Portsmouth is a city in southeast Virginia with around 97,840 people as of 2020. It’s next to Norfolk and has a long history and culture. But, like any city, Portsmouth also has some crime and violence.
According to NeighborhoodScout, Portsmouth has a crime rate of 57.57 for every 1,000 residents. That’s much higher than the national average of 22.0 and the state average of 17.8.
To put it simply, Portsmouth is in the 9th percentile for safety. This means it’s less safe than 91% of cities, and only 9% of cities are more dangerous.
Now, which neighborhoods in Portsmouth have the most crime? According to crime data from AreaVibes, here are the top five neighborhoods with the highest crime rates in Portsmouth:
| Neighborhood | Crime Rate (per 1,000) | Violent Crime Rate (per 1,000) | Property Crime Rate (per 1,000) |
| Prentis Park | 125.68 | 19.63 | 106.05 |
| Brighton | 121 | 18.72 | 102.05 |
| Cradock | 115.75 | 17.95 | 97.8 |
| Westhaven | 113 | 17.51 | 95.8 |
| Midtown | 110 | 16.88 | 92.79 |
Prentis Park: This neighborhood has a high level of crime. The overall crime rate is 125.68 for every 1,000 people, which is much higher than the average in Portsmouth by 219% and way above the national average by 469%. When it comes to violent crimes, the rate is 19.63 per 1,000 residents, surpassing the Portsmouth average by 147% and the national average by 209%.
For property crimes, the rate is 106.05 per 1,000 residents, which is 231% higher than the Portsmouth average and a whopping 483% higher than the national average.
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Brighton: This neighborhood has a high crime rate compared to Portsmouth and the national average. The overall crime rate is 120.77 per 1,000 residents, which is 210% higher than Portsmouth and 449% higher than the national average.
Specifically, the violent crime rate is 18.72 per 1,000 residents, which is 140% higher than Portsmouth and 200% higher than the national average. The property crime rate is 102.05 per 1,000 residents, which is 221% higher than Portsmouth and 467% higher than the national average.
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Cradock: This neighborhood has a high crime rate – 115.75 crimes for every 1,000 people. That’s way more than the average in Portsmouth, being 201% higher, and 426% higher than the national average.
When it comes to violent crimes, it’s 17.95 per 1,000 residents, which is 134% higher than Portsmouth’s average and 192% higher than the national average. As for property crimes, the rate is 97.80 per 1,000 residents – 212% higher than Portsmouth’s average and a whopping 450% higher than the national average.
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Westhaven: This area has a high level of crime. The overall crime rate is 113.31 per 1,000 residents, which is much higher than both the average in Portsmouth (197% higher) and the national average (415% higher).
When it comes to violent crime, there are 17.51 incidents per 1,000 residents, which is 131% higher than in Portsmouth and 187% higher than the national average. For property crime, the rate is 95.80 per 1,000 residents, which is 208% higher than in Portsmouth and 441% higher than the national average.
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Midtown: This neighborhood has a high level of crime: 109.67 incidents for every 1,000 people. This is way more than what’s typical in Portsmouth (190% higher) and nationally (398% higher).
When we look specifically at violent crime, there are 16.88 incidents for every 1,000 residents. That’s 126% higher than Portsmouth’s average and 180% higher than the national average.
For property crimes, the rate is 92.79 per 1,000 residents, which is 202% higher than Portsmouth’s average and 430% higher than the national average.
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To Conclude
These are the five riskiest neighborhoods in Portsmouth, Virginia, determined by crime rates per 1,000 residents. However, crime can occur anywhere and at any time, so it’s crucial to stay alert and be aware of your surroundings.
If you’re thinking of visiting or moving to Portsmouth, you might consider avoiding these areas or taking extra steps to keep yourself safe.
