Is Austinburg safe?
Covington, Kentucky · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Austinburg as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Austinburg
“Go with care. Austinburg is a historic, working-class Covington neighborhood that offers an authentic residential feel alongside the Licking River. While daytime visits and trail walks are generally uneventful, visitors should stay mindful of opportunistic property crime and avoid poorly lit side streets after dark.”
Recent Covington infrastructure initiatives have focused on stormwater mitigation and expanding the adjacent Licking River Greenway trail network.
About the area
Austinburg is a compact, historic residential enclave in eastern Covington framed by the Licking River and active rail lines. Dominated by 19th-century brick cottages, shotgun homes, and pocket green spaces, it provides quiet neighborhood living just minutes from downtown Covington and Cincinnati.
- Historic / Working-Class
- Riverside
- Quiet Residential
- Emerging
Walking and biking in Austinburg
Walk score: 68/100 · Bike score: 62/100
The Licking River Greenway provides dedicated paved multi-use trail riding, and Cincy Red Bike bike-share stations are available a short ride away in central Covington.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Direct neighborhood access to the paved Licking River Greenway trail
- Close proximity to downtown Covington dining and Cincinnati entertainment
- Active local community efforts maintaining neighborhood parks and gardens
Cons
- Elevated rates of vehicle break-ins and property thefts compared to regional Kentucky averages
- Higher poverty rate and higher concentration of aging rental housing stock
- Very few retail and dining amenities situated directly within neighborhood boundaries
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential core, though occasional individuals or transient encampments appear near the Licking River brush and along major corridors near 12th Street.
What Austinburg is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and quiet with neighbors walking dogs and commuters catching buses on perimeter streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm residential activity with local park visits and greenway runners, generally feeling safe.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential feel, though visitors should remain observant on dimly lit side blocks.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Activity drops off sharply; walking alone is not recommended due to sporadic property crime and low foot traffic.
Transit, parking and getting around
Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) serves the area primarily along Greenup Street and Madison Avenue via routes such as Route 7 and Route 8, providing direct access to Cincinnati's Riverfront transit center.
Street parking is free and readily available throughout residential streets, with no parking meters or commercial garages inside the neighborhood.
Things to do in Austinburg
- Walk or bike along the scenic Licking River Greenway trail on the neighborhood's eastern border
- Spend time outdoors at Austinburg Park with its playground and basketball courts
- Admire historic 19th-century Italianate and shotgun brick architecture on a self-guided stroll
Local favorites
- Taqueria San Miguel · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (450)Authentic, no-frills neighborhood taqueria serving loaded tacos, tortas, and burritos.
- KungFood Chu's AmerAsia · Asian Fusion · 4.7★ (2250)Popular downtown Covington restaurant known for spicy noodles, dumplings, and extensive craft beers.
- Braxton Brewing Company · Brewery · 4.6★ (2100)Major regional craft brewery featuring a large taproom, rooftop deck, and community events.
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.