 22.2 per 1,000 residents, 78% higher than the national average. The property crime rate is 45.6 per 1,000 residents, 99% higher than the national average.
In Elliston, there’s a 1 in 15 chance of being a victim of crime.
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Shawsville
Shawsville, a town in the northeast part of the county, has around 1,300 people. The crime rate here is 76.9 per 1,000 residents, which is 69% higher than the county average and 230% higher than the national average.
The violent crime rate is 30.8 per 1,000 residents, which is 129% higher than the national average. The property crime rate is 46.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 102% higher than the national average. The chances of being a victim of crime in Shawsville are 1 in 13.
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Blacksburg
Blacksburg is a town in the southern part of Montgomery County, with around 44,000 people. It’s the biggest town in the county and home to Virginia Tech. The crime rate in Blacksburg is 85.8 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than both the county and national averages by 86% and 261%, respectively.
When it comes to violent crime, the rate is 17.7 per 1,000 residents, 37% higher than the national average. For property crime, the rate is 68.1 per 1,000 residents, which is 181% higher than the national average. The chances of being a crime victim in Blacksburg are 1 in 12.
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To Conclude
Montgomery County has lovely natural spots and a lively Virginia Tech community. However, its overall crime rate is higher than the national average. Some areas like Merrimac, Christiansburg, Elliston, and Shawsville have worrying crime numbers, especially for violent crimes.
Even Blacksburg, the biggest town, faces a higher crime rate than usual. To stay safe in Montgomery County, it’s important to be cautious and aware of your surroundings. Researching neighborhoods and staying updated on local crime trends can help residents and visitors stay safe.
