Is Town Center safe?
Virginia Beach, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Town Center as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Town Center
“Go. Town Center is one of the safest and most intensively managed commercial and residential districts in the Hampton Roads region. Violent crime is exceptionally low, and visitors can comfortably explore on foot during the day and evening with minimal safety concerns.”
About the area
Town Center serves as Virginia Beach's modern, master-planned downtown hub, featuring 17 blocks of high-rise offices, luxury apartments, upscale dining, and performing arts venues. It combines a clean, walkable urban core with a bustling commercial atmosphere framed by major suburban arterial roads.
- Modern Downtown
- Walkable Dining Hub
- Upscale Commercial
- Entertainment District
Walking and biking in Town Center
Walk score: 80/100 · Bike score: 52/100
Interior streets are relatively easy to navigate by bicycle with bike racks available, but the district lacks a municipal bike-share system and is cut off from regional greenways by high-speed peripheral arterials.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Very low rates of violent crime supported by regular Virginia Beach Police patrols and dedicated private security.
- High local median household incomes and robust corporate investment keeping public infrastructure clean and well-maintained.
- Abundant, well-lit public parking decks equipped with surveillance and emergency call boxes.
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes and vehicle break-ins within public parking garages.
- Late-night weekend crowds around bars can occasionally lead to minor noise or alcohol-related friction.
- Surrounding multi-lane thoroughfares (Virginia Beach and Independence Boulevards) carry fast-moving traffic that can be hazardous to cross.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is very low within the central shopping and dining core due to active private property management, though occasional panhandling occurs at the major intersections along Virginia Beach Boulevard.
What Town Center is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and secure, filled with early commuters, joggers, and coffee shop patrons along brightly lit streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Bustling and safe, with high foot traffic from office workers, shoppers, and outdoor diners.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Vibrant and welcoming as theatergoers and restaurant crowds populate the sidewalks and central plaza.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally calm and monitored, though standard caution is advised when navigating parking garages as bars close.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) provides regular bus service along the district perimeter, primarily via Routes 20 and 36, though the region's Tide Light Rail ends roughly 4 miles west at the Newtown Road Station.
Town Center offers abundant, free covered parking across multiple municipal and commercial garages (such as the Armada Hoffler and Sandler Center decks), alongside short-term street spaces.
Things to do in Town Center
- Attend a concert, comedy show, or theatrical performance at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.
- Stroll along the outdoor plazas on Market Street and Central Park Avenue for shopping and dining.
- Gather around the illuminated central fountain plaza and enjoy seasonal open-air events and live music.
Local favorites
- Sandler Center for the Performing Arts · Performing Arts Theater · 4.8★ (1950)State-of-the-art 1,300-seat performance hall hosting touring concerts, ballets, and community events.
- Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar · Southern Restaurant · 4.4★ (2850)Lively dining spot serving scratch-made Southern comfort classics and craft cocktails.
- Ruth's Chris Steak House · Steakhouse · 4.6★ (1720)Upscale dining institution known for butter-topped, sizzling prime steaks and polished service.
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.