Is Virginia Hills safe?
Mount Vernon, Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Virginia Hills as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Virginia Hills
“Go. Virginia Hills is a tranquil, established mid-century residential neighborhood in Fairfax County that is very safe for visitors. Violent crime is exceptionally rare, and safety concerns are generally limited to occasional minor property crimes common to suburban areas near major thoroughfares.”
About the area
Located just south of Alexandria in the Mount Vernon district of Fairfax County, Virginia Hills is a wooded, mid-century suburban community characterized by rolling hills and single-family ranch-style homes. The area is largely residential, peaceful, and family-oriented, buffered from the busier Route 1 and Telegraph Road commercial corridors.
- Suburban Enclave
- Tree-Lined
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Virginia Hills
Walk score: 32/100 · Bike score: 30/100
There are no Capital Bikeshare docks directly inside Virginia Hills; cycling is best suited for neighborhood streets due to steep hills and heavy traffic along neighboring Telegraph Road.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are consistently well below national and regional metro averages.
- Solid economic stability with median household incomes exceeding $120,000 and low poverty.
- High rate of homeownership and well-tended mid-century properties foster strong neighborhood cohesion.
- Convenient driving access to Old Town Alexandria, National Harbor, and Fort Belvoir.
Cons
- Isolated opportunistic property crimes, such as vehicle tampering, occasionally occur near perimeter roads.
- Car-dependent layout with steep topography and inconsistent sidewalk coverage throughout interior streets.
- Very few commercial amenities or dining options directly within the residential core.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent within the interior residential streets of Virginia Hills, though occasional unhoused individuals may be seen near major retail centers along the nearby Richmond Highway (Route 1) corridor.
What Virginia Hills is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and pleasant, with residents walking dogs and low traffic across interior neighborhood streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe, with standard suburban delivery traffic and school-related activity.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and residential, feeling very secure for an evening stroll before full darkness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely dark and quiet with minimal foot traffic; stays safe, but low lighting suggests staying aware of your surroundings.
Transit, parking and getting around
Fairfax Connector provides local bus service along perimeter routes like Telegraph Road (such as routes 310 and 161/162), connecting to Huntington Metro Station (Yellow Line), located approximately 2 miles north.
Free and ample on-street curb parking is available throughout the residential subdivisions, with private driveways standard for almost every home.
Things to do in Virginia Hills
- Take a quiet walk or run along the neighborhood's leafy, undulating residential streets and cul-de-sacs.
- Visit nearby Mount Eagle Park for green space, scenic views, and community recreation.
- Drive a few minutes south to explore Huntley Meadows Park, a premier wetland preserve with extensive boardwalks.
Local favorites
- El Paso Mexican Restaurant · Mexican Restaurant · 4.3★ (1150)A popular, casual neighborhood spot on nearby Telegraph Road serving generous portions of classic Tex-Mex favorites and margaritas.
- Dishes of India · Indian Restaurant · 4.6★ (780)Longtime local staple nearby renowned for authentic, rich curries and traditional tandoori specialties.
- Topgolf Alexandria · Entertainment / Sports Bar · 4.3★ (4200)High-tech driving range facility nearby offering bays for golf games, comfort food, and event spaces.
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.