Is Clifton safe?
Jacksonville, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Clifton as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Clifton
“Go. Clifton is a quiet, leafy mid-century residential community along the Arlington and St. Johns Rivers that offers a peaceful slice of suburban Jacksonville. While adjacent major corridors like University Boulevard experience typical urban property crime, the residential interior is calm and secure for daytime visits.”
About the area
Tucked into the Greater Arlington area, Clifton features tree-lined streets, mid-century brick homes, and scenic waterfront views along river inlets. It is predominantly a stable, established residential neighborhood with easy road access to downtown Jacksonville just across the river.
- Quiet Residential
- Tree-Lined
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Clifton
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 36/100
There are no bike-share stations or dedicated off-street multi-use trails within Clifton, so cyclists must share narrow residential roads without bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established, quiet residential interior with lower violent crime rates than neighboring commercial sectors
- High rates of long-term homeownership and stable, mature tree canopies
- Quick 10-to-15-minute drive to Downtown Jacksonville and the Southbank Riverwalk
Cons
- Car break-ins and opportunistic property crime along the University Boulevard boundary
- Virtually no pedestrian infrastructure or sidewalks along interior residential loops
- Lacks an active internal retail or dining core within easy walking distance
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential streets of Clifton, though occasional panhandling occurs at major intersections along University Boulevard.
What Clifton is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and pleasant, with residents walking dogs along low-traffic residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe, though vehicle traffic picks up noticeably along boundary thoroughfares.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and residential, feeling secure within the neighborhood interior with standard suburban awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark due to limited streetlighting in residential cul-de-sacs; largely safe but best navigated by car.
Transit, parking and getting around
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) operates bus routes along University Boulevard (including Route 19), with no rail or BRT stations directly serving this quiet residential pocket.
Ample, free residential street and driveway parking throughout Clifton, with no metered zones or parking garages.
Things to do in Clifton
- Enjoy waterfront breezes and launch a kayak along the nearby Arlington River tributaries
- Take a scenic architectural drive through the quiet mid-century modern riverfront streets
- Visit neighboring Jacksonville University campus for public lectures, gardens, and sporting events
Local favorites
- The Mudville Grille · Sports Bar & American Grill · 4.3★ (1150)A long-running neighborhood sports pub known for wings, burgers, and community gatherings.
- Cliff's Bar and Grill · Live Music Bar · 4.2★ (820)A historic Arlington institution featuring casual pub fare, live bands, and a laid-back local crowd.
- Austin Karalu Cafe · Cafe & Bakery · 4.6★ (190)A local spot offering breakfast sandwiches, specialty coffee, and fresh-baked morning pastries.
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.