Is Brierwood safe?
Jacksonville, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Brierwood as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Brierwood
“Go with care. Brierwood is a calm, predominantly residential Southside neighborhood that is generally safe for visitors exploring its diverse culinary offerings. While interior subdivisions are peaceful, visitors should exercise routine situational awareness along the busier commercial borders of Philips Highway and Baymeadows Road.”
About the area
Brierwood is an established, middle-income Southside Jacksonville neighborhood characterized by tree-shaded mid-century single-family homes and garden apartment complexes. Bordered by major commercial arteries, it is well known locally for its eclectic international dining corridors and convenient access to the wider Jacksonville metro.
- Suburban Enclave
- Car-Dependent
- Diverse Dining
- Quiet Residential
Walking and biking in Brierwood
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 42/100
No dedicated bike-share system exists here; while interior residential streets are manageable on a bicycle, major border corridors lack continuous protected bike lanes and have high-speed traffic.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to Duval County urban core averages, particularly within residential pockets.
- Stable middle-income household base with established homeownership across quiet interior subdivisions.
- Immediate access to exceptional ethnic cuisine, international bakeries, and specialty markets.
Cons
- Elevated rates of opportunistic property crime, such as vehicle break-ins, in commercial strip plazas.
- High-speed arterial borders (Baymeadows Rd and Philips Hwy) create pedestrian and traffic hazards.
- Pockets of aging multifamily housing near the perimeters generate occasional police service calls.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low within the interior neighborhoods but can be observed intermittently near major intersections, bus stops, and extended-stay hotels along Philips Highway.
What Brierwood is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe as residents commute and local businesses begin opening along Baymeadows Road.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active and generally safe, characterized by steady plaza traffic and standard suburban movement.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet in residential areas, with well-lit, family-friendly dinner traffic around local restaurants.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Residential streets remain low-risk, but extra caution is advised around unlit strip malls and gas stations on Philips Highway.
Transit, parking and getting around
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) operates local bus routes, notably Route 23 (along Baymeadows Rd) and Route 27 (along Philips Hwy). There is no passenger rail or BRT in this area, making personal vehicles or rideshares the primary mode of travel.
Parking is straightforward and free, featuring expansive surface parking lots in all shopping centers and ample driveway or curbside parking throughout residential subdivisions.
Things to do in Brierwood
- Sample international cuisines along the Baymeadows Road corridor, from Vietnamese pho to Middle Eastern shawarma.
- Shop for specialty imported groceries, fresh spices, and baked goods at regional halal and Asian markets.
- Take a short drive to Losco Regional Park for paved walking paths, playgrounds, and shaded picnic areas.
Local favorites
- Pho Today · Vietnamese Restaurant · 4.6★ (1450)A casual, bustling staple serving traditional pho, banh mi, and classic Vietnamese noodle bowls.
- Al Madina Halal Market & Bakery · Middle Eastern Grocery & Bakery · 4.5★ (780)Neighborhood market known for fresh-baked pita bread, halal meats, and imported Middle Eastern goods.
- Q-Cup Boba Tea · Bubble Tea Store · 4.7★ (820)Popular local tea shop serving customizable boba drinks, smoothies, and quick Taiwanese snacks.
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.