Is Jacksonville Florida Safe? Explore Neighborhood Crime Rates and Safety Tips

Jacksonville is the most populated city in Florida. It's a large city with a mix of some safe and unsafe neighborhoods which visitors and relocators should be aware of.

In this article, we will discuss safety in Jacksonville, Florida. We will list the safest neighborhoods and comprehensively discuss the crime statistics. We will also share some valuable safety tips to prevent crimes.

Is Jacksonville Florida Safe

You cannot say it is completely safe or not because it has a safety index rating of 43.41, which is lower than its crime index. It shows that some parts of the city have higher crime rates, which increases its overall crime index. You might be unsafe and may become a victim of criminal activity in some cities while walking at night.

However, it also has some cities with high safety where people can live peacefully. We will be discussing the safest cities in the following article. The crime rate in Jacksonville has increased continuously over the past 5 years, with high property, drug, and violent crimes.

Crime Rate In Jacksonville Florida

The violent crime rate is significantly high in Jacksonville, Florida. It is 7.16 per 1,000 residents, which is way above the national average. This type of crime rate refers to the physical damage to an individual, which can lead to severe offenses. It includes murder, aggravated assault, robbery, and rape. However, aggravated assault is the most common in Jacksonville.

The property crime rate in Jacksonville is 26.41 per 1,000 residents, which is again a bit above the national average of 20. The crime is related to harming the property of an individual. It includes vehicle theft, home burglary, and theft. The common cases of property crimes in the city are vehicle thefts and home burglaries.

5 Safest Neighborhoods in Jacksonville Florida

Deerwood

Deerwood is considered the safest neighborhood in Jacksonville. The crime index in Deerwood is extremely low. The crime rate is almost 13-14 per 1000 people, which is below the national average. The neighborhood is popular because of gated communities and strong patrolling by local police to control the crime rate.

Ortega Forest

Ortega Forest is the 2nd safest neighborhood in Jacksonville. It has a low crime rate, which includes cases rarely reported for assault and robbery. The crime rate is 17-18 per 1000 people, slightly higher than Deerwood due to some property break-ins and vehicle theft cases. However, the city is generally considered safe, with a few concerns raised among the residents.

Avondale

Avondale is ranked 3rd with a crime rate of 18-20 per 1000 people. The crime rate is higher due to bars and nightlife, which causes drunken fights and drug-related issues. The police actions are moderate in Avondale, but residents are raising concerns about car break-ins and theft. However, the city is considered safe to live but you must avoid walking late at night.

Mandarin

Mandarin is also one of the safest neighborhoods in Jacksonville. It has lower crime rates as compared to Jacksonville. The total crime rate is measured to be 23-25 per 1000 people in majorly cases reported for non-violent crimes. It has minor theft cases reported, such as package theft, while violent cases are rare.

Riverside

Riverside is considered to have a moderate risk for crimes. It has a total crime rate of 30-32 per 1000 people, in which property crimes take the major share. The residents have witnessed cases of vandalism, car theft, and property-related crimes.

Areas Of Jacksonville Florida To Avoid

Jacksonville, Florida, is slightly unsafe due to some areas with high violent and property crimes. It hasn't reported any murder cases, but attempts with gun-related crimes are reported. Here is the list of some dangerous areas of Jacksonville, Florida, that you must avoid.

• Hogan's Creek
• College Gardens
• New town
• Moncrief Park
• Lackawanna

These areas are not recommended to stay or travel because of higher violent crime rates of approximately ranging from 400-500 per 100k people. Areas of this scale with high crime rates are not suitable for you and your family.

Safety Tips To Stay In Jacksonville Florida

You must remember and implement some safety tips, no matter where you travel or stay. For your safety, it is mandatory to check the crime statistics for the city. Know your neighborhood areas with low crime rates and take precautions at night. Walk in well-lit areas and be cautious of strangers. Protect your vehicles with anti-theft alarms and steering locks.

For a higher safety level, you can secure your home with smart gadgets like security cameras to monitor what's happening in your surroundings. You can install Reolink Altas to have 24/7 color night vision surveillance. It's a 2K pre-recording bullet camera for recording seamlessly before detection. Along with security cameras, install smart locks, window sensors, and alarms to prevent theft, break-ins, and other illegal activities.

FAQs

1. Is Jacksonville Florida safe from hurricanes?

Jacksonville, Florida, is safe from hurricanes, but sometimes the wind speed increases, which may cause minor hurricanes. While the risk of major hurricanes is comparatively low.

2. Where does Jacksonville rank in danger?

Jacksonville is ranked as the 15th most dangerous city with high violent and property crimes. It has a higher homicide and pedestrian fatality rate.

Conclusion

Jacksonville is generally safe, but residents must be careful about the neighborhoods. Some are safe while some have high crime rates. We have discussed the overall crime rate and types of crimes committed in the city. We have also shared the safest neighborhoods in Jacksonville. However, make sure to take safety measures for your own safety.