Is Allendale safe?
Jacksonville, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Allendale as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Allendale
“Go with care. Allendale is a primarily residential, working-class neighborhood in Northwest Jacksonville that experiences higher-than-average rates of property and violent crime. While daytime travel for specific destinations is generally uneventful, visitors should remain aware of their surroundings and avoid walking around late at night.”
Local news frequently covers intermittent gun-related incidents and property theft across the broader Northwest Jacksonville and Commonwealth corridors.
About the area
Allendale is an established, modest neighborhood located west of downtown Jacksonville, characterized by single-family bungalows, industrial borders, and quiet residential streets. It offers few dedicated tourist attractions but provides direct access to major westside thoroughfares and nearby community parks.
- Residential
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Allendale
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 42/100
There is no public bike-share program in the area, and dedicated bike lanes are scarce, though low-traffic residential side streets can accommodate experienced cyclists.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient driving access to Beaver Street, I-95, and I-10 corridors
- Close proximity to the historic Jacksonville Farmers Market and westside parks
- Established residential layout with modest single-family homes and local churches
Cons
- Elevated rates of violent crime and property theft compared to state and national averages
- Poverty rate exceeds the Jacksonville metro average, with scattered vacant or blighted lots
- Limited pedestrian infrastructure, lighting, and visitor-oriented amenities
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low within the interior residential blocks, though occasional unhoused individuals and panhandling can be seen along major commercial thoroughfares such as West Beaver Street and Commonwealth Avenue.
What Allendale is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Relatively calm as residents commute to work, with moderate traffic along perimeter arterials.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally quiet residential streets with sporadic foot traffic near local convenience stores.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly; caution is advised when traveling along poorly lit side streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Risk of opportunistic crime and loitering increases significantly; walking on foot is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), primarily through local bus Route 13 (Commonwealth) and Route 12; there is no direct rail or BRT connection within walking distance.
Street parking is generally free and readily available throughout residential streets, with free private lots serving area businesses and churches.
Things to do in Allendale
- Browse fresh regional produce and local goods at the nearby Jacksonville Farmers Market
- Enjoy outdoor sports and open green space at nearby Mallison Park and Community Center
- Sample traditional Southern comfort food and homestyle barbecue along the Commonwealth and Beaver corridors
Local favorites
- Jacksonville Farmers Market · Farmers Market · 4.4★ (4850)Florida's oldest continuously operating open-air market offering fresh produce, local seafood, and specialty foods.
- Shut Up & Eat · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.5★ (320)No-frills local staple serving generous platters of classic soul food, wings, and seafood.
- Smokey Bear BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.3★ (195)Neighborhood barbecue spot known for smoked ribs, chopped pork, and classic southern sides.
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.