C
31%
Total crime NAT. AVG.
28%
Violent crime NAT. AVG.
42%
Property crime NAT. AVG.
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Date & Last Updated: This data reflects the 2022 calendar year and was released from the FBI in September, 2023; this is the most current data available.
StatisticReportedincidents/100k peopleWinchester/100k peopleVirginia/100k peopleNational/100k people
Total crime863n/a (estimate)3,0431,9302,324
Murder1n/a3.57.36.3
Rape28n/a98.730.240.0
Robbery11n/a38.838.466.1
Assault36n/a126.9158.1268.2
Violent crime76n/a (estimate)268234370
Burglary75n/a264.4124.6269.8
Theft683n/a2,408.11,410.41,401.9
Vehicle theft29n/a102.2160.7282.7
Property crime787n/a (estimate)2,7751,6961,954

An Overview of Crime Rates in Winchester, VA

Crime can be categorized into two primary types: violent and property crimes. Violent crimes encompass offenses such as murder, rape, robbery, and assault, whereas property crimes involve acts like burglary, theft, and vehicle theft. The overall crime rate in Winchester is 30.9% higher than the national average. Specifically, there were 76 violent crimes reported in Winchester, equivalent to 268 per 100,000 residents, which is lower than the national average by 27.5%. Additionally, Winchester recorded 787 property crimes, amounting to 2775 per 100,000 people, higher than the national average by 42%.

What Do the Locals Say About Crime in Winchester?

What is the prevailing sentiment among Winchester residents regarding the state of crime? A comprehensive survey conducted by AreaVibes, involving 34 respondents, sheds light on this matter. The results were as follows: 62% of Winchester residents expressed a notable sense of security, asserting that crime was virtually non-existent in their community, and they felt at ease strolling the streets after dark. While, 38% of those surveyed held a contrasting viewpoint, perceiving a higher incidence of crime, leading them to feel apprehensive about walking alone at night.

Is Winchester a Safe Place to Live?

Is Winchester a safe place to live? While the answer may not be straightforward due to variations in safety levels across the city, gaining an understanding of the overall crime rate can prove to be advantageous. In general, Winchester has a crime rate that is higher than the national average by 31%. Breaking this down on a daily basis, it translates to 2.36 daily incidents, encompassing 0.21 violent crimes and 2.16 property crimes. Evaluating these statistics can aid in forming a more informed perspective on the safety of Winchester as a potential place to call home.

Has Crime in Winchester Increased Since Last Year?

Year-over-year crime data allows us to analyze short-term trends in crime activity. By comparing crime rates from one year to the next, we can identify patterns and shifts in Winchester crime rates. This information can be invaluable for residents looking to make informed decisions on where to live. When comparing the most recent year to the previous year, total crime in Winchester has increased by 14.2% year over year. Violent crime has decreased by 3.8% and property crime has increased by 16.3%.

Potential Causes for Crime in Winchester

The economic well-being of a city's residents plays a significant role in crime rates. High poverty rates and income inequality can lead to increased crime stats as individuals may resort to illegal activities to meet their basic needs. While lower rates could lead to a lower Winchester crime rate. The poverty level in Winchester is 15.3%, while the national average is 15.1%.

In Winchester, the cost of living is 5.36% higher than the national average. A high cost of living can induce economic stress for locals, especially those with limited financial resources. When people grapple with soaring housing expenses, utility bills, healthcare costs, and other essential necessities, they may be driven towards criminal activities, including theft or fraud, as a means of financial survival. Conversely, cities boasting a lower cost of living may mitigate economic pressures and potentially result in reduced crime rates.

In Winchester, the average rental rates are $1,096 per month, compared to the national average of $949. Rapid increases in rental costs can lead to neighborhood instability as residents are forced to move frequently in search of more affordable housing. This transience can weaken community bonds and hinder the establishment of social support networks, which can indirectly contribute to crime. While affordable rent and areas with higher income per capita, allow for long term renters and community bonds to the formed, therefore reducing crime rates on the long term.

Winchester crime map



The Winchester crime map provides a detailed overview of all crimes in Winchester as reported by the local law enforcement agencies. Based on the color coded legend above, the crime map outlines the areas with lower crime compared to the areas with higher crime. The Winchester crime heat map offers insight into the total crimes on a block group level. Please note that the red areas on the Winchester crime map does not always indicate that it is a dangerous area for its residents. Areas on the heat map could be inflated if they are located in high traffic areas like airports, sports centers or large parks. Other areas on the heat map could see increased crime rates if they are located in major tourist areas like the downtown core.
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Compare Winchester, VA Crime

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      Crime Quick Facts

      • Winchester crime rates are 31% higher than the national average
      • Violent crimes in Winchester are 28% lower than the national average
      • In Winchester you have a 1 in 33 chance of becoming a victim of crime
      • Winchester is safer than 31% of the cities in the United States
      • Year over year crime in Winchester has increased by 12%

      Winchester, VA Crime Quiz

         

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        Daily Crime In Winchester (per 100,000 people)

        The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in Winchester, VA per 100,000 people. In Winchester, the number of daily crimes is projected to be 1.58 times more than the Virginia average and 1.31 times more than the national average. The average number of daily violent crimes in Winchester is 1.15 times more than the Virginia average and 1.38 times less than the daily national average. With regards to property crimes, Winchester has a daily crime rate that is 1.64 times more than the Virginia average and 1.42 times more than the overall daily national average.

        How Safe is Winchester (higher is better)

        When comparing the safety of Winchester to every other city in Virginia, as well as the entirety of the United States, is Winchester safe? The gauges above illustrate that Winchester is safer than 29% of every city located within Virginia along with 31% of the all the cities located in the United States. The results of these graphs are created after analyzing each of the cities in Virginia and in the United States as a whole. As a result, Winchester, VA is ranked below average when compared to the rest of the US cities.

        Chance of Being A Victim of Crime in Winchester

        The chance of being a victim of violent crime in Winchester is 1 in 374
        The chance of being a victim of property crime in Winchester is 1 in 37
        The chance of being a victim of crime in Winchester is 1 in 33
        How likely are you to become a victim of crime? In Winchester, Virginia you have a 1 in 374 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. With regards to property crime, you have a 1 in 37 chance of becoming a victim. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. Overall, you have a 1 in 33 chance of becoming a victim of crime in Winchester.

        Year Over Year Crime In Winchester (per 100,000 people)

        A good indicator of whether Winchester is becoming a safer or a more dangerous place to live can be determined by analyzing the year over year crime rate (per 100,000 people). The number of violent crimes in Winchester has decreased by 6%, while the property crime rate in Winchester has increased by 14% year over year. The number of total crimes in Winchester has increased by 12% year over year.

        Winchester police department

        Item Winchester Virginia National
        Law enforcement employees (officers & civilians)988,827558,732
        Police officers & civilians /1000 residents3.63.23.3
        There are a total of 98 Winchester police officers. This results in 3.6 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 13.3% greater than the Virginia average and 12.1% greater than the National average.

        Sex offenders in Virginia

        State Total offenders Virginia /100K National /100K
        Virginia25,766352266
        There are a total of 25,766 sex offenders in Virginia. This yields a total of 352 sex offenders in Virginia per 100,000 residents which is 32% greater than the national average.

        Nearby Cities With Low Crime Rates

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Inwood, WV2,70078344422
        Boyce, VA86779576656
        Berryville, VA4,33844632676
        Middletown, VA1,58571637708
        Lake Holiday, VA2,62292669762
        Shawneeland, VA2,142108783891
        Strasburg, VA6,643165770935
        Winchester, VA27,9122682,7753,043

        Cities with similar population

        City Population Violent crime/100k people Property crime/100k people Total crime/100k people
        Drexel Hill, PA27,9252721,4411,713
        Oakdale, MN27,9251552,9153,071
        Jeffersontown, KY27,9331092,5392,647
        Big Spring, TX27,8786812,1502,831
        Lafayette, CO27,9522052,6572,862
        Winchester, VA27,9122682,7753,043
        Source: The Winchester, VA crime data displayed above is derived from the FBI's uniform crime reports for the year of 2022. The crime report encompasses more than 18,000 city and state law enforcement agencies reporting data on property and violent crimes. The uniform crime reports program represents approximately 309 million American residents, which results in 98% coverage of metropolitan statistical areas.