Is Salem safe?
Virginia Beach, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Salem as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Salem
“Go. Salem is a quiet, family-oriented suburban community in central Virginia Beach that offers a safe and peaceful environment for visitors. Violent crime is rare, and risks are largely limited to routine opportunistic vehicle break-ins in commercial parking lots.”
About the area
Salem is an established residential section of Virginia Beach characterized by mid-to-late 20th-century subdivisions, community lakes, and suburban retail centers along South Independence and Lynnhaven Parkways. It is predominantly residential and serves as a convenient, family-friendly jumping-off point to explore larger Virginia Beach attractions.
- Family-Friendly
- Suburban / Residential
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Salem
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 44/100
There is no local municipal bike-share system, and cycling is mostly limited to neighborhood side streets due to high-speed arterial roads lacking dedicated bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates than state and national averages
- Stable middle-to-upper-middle-class household incomes with low poverty levels
- High rate of owner-occupied single-family homes and well-maintained properties
- Strong military and veteran presence fostering community stability
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes like unlocked car break-ins
- Heavy suburban traffic along arterial roads during rush hours
- Strictly auto-centric layout with poor pedestrian connectivity across main corridors
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in Salem, with occasional panhandling near major commercial intersections along South Independence Boulevard.
What Salem is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with school commuters, joggers, and dog walkers in residential cul-de-sacs.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe with routine suburban activity around neighborhood shopping plazas and parks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet in residential areas with moderate dinner traffic around neighborhood dining plazas.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and quiet with virtually no foot traffic, remaining generally safe though street lighting is sparse.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) operates limited local bus services such as Route 33 along main corridors, but transit frequency is low and a car is strongly recommended.
Parking is exceptionally easy, with free and abundant surface parking at all retail strips and ample street parking throughout residential subdivisions.
Things to do in Salem
- Explore walking trails and sports fields around Salem Athletic Complex
- Catch outdoor recreation and neighborhood walking paths around Lake Christopher
- Visit the nearby Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater just south of the neighborhood
Local favorites
- Tally's Lebanese Taverna · Mediterranean Restaurant · 4.6★ (320)Authentic, freshly prepared Lebanese cuisine featuring shawarma, kebabs, and mezze platters.
- The Rustic Spoon · American Eatery · 4.7★ (1150)Comfortable, locally owned breakfast and brunch spot serving creative comfort food staples.
- Yiannis Wine & Food · Wine Bar & Bistro · 4.8★ (410)Intimate wine bar offering curated international selections and upscale small plates.
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.