Is Auburndale safe?
Miami, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Auburndale as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Auburndale
“Go with care. Auburndale is primarily a quiet, working-class residential neighborhood nestled between Calle Ocho and Flagler Street, offering modest Latin dining options and authentic local character. While violent crime rates are relatively low compared to northern Miami neighborhoods, standard precautions against vehicle break-ins and petty theft along busy commercial corridors are recommended.”
About the area
Auburndale is a compact, predominantly Hispanic residential neighborhood situated just north of Coral Gables and adjacent to Little Havana. Characterized by single-family bungalows, mid-century duplexes, and Spanish-speaking community businesses, it serves as a peaceful residential zone with quick access to the broader cultural offerings of Miami.
- Residential
- Working-Class
- Hispanic Heritage
- Low-Rise
Walking and biking in Auburndale
Walk score: 74/100 · Bike score: 62/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse with mostly shared-lane markings, though the neighborhood provides relatively quiet grid streets that connect southward toward Coral Gables bike routes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to inner-city Miami districts
- High residential occupancy and stable long-term community presence
- Direct proximity to Coral Gables amenities and the cultural corridor of Calle Ocho
Cons
- Opportunistic property crime and auto break-ins along commercial edges like Flagler Street and SW 8th Street
- Busy arterial traffic along perimeter avenues posing hazards for pedestrians
- Limited tourist infrastructure and lack of dedicated police foot patrols
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential blocks, though occasional unhoused individuals may be encountered near commercial intersections and bus stops along West Flagler Street.
What Auburndale is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with locals commuting, walking dogs, and stopping at ventanitas for cafecito.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm residential atmosphere with steady traffic on boundary streets like LeJeune Road and Flagler.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet in interior streets with lively restaurant foot traffic along the southern Calle Ocho boundary.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally quiet residential streets, but poorly lit side roads warrant situational awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
Miami-Dade Transit operates bus routes 8, 11, 37, and 42 along the neighborhood borders, providing direct connections to Metrorail stations like Douglas Road and Airport Station within a 10-15 minute ride.
Free street parking is widely available throughout interior residential streets, while commercial plazas along Flagler and Calle Ocho offer private surface lots with occasional metered street spots.
Things to do in Auburndale
- Sample authentic Cuban pastries and espresso at neighborhood bakeries along SW 8th Street
- Stroll through the shaded residential grid to view 1940s-era Florida vernacular bungalows
- Visit nearby Coral Gate Park and Grapeland Water Park located just outside the neighborhood borders
Local favorites
- Versailles Restaurant Bakery · Cuban Bakery · 4.6★ (3200)Renowned takeout counter nearby offering signature croquetas, pastelitos, and Cuban coffee.
- La Carreta · Cuban Restaurant · 4.4★ (8400)Classic outpost on Calle Ocho serving hearty traditional Cuban staples and roasted pork.
- Sanguich · Cuban Sandwich Shop · 4.7★ (4100)Acclaimed nearby spot crafting gourmet pressed Cuban sandwiches with house-cured meats.
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.