Is Buck Lake safe?
Tallahassee, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Buck Lake as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Buck Lake
“Go. Buck Lake is one of the safest and most affluent suburban areas in the Tallahassee metropolitan area. Visitors will experience quiet, well-maintained residential subdivisions with virtually no violent crime concerns.”
About the area
Buck Lake is an expansive suburban community situated on the eastern fringe of Tallahassee, characterized by tree-lined neighborhoods, modern subdivisions, and scenic green spaces. It caters predominantly to families and professionals seeking quiet surroundings and easy access to outdoor recreation.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Peaceful
Walking and biking in Buck Lake
Walk score: 18/100 · Bike score: 32/100
While arterial roads often lack dedicated bike lanes, the neighborhood connects easily to the J.R. Alford Greenway and Lafayette Heritage Trail Park for off-road recreation, though no municipal bike-share is present.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent and property crime rates are among the lowest in Leon County
- High median household income well exceeding $95,000 with low poverty rates
- Well-maintained single-family housing stock with high homeownership rates
- Close proximity to extensive multi-use trail systems at nearby greenways
Cons
- Extremely car-dependent with very few walkable commercial districts
- Suburban arterial roads like Mahan Drive and Buck Lake Road lack street lighting in stretches
- Limited public transit and scarce nightlife options within the immediate neighborhood
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Buck Lake, with no established encampments or visible shelters in the immediate area.
What Buck Lake is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with joggers, dog-walkers, and school traffic moving through residential streets with minimal safety concern.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and calm throughout the subdivisions, though traffic builds moderately along Mahan Drive and Buck Lake Road.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued and safe; families and residents frequent local shopping centers and neighborhood parks until dusk.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and quiet with little activity; streets remain safe, though low ambient lighting requires caution when driving or walking.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is very limited; StarMetro operates limited-frequency bus routes along major corridors like Mahan Drive, but interior subdivisions have no direct service and a personal vehicle is essential.
Parking is completely free and abundant in private driveways, residential side streets, and large surface lots at shopping centers.
Things to do in Buck Lake
- Stroll the paved loop around Pedrick Pond and stop by the Eastside Branch Library
- Access hiking, biking, and equestrian paths at the adjacent J.R. Alford Greenway
- Explore local dining and shopping plazas clustered along Mahan Drive
Local favorites
- Backwoods Crossing · Southern Restaurant · 4.7★ (3100)Renowned farm-to-table Southern restaurant featuring produce grown right on the surrounding acreage.
- Island Wing Company Bar & Grill · Sports Bar & Grill · 4.4★ (1250)Popular local sports bar known for baked wings, extensive craft beer selections, and patio seating.
- Casa Grande Bar and Grill · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (980)Casual neighborhood staple serving classic Mexican platters, fresh salsa, and margaritas.
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.