Is Clopton safe?
Richmond, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Clopton as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Clopton
“Go with care. Clopton is an established Southside working-class neighborhood where routine daytime visits generally pass without incident, but overall safety is tempered by elevated property and violent crime rates in the surrounding district. Visitors should stick to primary roads, keep vehicles secured, and avoid exploring quiet residential side streets late at night.”
Southside Richmond corridors adjacent to Clopton remain an active focus of citywide violence intervention initiatives and community policing efforts.
About the area
Clopton is a historic Southside Richmond neighborhood consisting of modest mid-century and pre-war bungalows, light industrial parcels, and small commercial pockets. Bordered by the busy Hull Street and Midlothian corridors, the area serves primarily as a residential home base rather than a traditional tourist hub.
- Working-Class
- Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Southside
Walking and biking in Clopton
Walk score: 46/100 · Bike score: 48/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is limited on neighborhood streets, and there are no RVA Bike Share stations located directly within Clopton.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient driving access to Southside commercial hubs and downtown Richmond
- Affordable housing stock with ongoing community-led renovation efforts
- Proximity to authentic multicultural dining along nearby Hull Street
Cons
- Violent and property crime rates remain higher than national and regional averages
- Pockets of elevated poverty and scattered vacant or distressed properties
- Limited tourist amenities and minimal dedicated pedestrian infrastructure
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately noticeable along Hull Street and Midlothian Turnpike near commercial intersections and transit stops, though residential streets rarely see formal encampments.
What Clopton is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Quiet and functional as residents commute and local buses run along the main corridors.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally calm with modest street activity, though situational awareness is advised near major intersections.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Pedestrian activity thins quickly, and it is best to stay near well-lit business strips.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking alone is not recommended due to sporadic incidents of theft and gun violence in the wider precinct.
Transit, parking and getting around
GRTC provides bus service with routes such as the 1A/B/C along Hull Street and Route 86 servicing the local grid; the Pulse BRT line does not extend south into this area.
Free on-street parking is readily available throughout residential streets, and strip malls provide free surface parking lots.
Things to do in Clopton
- Sample authentic Latin American cuisine along the neighboring Hull Street corridor
- Visit the Southside Community Center for local sports, playground facilities, and community events
- Take a short drive north to explore the trails and river access at Ancarrow's Landing and Forest Hill Park
Local favorites
- Abuelita's · Mexican Restaurant · 4.7★ (530)Beloved local homestyle eatery known for hearty guisados, handmade tortillas, and welcoming service.
- Taqueria Panchito · Mexican Restaurant · 4.5★ (1420)Renowned Southside taco joint serving authentic street tacos, tortas, and house-made salsas.
- La Milpa · Mexican Restaurant & Market · 4.4★ (2150)Longtime Southside staple offering traditional Mexican dishes, fresh baked goods, and grocery staples.
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.