Is Buffalo Avenue Farms safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Buffalo Avenue Farms as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Buffalo Avenue Farms
“Go with care. Buffalo Avenue Farms is a low-key, working-class residential and commercial pocket in East Tampa that offers minimal attractions for typical visitors. While stopping by during daylight hours for local food or specific commercial errands is generally uneventful, visitors should exercise basic street smarts due to elevated crime rates across the East Tampa corridor.”
Local coverage frequently highlights Hillsborough County transportation and sidewalk improvements along East MLK Jr. Boulevard designed to improve pedestrian safety.
About the area
Buffalo Avenue Farms is an older East Tampa community situated along East Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (historically Buffalo Avenue), featuring modest single-family homes, auto service centers, and commercial retail strips. It is heavily vehicle-dependent and functions primarily as a residential service area rather than a tourist destination.
- Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Light-Industrial
- Quiet Residential
Walking and biking in Buffalo Avenue Farms
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 45/100
The area lacks dedicated bike lanes and bike-share hubs, with no immediate access to major regional multi-use greenways.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient highway proximity to Interstate 4 and Interstate 275 for quick regional travel
- Pockets of authentic, unpretentious local dining along surrounding thoroughfares
- Subdued residential interior streets with minimal congestion outside of peak commute hours
Cons
- Property crime and auto theft rates track higher than Hillsborough County averages
- Elevated poverty rate and lower median household income compared to the greater Tampa metro
- Inconsistent pedestrian infrastructure with patchy sidewalks and poor nighttime illumination
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately noticeable along commercial stretches and bus stops on East MLK Jr. Boulevard, but remains relatively low within the interior residential blocks.
What Buffalo Avenue Farms is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and functional as residents commute and local commercial lots open for business.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons bring steady vehicular traffic along the main boulevards with normal daytime activity.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Evenings quiet down rapidly in the residential pockets, though caution is warranted near poorly lit commercial corners.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late-night walking is not recommended due to limited visibility, minimal foot traffic, and higher risks of opportunistic crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) operates local bus routes through the district, primarily Route 6 and Route 32 along East MLK Jr. Boulevard; there is no light rail or BRT station in the immediate area.
Parking is straightforward and free, with open surface lots fronting all major businesses and unrestricted residential street parking.
Things to do in Buffalo Avenue Farms
- Sample authentic local barbecue and Southern soul food along East MLK Jr. Boulevard
- Attend events or concerts at the nearby Florida State Fairgrounds and MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre just east
- Make the short drive south to explore the historic dining and entertainment corridor of Ybor City
Local favorites
- Steph's Southern Soul Restaurant · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.4★ (460)Down-home counter-serve spot dishing out generous platters of fried chicken, oxtails, and classic Southern sides.
- Tacos Las Californias · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (680)Popular local eatery and truck serving authentic Tijuana-style street tacos, quesabirria, and consommé.
- Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant · Ethiopian Restaurant · 4.7★ (980)Traditional Ethiopian staple serving rich stews, vegetarian platters, and injera in a cozy setting just west of the neighborhood.
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.