Is Hickory safe?
Chesapeake, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Hickory as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Hickory
“Go. Hickory is an exceptionally safe, quiet, and affluent community in southern Chesapeake. Visitors will experience virtually no violent crime risks, though having a personal vehicle is essential to get around.”
About the area
Hickory is an expansive, semi-rural and suburban district in southern Chesapeake characterized by large single-family homes, farmland, and equestrian properties. It offers a peaceful country setting with top-rated public schools, farm markets, and easy highway access to the rest of Hampton Roads.
- Semi-Rural
- Affluent Suburb
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Hickory
Walk score: 14/100 · Bike score: 28/100
There is no bike-share program available, and while quiet subdivision streets are easy to cycle, main roads lack dedicated bike lanes and have high speed limits.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent and property crime rates are among the lowest in the Hampton Roads metro area
- High economic stability with median household incomes exceeding $110,000 and homeownership rates above 85%
- Clean, spacious environment with proximity to regional nature parks and agricultural markets
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent with virtually no walkability outside of self-contained subdivisions
- Rural secondary roads often lack shoulders and street lighting, creating hazards for night drivers
- Very limited dining and nightlife options within the neighborhood boundaries
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually non-existent in Hickory, with shelters and support services located in urban cores further north.
What Hickory is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with commuters and school traffic; personal safety risk is negligible.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Safe and quiet with steady local traffic around neighborhood schools, parks, and farm stands.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and residential, though rural stretches quickly become dark due to minimal street lighting.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Exceptionally quiet with virtually no street crime, though walking along unlit rural roads is hazardous due to fast-moving vehicle traffic.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) does not operate regular fixed-route bus service in Hickory, and there is no passenger rail access.
Parking is completely free, ample, and easy to find in large commercial lots, parks, and residential driveways throughout the area.
Things to do in Hickory
- Pick seasonal berries and buy fresh bakery treats at Hickory Ridge Farm
- Explore hiking trails, camping spots, and boating at nearby Northwest River Park
- Browse local farm markets and nursery stands along Battlefield Boulevard South
Local favorites
- Bergey's Breadbasket · Bakery & Deli · 4.8★ (1250)Beloved family-run country bakery and creamery serving scratch-made pies, sandwiches, and ice cream.
- Hickory Ridge Farm · Farm / Agritourism · 4.7★ (460)Popular local farm offering seasonal pick-your-own fruit, fall festivals, and fresh produce.
- The Cutting Edge Cafe · Cafe & Deli · 4.7★ (380)Cozy, highly rated eatery serving gourmet sandwiches, fresh salads, and specialty coffees.
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.