Is Arlingwood safe?
Jacksonville, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Arlingwood as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Arlingwood
“Go with care. Arlingwood is predominantly a residential mid-century suburban neighborhood that is generally uneventful for day-to-day living, but it borders high-traffic commercial corridors that experience elevated property crime and occasional violent incidents. Visitors visiting friends or local establishments during the day should feel comfortable, but standard urban precautions are advised at night.”
Local news reports in the broader Arlington sector frequently note sporadic car break-ins, retail thefts, and occasional roadway violence along major corridors such as the Arlington Expressway.
About the area
Located in the greater Arlington area of East Jacksonville, Arlingwood is an established post-war suburban enclave characterized by single-story ranch homes and mature tree cover. While the interior neighborhood streets are quiet and low-density, the surrounding thoroughfares feature strip malls, fast-casual dining, and auto-oriented retail.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Mid-Century
- Quiet Residential
Walking and biking in Arlingwood
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 42/100
There are no public bike-share programs in the neighborhood, and dedicated cycling infrastructure is minimal, requiring cyclists to share high-speed commercial roads or ride on residential side streets.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established, quiet residential grid with stable owner-occupied single-family homes on interior streets
- Convenient highway access to Downtown Jacksonville and the Southside Connector
- Lower living and dining costs compared to coastal and central Jacksonville neighborhoods
Cons
- Elevated property crime rates, including auto burglaries and package theft, compared to state averages
- Commercial borders along major avenues experience sporadic violent incidents and nuisance activity
- Suburban infrastructure lacks extensive sidewalk networks and street lighting on secondary roads
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal inside the residential subdivisions but can be observed in the form of panhandling near major intersections along the Arlington Expressway and Atlantic Boulevard corridors.
What Arlingwood is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents commuting, walking dogs, and school buses moving through neighborhood streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm on interior residential blocks, while commercial strips pick up steady vehicular traffic and retail activity.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued across the subdivisions; caution is recommended around gas stations and strip mall parking lots after dusk.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet on residential roads with limited street lighting; walking alone along main thoroughfares is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), primarily through bus routes 10 and 19 along major surrounding corridors; there is no rail or BRT service in the immediate area.
Parking is abundant and free, with private driveways throughout residential streets and large surface parking lots at all commercial plazas.
Things to do in Arlingwood
- Enjoy outdoor recreational fields and open green space at nearby Arlington Lions Club Park
- Explore local independent dining spots and international grocery markets along the commercial corridors
- Take a short drive to the scenic St. Johns River waterfront parks in neighboring Old Arlington
Local favorites
- Jerry's Grille · American Restaurant · 4.5★ (920)A long-standing local staple serving hearty comfort food breakfasts, burgers, and classic diner fare.
- Mr. Snappers Fish & Chicken · Seafood & Fast Food · 4.1★ (480)A casual counter-serve eatery known for seasoned fried catfish, wings, and hearty combination platters.
- El Mofongo Restaurant · Puerto Rican Restaurant · 4.3★ (310)Authentic Caribbean dining serving traditional plantain mofongo, roast pork, and Latin specialties.
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.