Is Broad Meadows safe?
Henrico, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Broad Meadows as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Broad Meadows
“Go. Broad Meadows is a quiet, predominantly residential suburban community in Henrico County that offers a safe and peaceful environment for visitors. Violent crime is rare, and risks are mostly limited to standard property crime along surrounding commercial strips.”
About the area
Broad Meadows is an established mid-century suburban neighborhood in Henrico County located just south of the vibrant West Broad Street corridor. It features quiet residential streets, well-kept single-family properties, and immediate access to diverse dining and shopping options in Richmond's West End.
- Suburban
- Quiet Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Broad Meadows
Walk score: 44/100 · Bike score: 46/100
There is no municipal bike-share system here and few dedicated bike lanes, though the interior subdivision streets have low enough vehicular speeds for comfortable neighborhood cycling.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Low violent crime rates well below national and regional metro averages
- High rates of residential stability and steady homeownership
- Immediate access to extensive international dining and retail on West Broad Street
Cons
- Car-dependent layout with limited continuous sidewalks on residential streets
- Occasional vehicle break-ins and property thefts near adjacent shopping centers
- Limited public greenspace directly within neighborhood borders
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in the residential core, though occasional panhandling occurs at busy commercial intersections along Broad Street.
What Broad Meadows is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm, with residents walking dogs and standard morning school and commuter traffic.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Very quiet on residential side streets while commercial perimeters see steady, safe shopping traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Pleasant and quiet as families return home and local restaurant corridors pick up activity.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Subdued and dark with minimal pedestrian presence; remains safe though basic suburban awareness applies.
Transit, parking and getting around
Transit is operated by the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) with local bus service (Route 19) accessible along the Broad Street corridor, though the area lacks rapid transit or rail links.
Parking is exceptionally easy and universally free, available along residential streets and in extensive surface lots at nearby shopping plazas.
Things to do in Broad Meadows
- Explore the shaded nature trails and picnic spots at nearby Cheswick Park
- Embark on a self-guided international culinary tour along the West Broad Street corridor
- Browse local specialty grocers and suburban retail centers in the Henrico West End
Local favorites
- Full Kee Restaurant · Chinese Restaurant · 4.2★ (850)Longstanding local institution celebrated for authentic Cantonese dishes, roast duck, and dim sum.
- Pho So 1 · Vietnamese Restaurant · 4.5★ (1200)Casual, enduring favorite known for hearty bowls of traditional beef pho and rice platters.
- Melito's · American Restaurant · 4.6★ (620)Classic neighborhood eatery and bar serving comfort food, sandwiches, and famous hot dogs.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.