Is Virginia Highlands safe?
Arlington, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Virginia Highlands as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Virginia Highlands
“Go. Virginia Highlands is an exceptionally safe, affluent, and tranquil residential neighborhood immediately adjacent to the vibrant Pentagon City corridor. Visitors can walk the tree-lined streets or enjoy the extensive community park amenities with minimal safety concerns day or night.”
About the area
Virginia Highlands is an upscale Arlington neighborhood characterized by mid-century single-family homes, manicured lawns, and community recreation facilities. It offers a calm residential atmosphere while sitting just steps from major retail centers and regional transit links.
- Quiet Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Tree-Lined
- Park-Centric
Walking and biking in Virginia Highlands
Walk score: 76/100 · Bike score: 78/100
Multiple Capital Bikeshare stations sit adjacent to Virginia Highlands Park, offering easy connections to the Mount Vernon Trail and Four Mile Run Trail.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are exceptionally low and well below national and regional averages
- Affluent economic foundation with median household incomes exceeding $160,000 and poverty rates below 4%
- Direct access to top-tier recreation and green space at Virginia Highlands Park
- Close proximity to the Pentagon City commercial hub while maintaining peaceful neighborhood streets
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes like vehicle break-ins and package theft common to inner-ring suburbs
- Spillover traffic and commuter parking pressure on streets bordering commercial avenues
- Limited commercial dining and retail options located directly within the interior residential streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a significant presence within the residential blocks, though individuals experiencing homelessness or panhandling are occasionally seen near the Pentagon City Metro station and adjacent shopping corridors.
What Virginia Highlands is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with dog walkers, joggers, and commuters walking toward nearby transit.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Vibrant and very safe with families and sports leagues utilizing the park facilities.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and well-lit with high perceived safety throughout the residential corridors.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and generally secure, though standard urban awareness is recommended near major perimeter roads.
Transit, parking and getting around
WMATA Metrorail access is available at the nearby Pentagon City Station (Blue and Yellow Lines), a 5 to 12-minute walk from most residences, supported by Arlington Transit (ART) bus routes 42, 84, and 87.
Most residential streets require Arlington County Zone 2 parking permits, though short-term visitor parking is available; paid parking garages are plentiful in the neighboring commercial district.
Things to do in Virginia Highlands
- Play tennis, pickleball, or relax on the expansive lawns at Virginia Highlands Park
- Walk to the adjacent Fashion Centre at Pentagon City and Westpost for diverse shopping and dining
- Stroll the shaded residential streets to view well-preserved mid-century and modern suburban architecture
Local favorites
- Epic Smokehouse · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (1850)Upscale eatery offering smoked meats, steaks, and craft cocktails in a modern dining room.
- Lebanese Taverna · Middle Eastern Restaurant · 4.3★ (1250)Long-running local favorite serving authentic Lebanese mezza, grilled meats, and fresh pita.
- Commonwealth Joe Coffee Roasters · Coffee Shop · 4.6★ (680)Popular specialty cafe famous for its signature nitro cold brew and artisanal roasted beans.
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.