Is Glen Allen safe?
Henrico, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Glen Allen as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Glen Allen
“Go. Glen Allen is one of the safest and most affluent suburban communities in the Greater Richmond area. Visitors will encounter minimal violent crime, clean public parks, and peaceful residential neighborhoods, though having a car is essential.”
About the area
Glen Allen is an expansive, prosperous suburb in northwestern Henrico County featuring master-planned communities, corporate centers, and scenic parks. It is popular with families and business travelers seeking quiet surroundings within an easy driving distance of Richmond.
- Family-Friendly
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Peaceful
Walking and biking in Glen Allen
Walk score: 26/100 · Bike score: 31/100
There are no bike-share programs available, and cycling is mostly restricted to recreational trails inside county parks rather than connected commuter bikeways.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are exceptionally low compared to state and national averages
- High median household income exceeding $100,000 with strong homeownership and negligible blight
- Well-maintained public parks, cultural centers, and recreation facilities
Cons
- Car dependency requires driving for almost all daily errands and activities
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes like vehicle break-ins in shopping center parking lots
- Suburban arterial roads lack pedestrian infrastructure, making walking along main corridors hazardous
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent in Glen Allen, with occasional panhandling limited to major commercial intersections along West Broad Street.
What Glen Allen is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Very calm and safe, with commuters heading out and residents jogging through subdivision streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Safe and active around shopping centers, school zones, and community parks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and safe, with family dining and casual foot traffic near neighborhood strip centers.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely quiet and safe, though isolated streets and lack of sidewalks mean walking late is impractical.
Transit, parking and getting around
GRTC provides limited bus coverage to outer Henrico County, primarily via Route 19 along Broad Street near the southern edge; there is no rail or BRT service in Glen Allen.
Parking is abundant and universally free across massive surface lots at shopping centers, parks, and office complexes.
Things to do in Glen Allen
- Explore the botanical collections and historic farm at Meadow Farm Museum at Crump Park
- Attend an art exhibition or theatrical performance at The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen
- Walk or jog the scenic paved loops around the lake at Deep Run Park
Local favorites
- The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen · Art Center · 4.7★ (320)Multi-facility arts center offering live theater, art galleries, and community workshops.
- Mama Cucina Italian Restaurant · Italian Restaurant · 4.5★ (1150)Longstanding local staple serving classic pasta, pizza, and Italian comfort entrees.
- Urban Farmhouse Market & Cafe · Cafe · 4.3★ (460)Cozy cafe offering locally sourced sandwiches, coffee drinks, and artisanal goods.
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.