Is Central Sunrise safe?
Sunrise, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Central Sunrise as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Central Sunrise
“Go. Central Sunrise is a typical, predominantly quiet South Florida suburb with moderate commercial activity along its major thoroughfares. Violent crime is rare for visitors, though standard suburban precautions regarding vehicle break-ins along retail corridors should be maintained.”
About the area
Central Sunrise is an established suburban district centered around University Drive, Oakland Park Boulevard, and Sunrise Boulevard. It is characterized by single-family subdivisions, garden-style condo communities, and extensive shopping plazas serving everyday local needs.
- Suburban Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Strip-Mall Retail
- Family-Friendly
Walking and biking in Central Sunrise
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 48/100
There is no municipal bike-share system in Central Sunrise; biking is mostly confined to neighborhood residential streets and perimeter park loops, as major roadways lack dedicated protected bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are low compared to county and national metropolitan averages
- Stable residential occupancy with well-established single-family neighborhoods
- High vehicle ownership rates and easy access to arterial highways and park systems
- Strong civic services and active patrolling by the Sunrise Police Department
Cons
- Opportunistic property crime and car break-ins occur in large strip mall parking lots
- High-speed traffic corridors on Oakland Park and Sunrise Boulevards present pedestrian hazards
- Pockets of aging multifamily rental properties with higher call volumes for petty disturbances
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low to moderate, with occasional individuals panhandling near major intersections such as University Drive and Oakland Park Boulevard, but there are no established encampments.
What Central Sunrise is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with local commuters, school traffic, and neighborhood dog walkers.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active and generally safe, with steady traffic flow through commercial shopping centers and plazas.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet in residential pockets, while dining plazas remain reasonably active and safe to navigate.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic; residential areas stay calm, though caution is advised around 24-hour convenience stores and isolated parking lots.
Transit, parking and getting around
Broward County Transit (BCT) provides local bus service along major corridors like routes 2, 36, and 72, connecting riders to regional transfer hubs, though there is no direct passenger rail service in this immediate area.
Parking is abundant and free throughout the area in large shopping plaza lots and residential driveways, with no metered street parking or commercial parking garages.
Things to do in Central Sunrise
- Stroll the paved lakeside walking paths and play tennis at Sunrise Athletic Complex
- Enjoy the playgrounds, splash pad, and athletic fields at Welleby Park
- Sample authentic Caribbean, Latin American, and Asian casual eateries along University Drive
Local favorites
- Scuotto's Pizza Cafe · Italian Restaurant · 4.5★ (1150)Long-running strip-mall staple serving New York-style pizza, hearty pasta dishes, and garlic rolls.
- Silver Pond Restaurant · Chinese Restaurant · 4.3★ (980)Spacious venue well-regarded for authentic Cantonese fare, fresh seafood, and dim sum dishes.
- Wings Plus Sunrise · American Sports Bar · 4.4★ (1420)Family-friendly sports tavern famous across Broward County for its crispy chicken wings and casual pub food.
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.