Is Allendale safe?
Tampa, 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 primarily a working-class residential neighborhood in East Tampa that experiences higher rates of property crime and opportunistic offenses than the Tampa metro average. While daytime visits are generally unremarkable, visitors should remain aware of their surroundings and avoid walking residential streets alone after dark.”
Tampa Police Department continues targeted outreach and crime-prevention patrols in East Tampa focusing on reducing vehicle thefts and sporadic neighborhood gunfire incidents.
About the area
Allendale is an established, modest residential community in East Tampa characterized by single-family ranch homes, bungalows, and community churches. Situated just east of the bustling Seminole Heights corridor, it offers quiet interior streets bordered by busy commercial arterials.
- Residential
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Subdued
Walking and biking in Allendale
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 51/100
There are no city bike-share stations in Allendale, and cyclists must navigate mixed-traffic roads due to a lack of protected cycling lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient driving access to I-4, I-275, and neighboring Seminole Heights amenities
- Established residential pocket with minimal commercial congestion on interior blocks
- Close proximity to long-standing local East Tampa dining institutions
Cons
- Elevated violent and property crime rates compared to Hillsborough County benchmarks
- Lower median household incomes and higher poverty rates compared to metro Tampa
- Subpar pedestrian infrastructure with intermittent sidewalks and sparse street lighting
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is rare within interior residential avenues, though occasional unhoused individuals and panhandling can be observed near commercial bus stops along East Hillsborough Avenue.
What Allendale is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and safe as neighbors commute to work and local school traffic moves through the area.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons are generally quiet on residential blocks, though perimeter corridors see heavy vehicular flow.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings are quiet, but reduced visibility from limited street lighting warrants heightened situational awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late nights carry elevated safety risks regarding opportunistic theft and property crime; walking outside is discouraged.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) provides service along perimeter streets via Route 34 on Hillsborough Avenue and Route 15 on 40th Street, with no direct passenger rail service.
Free residential street parking and private driveway parking are ubiquitous across the neighborhood, with no paid meters or parking decks.
Things to do in Allendale
- Enjoy authentic regional pit barbecue along nearby 40th Street
- Visit neighboring Fair Oaks Park for outdoor basketball, tennis, and community recreation
- Take a short drive west to explore the eclectic dining and vintage markets of Seminole Heights
Local favorites
- Big John's Alabama BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (1250)Historic roadside institution known for open-pit ribs, smoked sausage, and traditional southern sides.
- Danny's All American Diner · Diner · 4.6★ (980)Retro diner serving generous breakfast plates, classic griddled burgers, and daily home-style specials.
- M&R Groceries & Meat Market · Grocery Store · 4.2★ (90)Longtime community grocer featuring fresh cut meats, pantry staples, and convenience items.
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.