Is Seminary Hill safe?
Alexandria, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Seminary Hill as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Seminary Hill
“Go. Seminary Hill is an upscale, quiet, and exceptionally safe residential neighborhood in Alexandria characterized by leafy streets, established single-family homes, and historic institutional campuses. Violent crime is rare here, making it very secure for visitors, though standard precautions against occasional car break-ins are still recommended.”
About the area
Seminary Hill sits just west of Old Town Alexandria, dominated by rolling topography, mid-century homes, and the historic Virginia Theological Seminary campus. It offers a tranquil suburban atmosphere with convenient driving access to both Washington, D.C. and Alexandria's commercial corridors.
- Suburban / Leafy
- Historic
- Affluent
- Quiet / Residential
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Seminary Hill
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 46/100
Seminary Hill features hilly terrain and limited dedicated bike lanes, though Capital Bikeshare stations are located nearby along Duke Street and connector routes toward Holmes Run Trail.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent and property crime rates compared to national and regional averages
- High median household incomes well exceeding $130,000 with low poverty rates under 5%
- Well-maintained properties, high homeownership rates, and a stable residential population
- Close proximity to Inova Alexandria Hospital and essential regional healthcare infrastructure
Cons
- Car-dependent layout with steep topography and limited sidewalk connectivity on residential side streets
- Occasional vehicle break-ins and theft from autos parked on street corridors
- Very few dining or entertainment options directly within the residential core
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent within the residential interior of Seminary Hill, though minor panhandling occasionally occurs near major commercial intersections along Duke Street and I-395.
What Seminary Hill is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with dog walkers, joggers, and commuters heading out along tree-shaded streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Very quiet and safe, with school traffic near local campuses and routine residential deliveries.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and residential with minimal foot traffic, feeling safe for neighborhood strolls under streetlights.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely quiet and dark with virtually no pedestrian activity, maintaining low crime but isolated conditions.
Transit, parking and getting around
DASH Bus routes 30 and 35 run along Seminary Road connecting to the King St-Old Town and Van Dorn Street Metrorail stations (Blue and Yellow Lines), which are roughly 2 to 3 miles away.
Street parking throughout the neighborhood's residential side roads is free, plentiful, and generally unmetered with no residential permit required in most sections.
Things to do in Seminary Hill
- Stroll through the peaceful grounds and historic chapel gardens of Virginia Theological Seminary
- Explore the nature trails and historical markers at Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site nearby
- Visit the adjacent Bishop Ireton athletic and cultural community events
Local favorites
- Taqueria Poblano · Mexican Restaurant · 4.5★ (820)A beloved nearby neighborhood spot serving authentic regional Mexican fare and fresh margaritas.
- Tempo Restaurant · French-American Bistro · 4.6★ (340)A longstanding local dining staple offering classic French and Northern Italian influenced dishes.
- St. Elmo's Coffee Pub (Old Town North / Fairlington area) · Coffee Shop · 4.6★ (650)Popular local café serving specialty espresso, freshly baked pastries, 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.