Is Fair Haven safe?
Mount Vernon, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Fair Haven as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Fair Haven
“Go. Fair Haven is a quiet, working-to-middle-class residential enclave in Fairfax County with low overall violent crime. While the adjacent Richmond Highway (Route 1) commercial corridor experiences typical suburban property crime and occasional late-night disturbances, the neighborhood streets are safe and peaceful for visitors.”
Police activity in the immediate vicinity is primarily concentrated along the commercial stretches of Richmond Highway rather than interior residential streets.
About the area
Fair Haven is an established mid-century residential neighborhood located just south of the Huntington Metro station in Fairfax County. Composed mostly of post-WWII single-family ramblers and cape cods, it offers a peaceful community feel minutes away from Old Town Alexandria and Washington, D.C.
- Suburban
- Mid-Century
- Quiet
- Commuter-Friendly
Walking and biking in Fair Haven
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 44/100
Capital Bikeshare docks are stationed at Huntington Metro. Cyclists have easy connections to the Mount Vernon Trail via Belle Haven and the nearby Cameron Run multi-use trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates than regional and national urban averages
- High level of homeownership with an established, stable neighborhood core
- Direct proximity to the Huntington Metro station and primary regional transit routes
Cons
- Spillover property crime, retail theft, and vehicle break-ins from the Route 1 corridor
- Uneven sidewalk infrastructure on several older residential side streets
- Lower median household income and older infrastructure relative to surrounding Fairfax County averages
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is rare within Fair Haven's residential blocks, though panhandling and unhoused individuals are occasionally seen along the Route 1 commercial strip and near major bus stops.
What Fair Haven is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with commuters walking toward transit and neighbors walking dogs.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet residential setting with minimal vehicle traffic on interior streets.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Generally calm and family-oriented, though standard awareness is sensible near commercial strips.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic and quiet streets, though low lighting in some sections warrants caution when walking alone.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is managed by Fairfax Connector and WMATA Metrobus, with multiple lines running along Richmond Highway and North Kings Highway. The Huntington Metro Station (Yellow Line terminus) sits just north of the neighborhood, reachable within a 5 to 15-minute walk from most residences.
Street parking is free, plentiful, and generally unmetered throughout the residential blocks. Strip malls along Route 1 feature large, free surface parking lots.
Things to do in Fair Haven
- Walk or picnic at nearby Huntington Park and Mount Eagle Park
- Explore diverse international dining spots along the Richmond Highway corridor
- Take a short drive south down the George Washington Memorial Parkway to visit Mount Vernon
Local favorites
- Bob & Edith's Diner - Huntington · Diner · 4.2★ (1150)Classic 24/7 retro diner serving hearty breakfast platters, burgers, and comfort food.
- La Mexicana Bakery & Taqueria · Mexican Restaurant & Bakery · 4.4★ (860)Beloved local counter-service spot offering authentic street tacos, tortas, and fresh Mexican pastries.
- El Paso Mexican Restaurant · Mexican Restaurant · 4.3★ (1420)Casual neighborhood staple known for generous Tex-Mex combos, fajitas, and margaritas.
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.