Is Red Mill safe?
Virginia Beach, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Red Mill as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Red Mill
“Go. Red Mill is an exceptionally safe, prosperous suburban neighborhood in southern Virginia Beach with virtually negligible violent crime. It functions primarily as a quiet residential enclave and upscale retail corridor serving beachgoers and local families.”
About the area
Located in the southern corridor of Virginia Beach near the approach to Sandbridge Beach, Red Mill is characterized by well-manicured subdivisions, newer construction, and the expansive Red Mill Commons shopping center. Visitors typically pass through for shopping, dining, or as a gateway to local wildlife refuges and coastal recreation.
- Suburban / Planned
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet & Residential
Walking and biking in Red Mill
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 45/100
While there is no municipal bike-share system, dedicated multi-use paths run along portions of Nimmo Parkway and Princess Anne Road.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are among the lowest in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area
- High median household incomes exceeding $115,000 with strong homeownership and low vacancy
- Extensive commercial retail and dining options in modern, well-lit shopping plazas
- Close driving proximity to Sandbridge Beach and Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent with high-speed arterial roads like Nimmo Parkway and General Booth Boulevard
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes such as unlocked vehicle break-ins in residential driveways
- Summer traffic congestion on major thoroughfares heading toward coastal areas
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent in this area, with no established encampments or visible panhandling.
What Red Mill is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe with joggers and commuters moving along residential streets and shopping plazas.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy and completely secure, characterized by steady retail traffic, errands, and school commutes.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and safe with families and patrons visiting local dining establishments in well-lit parking centers.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet and safe with minimal foot traffic, with only typical late-night suburban stillness.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is very limited; Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) operates infrequent bus service on Route 25 connecting to surrounding municipal hubs, but no rail or BRT exists in this area.
Parking is exceptionally easy and free, with massive surface lots at commercial centers and ample private driveways in residential developments.
Things to do in Red Mill
- Browse the open-air retail shops, boutiques, and eateries at Red Mill Commons
- Take a short drive to explore Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge for bird watching and hiking
- Visit the nearby historic Princess Anne Courthouse district and municipal center
Local favorites
- Firebrew Bar & Grill · American Restaurant · 4.5★ (1150)Upscale open-kitchen restaurant serving wood-fired flatbreads, steaks, and craft cocktails.
- Tapped Crafthouse · Gastropub · 4.4★ (840)Lively neighborhood spot with an extensive rotating craft beer selection and elevated pub fare.
- Three Ships Coffee Roasters · Coffee Shop · 4.7★ (420)Popular local roaster offering specialty espresso drinks, pour-overs, and fresh pastries.
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.