Is Laurel Village safe?
Henrico, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Laurel Village as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Laurel Village
“Go. Laurel Village is a quiet, standard suburban residential pocket in Henrico County with low violent crime rates. While commercial strips along nearby thoroughfares experience routine vehicle break-ins and retail theft, visitors face very little safety risk during everyday visits.”
Recent regional policing initiatives in Henrico have focused on curbing opportunistic property crime and retail theft along adjacent commercial corridors like Staples Mill and Broad Street.
About the area
Laurel Village is an established suburban community in Henrico County, situated just northwest of Richmond. It features a blend of mid-century single-family homes, townhouses, and strip-center commerce along major commuter arteries like Staples Mill Road. The area offers a tranquil, vehicle-oriented environment with solid access to regional amenities and parks.
- Suburban Quiet
- Car-Dependent
- Family-Friendly
- Residential
Walking and biking in Laurel Village
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 35/100
The area lacks dedicated protected bike lanes, and there are no public bike-share hubs; cycling is mostly limited to quiet neighborhood residential streets rather than connected trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to urban Richmond neighborhoods
- Stable suburban residential base with high homeownership and low residential vacancy
- Close proximity to suburban Henrico County parks, recreation facilities, and shopping centers
Cons
- Periodic property crimes including vehicle break-ins near apartment complexes and retail parking lots
- Heavy car dependency with sparse pedestrian infrastructure along arterial roads
- Poor sidewalk connectivity making walking along busy thoroughfares uncomfortable
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential streets of Laurel Village, though occasional panhandling occurs near major commercial intersections along West Broad Street and Staples Mill Road.
What Laurel Village is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with local residents commuting and walking dogs throughout the residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe with typical suburban traffic navigating local connectors and shopping centers.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet in the neighborhoods with moderate dining and retail traffic along main roads, feeling very secure.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic and minimal street activity; general precautions against vehicle break-ins are sufficient.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by GRTC, with bus routes such as Route 18 and Route 19 operating along major arterials like Staples Mill and Broad, though headways are infrequent and local residential service is limited.
Parking is abundant, free, and straightforward via private residential driveways, open street parking on residential blocks, and ample strip mall parking lots.
Things to do in Laurel Village
- Walk the trails and visit the historic Laurel Skatepark at nearby Belmont Recreation Center
- Explore the athletic fields and playground facilities at RF&P Park
- Shop and dine along the retail plazas of Staples Mill Road and West Broad Street
Local favorites
- Pad Thai Restaurant · Thai Restaurant · 4.5★ (680)A longstanding local favorite serving classic stir-fries, noodle dishes, and curries in an unpretentious setting.
- Boyd's Main Street Grill · American Restaurant · 4.4★ (390)A laid-back neighborhood tavern offering hearty comfort food, burgers, and craft beers.
- Belmont Golf Course · Golf Course & Recreation · 4.6★ (320)A restored historic public golf course and putting course operated by First Tee of Greater Richmond.
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.