Is Biscayne Terrace safe?
Jacksonville, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Biscayne Terrace as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Biscayne Terrace
“Go with care. Biscayne Terrace is an established, quiet residential enclave on Jacksonville's Northside that poses few issues during the day, though commercial strips nearby experience elevated property crime. Visitors should maintain standard situational awareness and stick to daylight hours when exploring local parks or neighboring commercial corridors.”
Recent news in the greater Northside/Dunn Avenue area frequently involves isolated incidents of gun violence and retail theft along busy commercial intersections rather than the interior residential streets.
About the area
Biscayne Terrace is a low-density suburban neighborhood in North Jacksonville characterized by mid-century single-family ranch homes and mature pine and oak trees. It functions almost entirely as a residential community bordering the Dunn Avenue retail corridor and the Trout River tributaries.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet Residential
- Wooded
Walking and biking in Biscayne Terrace
Walk score: 24/100 · Bike score: 31/100
There is no public bike-share program and the neighborhood lacks dedicated bike lanes, requiring cyclists to share narrow roads lacking paved shoulders.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Predominantly quiet, established single-family residential blocks with minimal through-traffic
- High rate of homeownership providing a stable residential baseline
- Convenient driving access to Interstate 295 and major Northside transportation corridors
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle break-ins are elevated along nearby commercial arteries
- Limited infrastructure including sparse sidewalks, poor street lighting, and deep drainage ditches
- Below-average median household income and pockets of older, unmaintained housing stock
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential interior of Biscayne Terrace, though occasional panhandling is seen around gas stations and shopping plazas on Dunn Avenue.
What Biscayne Terrace is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents commute to work or walk pets on the residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Low-key neighborhood activity, safe for driving through and visiting local parks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Traffic slows down inside the neighborhood, though commercial strips on Dunn Ave require standard caution.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark with limited streetlights and virtually no pedestrian presence; walking outside is not advised.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), primarily serving Dunn Avenue via Route 22 and Route 12; there is no rail or BRT nearby, and bus headways are infrequent.
Free and ample driveway and curb parking is readily available throughout the residential streets with no meters or permit requirements.
Things to do in Biscayne Terrace
- Relax or let kids play on the playgrounds at nearby Ray Greene Park
- Launch a kayak or fish along the freshwater creeks and tributaries feeding the Trout River
- Take a short drive south to spend the day exploring the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Local favorites
- Shut Up & Eat · Southern Restaurant · 4.6★ (740)Popular nearby roadside diner serving generous portions of classic breakfast staples and country-style lunch.
- Famous Sandwiches & Subs · Sandwich Shop · 4.5★ (310)Longtime local counter-serve spot dishing out hearty cheesesteaks, subs, and fried wings.
- Bono's Pit Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.2★ (1150)Staple Jacksonville barbecue pit serving slow-smoked pork, brisket, and Southern sides on Dunn Avenue.
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.