Is Howard safe?
Tysons, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Howard as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Howard
“Go. Howard and the surrounding Tysons-Vienna corridor are exceptionally safe, affluent, and well-maintained areas with negligible violent crime. Visitors should simply be mindful of heavy suburban vehicular traffic along main thoroughfares.”
About the area
Howard is a small, quiet pocket situated along the border of Tysons and the Town of Vienna, blending light-industrial and auto service hubs with residential cul-de-sacs and modern corporate offices. It offers immediate access to the bustling commercial and shopping core of Tysons while retaining the security and low crime profile typical of Fairfax County.
- Affluent Suburb
- Commercial Hub
- Auto-Centric
- Safe & Quiet
Walking and biking in Howard
Walk score: 58/100 · Bike score: 52/100
Capital Bikeshare stations are situated around Tysons Metro stations, with direct bike connections south toward the historic multi-use W&OD Trail in Vienna.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Extremely low rates of violent crime and well-funded Fairfax County public safety services
- High median household income exceeding $140,000 and strong local economic stability
- Close proximity to premier regional retail, dining, and corporate centers in Tysons
Cons
- Isolated incidents of opportunistic retail theft and vehicle break-ins in commercial parking areas
- Heavy suburban traffic and pedestrian barriers along major regional corridors
- Pockets of industrial and auto-service facilities that make some side streets poorly lit after dark
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in this immediate area, with occasional individuals near high-traffic highway off-ramps or major retail plazas.
What Howard is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active with commuters, local workers, and service deliveries; safe and bustling with daytime activity.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Steady commercial and vehicle traffic creates a vibrant, very secure daytime environment.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet along residential and industrial blocks, while nearby dining corridors remain active and safe.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very calm with low foot traffic; safe to traverse, though dimly lit along service-oriented side streets.
Transit, parking and getting around
WMATA Metrorail's Silver Line serves the area via the Greensboro and Spring Hill stations within a short drive or moderate walk, supplemented by Fairfax Connector bus routes along Chain Bridge Road.
Surface parking lots and private garage parking are plentiful and often free for patron use; street parking is limited to designated commercial and residential segments.
Things to do in Howard
- Shop and dine at nearby Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria
- Catch a movie or visit entertainment venues around the Tysons commercial core
- Access the nearby Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Railroad Regional Park trail in adjacent Vienna
Local favorites
- Founding Farmers Tysons · American Restaurant · 4.4★ (6100)Popular farm-to-table destination serving hearty American scratch cooking in a stylish setting.
- The Daily Market & Deli · Deli · 4.6★ (110)Neighborhood staple offering breakfast sandwiches, subs, and convenience goods.
- Caboose Tavern · Brewpub · 4.5★ (1750)Nearby craft brewery and cafe with outdoor patio seating right off the bike trail.
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.