Is Michaelwood safe?
Virginia Beach, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Michaelwood as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Michaelwood
“Go. Michaelwood is a quiet, standard suburban residential neighborhood in Virginia Beach that poses very minimal safety risk to visitors. While it is purely residential with few dedicated tourist attractions within its immediate boundaries, it offers a secure, peaceful environment.”
About the area
Michaelwood is an established, tree-lined residential community located in western Virginia Beach near major thoroughfares. It primarily consists of single-family homes, quiet cul-de-sacs, and easy access to shopping centers in nearby Kempsville and Chesapeake. Visitors typically pass through or stay in local rentals when visiting friends or family in Hampton Roads.
- Suburban
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Michaelwood
Walk score: 32/100 · Bike score: 44/100
There are no dedicated bike-share stations in the immediate neighborhood, but wide residential streets offer comfortable cycling conditions that connect to nearby secondary routes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than national and regional averages
- High rate of owner-occupied single-family homes contributing to neighborhood stability
- Convenient driving access to Interstate 64 and major Hampton Roads employment hubs
- Quiet streets with very low through-traffic
Cons
- Car-dependent with virtually no commercial destinations directly inside the subdivision
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes like unlocked vehicle theft common to suburban areas
- Limited continuous sidewalk infrastructure on some residential side streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence within Michaelwood's residential streets, with any regional social services and emergency shelters situated in central commercial hubs of Virginia Beach and Norfolk.
What Michaelwood is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents walking dogs and school buses circulating through the subdivision.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with very low traffic, making outdoor walking completely safe.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential winding-down with minimal street activity and good neighborhood lighting.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and silent with minimal street activity; exceptionally safe though standard awareness is always wise.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) operates local bus routes along peripheral arterial roads (like Route 12 on Indian River Rd / Kempsville), but there is no direct rail access as The Tide light rail ends in Norfolk.
Parking is abundant, free, and unrestricted on residential driveways and neighborhood streets throughout the community.
Things to do in Michaelwood
- Take a relaxing neighborhood walk or jog along the peaceful residential streets
- Visit nearby Kempsville Recreation Center for swimming, fitness, and outdoor courts
- Spend an afternoon enjoying the trails, playgrounds, and picnic shelters at nearby City View Park
Local favorites
- YNot Italian - Kempsville · Italian Restaurant · 4.3★ (1150)Popular local chain serving traditional NY-style pizza, hearty pasta dishes, and craft beer.
- Wasserhund Brewing Company · Brewpub · 4.6★ (520)German-inspired brewery known for craft ales, artisan flatbreads, and casual pet-friendly atmosphere.
- The Bagel Baker · Bakery & Bagel Shop · 4.7★ (980)Neighborhood staple offering authentic kettle-boiled New York-style bagels and breakfast sandwiches.
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.