Is Campostella Square safe?
Chesapeake, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Campostella Square as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Campostella Square
“Go with care. Campostella Square is an older, working-class residential area that is manageable during the day but experiences higher crime rates than the rest of Chesapeake. Visitors passing through or visiting residents should stick to daylight hours and remain aware of their surroundings.”
Local police reports periodically note incidents of vehicle break-ins, property theft, and occasional shots-fired calls in the broader northern Chesapeake and South Norfolk border corridor.
About the area
Campostella Square is a compact, primarily residential neighborhood situated in northern Chesapeake near the Norfolk border and Interstate 464. The area features modest mid-century single-family houses, small multi-family properties, and close proximity to maritime and industrial employment centers along the Elizabeth River.
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Residential Pocket
- Industrial Border
Walking and biking in Campostella Square
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 46/100
There are no public bike-share programs in the immediate area, though cyclists can access the protected pedestrian and bicycle path on the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient highway access to I-464 and the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge for quick regional commuting
- Significantly more affordable housing stock compared to the higher-cost southern Chesapeake suburbs
- Established, generational resident base with quiet residential side streets
Cons
- Violent and property crime rates are elevated compared to broader Chesapeake municipal averages
- Census indicators reflect below-average median household income and a higher local poverty rate
- Limited neighborhood retail options and close proximity to heavy industrial zones
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential neighborhood streets, though occasional unhoused individuals and panhandling can be observed near I-464 highway underpasses and commercial intersections.
What Campostella Square is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Generally quiet and routine as local residents depart for morning commutes and school buses circulate.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Remains calm on interior residential streets, though traffic picks up along perimeter thoroughfares.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Foot traffic drops off considerably and lower lighting levels warrant staying alert.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking alone late at night is not advised due to increased risk of opportunistic theft and neighborhood crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) operates local bus routes connecting the area to downtown Norfolk and South Norfolk hubs. The Tide light rail system does not extend into Chesapeake.
Street parking is free and readily accessible throughout the neighborhood's residential streets, with no commercial parking garages or metered zones.
Things to do in Campostella Square
- Walk the elevated pedestrian walkway on the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge for sweeping views of the Elizabeth River and shipyard
- Visit neighboring Lakeside Park for green space, community gatherings, and views of the lake
- Explore regional comfort foods and local diners along the nearby South Norfolk commercial corridor
Local favorites
- Pollard's Chicken · Southern Restaurant · 4.3★ (680)Longstanding local staple serving traditional Southern fried chicken, fried fish, and classic sides.
- Cutlass Grille · Jamaican Restaurant · 4.6★ (1400)Popular eatery located just south serving jerk pork, oxtail, and smoked barbecue specialties.
- Pop's Diner Co. · American Diner · 4.4★ (1100)Classic community diner offering hearty all-day breakfast platters, burgers, and comfort food.
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.