Is Carol City safe?
Miami Gardens, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Carol City as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Carol City
“Go with care. While Carol City is primarily an established working-class suburb with authentic Caribbean dining and deep community roots, elevated property crime and occasional violent incidents require situational awareness. Visitors should stick to well-trafficked commercial plazas during daytime and early evening hours.”
Miami Gardens police continue targeted community enforcement operations to suppress vehicle burglaries and localized gun violence along key commercial strips.
About the area
Carol City is a large, historically significant residential neighborhood within the city of Miami Gardens characterized by mid-century single-family homes and neighborhood strip malls. It boasts a rich African American and Caribbean cultural heritage and is situated just west of Hard Rock Stadium.
- Residential Suburb
- Car-Dependent
- Culturally Rich
- Working-Class
Walking and biking in Carol City
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 45/100
There is no bike-share program available, and dedicated cycling paths or protected greenways are virtually absent along major roads.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- High rate of residential homeownership fostering stable, long-standing community ties
- Outstanding local destination dining for Caribbean, Jamaican, and soul food
- Convenient driving access to Hard Rock Stadium, the Palmetto Expressway, and Florida's Turnpike
Cons
- Violent and property crime rates remain notably above state and national averages
- Pockets of economic distress with poverty rates near 18%
- Car-dependent layout with sparse pedestrian safety infrastructure on high-speed arterials
Homelessness: Homelessness is minimally visible in the interior residential neighborhoods, though occasional individuals or panhandling can be seen at major intersections along NW 27th Avenue and NW 183rd Street.
What Carol City is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are calm and safe as residents commute to work and students head to local schools.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Afternoons are busy with steady commercial traffic and activity centered around grocery plazas and restaurants.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Residential blocks quiet down quickly, though visitors should remain cautious in commercial parking lots after dark.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late night walking is not recommended due to dimly lit thoroughfares and increased risk of criminal activity.
Transit, parking and getting around
Miami-Dade Transit operates local bus lines such as Route 27 and Route 183 along main corridors; the nearest Metrorail connection is Palmetto Station, approximately a 15-minute drive south.
Parking is free and widely available in open surface lots at commercial centers and along residential streets, with no parking meters or garage fees.
Things to do in Carol City
- Visit the Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex for community athletics, swimming, and arts events
- Embark on a self-guided culinary tour of Caribbean bakeries and jerk spots along NW 27th Avenue
- Catch concerts, major college football games, or NFL matchups minutes away at Hard Rock Stadium
Local favorites
- Lorna's Caribbean & American Grille · Caribbean Restaurant · 4.3★ (1450)Bustling local favorite serving authentic Bahamian stew conch, jerk chicken, and curry goat.
- Sunday's Eatery · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.4★ (1150)Celebrity-founded comfort food destination known for fried seafood, wings, and classic southern sides.
- Dutch Pot Jamaican Restaurant · Jamaican Restaurant · 4.2★ (2600)Popular quick-service hub serving hearty portions of oxtail, rice and peas, and fresh patties.
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.
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