Is Kempsville Heights safe?
Virginia Beach, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Kempsville Heights as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Kempsville Heights
“Go. Kempsville Heights is a tranquil, established suburban neighborhood with very low rates of violent crime and well-maintained single-family homes. While primarily residential with little direct tourism appeal, visitors staying locally can expect a secure, family-friendly environment.”
About the area
Situated in the central Kempsville sector of Virginia Beach, Kempsville Heights is an attractive mid-century community composed of mature trees and single-family houses. It offers rapid driving access to key regional hubs and shopping districts while preserving a calm residential setting.
- Suburban
- Quiet / Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Kempsville Heights
Walk score: 34/100 · Bike score: 45/100
There are no dedicated bike paths or shared bike rentals directly in the neighborhood, though quiet interior residential roads provide decent local cycling conditions.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low rates of violent and severe crime relative to both national and regional standards
- Stable economic base with high rates of homeownership and median household incomes surpassing $80,000
- Convenient road connectivity to Interstate 264 and surrounding commercial centers
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent neighborhood infrastructure lacking comprehensive pedestrian sidewalks
- Occasional opportunistic property offenses such as unlocked vehicle larcenies
- Sparse public transportation options requiring personal vehicle access for most errands
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually non-existent within the interior residential streets, with only rare panhandling seen at major arterial retail junctions.
What Kempsville Heights is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and safe with residents walking dogs and neighborhood school transit.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and low-key with minimal through-traffic and excellent visibility.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Peaceful and securely suburban, with neighbors unwinding in yards and driveways.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely quiet with virtually no foot traffic; standard property awareness is adequate.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) provides sparse bus access on adjacent arterials like Princess Anne Road via Route 23, but the area is unserved by light rail.
Parking is exceptionally easy, with expansive private driveways and free, unrestricted curbside street parking throughout all residential blocks.
Things to do in Kempsville Heights
- Work out or swim at the modern Kempsville Recreation Center just down the road
- Explore nearby historic points of interest around the historic Kempsville corridor
- Enjoy sports fields and open green space at City View Park nearby
Local favorites
- The Casual Pint of Virginia Beach · Bar & Grill · 4.7★ (490)A welcoming local taproom serving craft beers, burgers, and pub snacks.
- Rocafellas New York Style Pizzeria · Pizza Restaurant · 4.5★ (630)A reliable neighborhood counter-service joint dishing up NY-style pizza and calzones.
- Sip & Scoop Cafe · Cafe & Ice Cream Shop · 4.8★ (320)A cozy spot for artisanal espresso drinks, bubble tea, and ice cream treats.
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.