Is North End safe?

Virginia Beach, Virginia · safety score updated nightly

91out of 100

Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.

VibeLoco rates North End as “Go”.

Gogo's take on North End

“Go. North End is one of the safest and most affluent residential coastal communities in Virginia Beach. It provides a peaceful, low-crime alternative to the busier Oceanfront resort area immediately to the south.”

About the area

North End stretches north along Atlantic Avenue from roughly 42nd Street up to the entrance of First Landing State Park at 89th Street. Composed primarily of upscale beach cottages, modern luxury homes, and quiet access paths to uncrowded beaches, it is largely residential and family-oriented.

Affluent Coastal
Quiet & Residential
Beachfront
Family-Friendly

Walking and biking in North End

Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 68/100

Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Avenue offer dedicated bike lanes and sharrows, easily connecting north to the Cape Henry Trail inside First Landing State Park and south to the Virginia Beach Boardwalk bike path.

Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice

Pros

Violent crime rates are extraordinarily low compared to both state and national averages
High median household incomes well exceeding six figures with strong owner-occupancy
Direct, uncrowded access to pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches away from commercial boardwalk congestion
Immediate adjacency to hiking, trail running, and watersports at First Landing State Park

Cons

Strictly residential layout means very few walkable restaurants or commercial services within the neighborhood itself
Summer beach parking is highly restricted on residential streets with strict municipal ticketing
Seasonal tourist influx increases property theft risk from unlocked vehicles or beach equipment
Vulnerable to coastal flooding and nor'easter storm surges along low-lying streets

Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually nonexistent in North End due to its purely residential nature. Any unhoused populations or support services in the city are situated further south in the commercial Oceanfront resort district or central municipal areas.

What North End is like at each time of day

Morning · 5a – 11a: Peaceful and serene with early-rising joggers, dog walkers, and surfers heading to the ocean access lanes.
Afternoon · 11a – 5p: Calm and sun-drenched with families and residents heading back and forth from the beach.
Evening · 5p – 10p: Quiet residential setting with minimal vehicle traffic and neighbors taking evening strolls along Atlantic Avenue.
Late night · 10p – 5a: Very dark and quiet due to limited commercial lighting, but remains safe with negligible street crime.

Transit, parking and getting around

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) provides seasonal trolley service (Route 30 / VB Wave) and Route 33 connecting along Atlantic Avenue to the main Oceanfront boardwalk and resort transfer hubs; car or bicycle remains the primary way to get around.

Street parking on residential side streets is heavily restricted from May to September to permit-holders only; public beach parking is concentrated in metered spaces along Atlantic Avenue and at First Landing State Park ($7–$10 daily entry).

Things to do in North End

Relax on the quieter, residential stretch of beach along the numbered ocean access boardwalks
Hike or trail run through the maritime forest trails at nearby First Landing State Park
Bike south along Atlantic Avenue down to the historic Cavalier Hotel and the Virginia Beach Oceanfront

Local favorites

Becca Restaurant & Garden · Fine Dining · 4.6★ (1150)
Elegant farm-to-table coastal cuisine set inside the historic Cavalier Hotel just at the southern edge of North End.
The Hunt Room · Tavern / Craft Cocktails · 4.5★ (680)
Cozy, rustic fireside tavern serving elevated pub fare and spirits distilled on-site.
Orion's Roof · Asian Fusion · 4.5★ (1420)
Rooftop dining with panoramic ocean and bay views offering refined sushi and Asian-inspired entrees.

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.