Is Penn Acres safe?
Chesterfield, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Penn Acres as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Penn Acres
“Go. Penn Acres is an established, quiet residential neighborhood in northeastern Chesterfield County. Visitors will find a tranquil suburban environment with low violent crime, though basic situational awareness regarding property theft along nearby commercial corridors is sensible.”
About the area
Penn Acres is a mature mid-century suburban community featuring modest single-family ranch and split-level homes set along wooded residential streets. Located near the Route 1 corridor, it serves primarily as a peaceful residential pocket rather than a commercial destination.
- Suburban
- Quiet / Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Tree-Lined
Walking and biking in Penn Acres
Walk score: 24/100 · Bike score: 32/100
There are no dedicated bike lanes, greenways, or bike-share stations within Penn Acres, requiring cyclists to share suburban residential roadways with vehicular traffic.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Predominantly quiet, low-density residential streets with minimal violent crime
- High rate of owner-occupied single-family homes creating community stability
- Close proximity to regional parks, community recreation centers, and major commuter routes
Cons
- Opportunistic property crime and vehicle break-ins occasionally spill over from nearby thoroughfares
- Completely car-dependent layout lacking continuous pedestrian sidewalks
- Commercial services require driving along busier arterial corridors
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually non-existent within the interior residential streets of Penn Acres, though occasional panhandling occurs at major commercial intersections along Route 1.
What Penn Acres is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and pleasant with residents commuting and school buses making regular neighborhood rounds.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with standard suburban activity and occasional dog walkers along residential roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential winding down with minimal cut-through traffic, feeling secure and low-stress.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and low-activity due to limited streetlights, requiring standard locking of vehicles to prevent opportunistic theft.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by GRTC, with bus Route 3B accessible roughly a mile away along the Route 1 corridor connecting to downtown Richmond; there is no local rail transit.
Ample free private driveway and curbside street parking is readily available throughout the neighborhood without parking meters or resident permit restrictions.
Things to do in Penn Acres
- Enjoy sports fields, a playground, and community events at the adjacent Bensley Park and Community Center
- Take a nature walk or boat launch outing at nearby falling creek and James River access points
- Explore diverse local international dining options along the nearby Route 1 corridor
Local favorites
- Taqueria El Tacorrey · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (320)Authentic, highly rated neighborhood eatery serving fresh street tacos and traditional platters.
- Bensley Park & Community Center · County Park & Recreation · 4.5★ (210)Well-kept county facility with walking paths, athletic fields, and community programming.
- Elsa's Mexican Restaurant · Family Restaurant · 4.3★ (480)Popular local dining spot serving generous portions of classic Mexican favorites and combo meals.
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.