Is Countryside safe?
Clearwater, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Countryside as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Countryside
“Go. Countryside is an affluent and well-maintained suburban area in Clearwater with significantly below-average violent crime rates. Visitors can comfortably explore the shopping hubs, parks, and residential neighborhoods day or night while observing basic personal safety.”
About the area
Countryside is an established suburban district centered around the Countryside Country Club and the expansive retail corridor along US Highway 19. It offers quiet, manicured residential subdivisions alongside major regional shopping, dining, and recreational amenities.
- Suburban / Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Shopping District
Walking and biking in Countryside
Walk score: 46/100 · Bike score: 48/100
Bike-share options are not available in Countryside, though the nearby Duke Energy Trail provides paved multi-use connectivity to the wider regional trail system.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are substantially lower than national and Pinellas County averages
- High median household income exceeding $75,000 with low residential vacancy rates
- Well-maintained infrastructure, active residential associations, and strong municipal services
Cons
- Commercial strip corridors along US-19 experience typical suburban property crime, such as retail theft and vehicle break-ins
- High-speed arterial roads make pedestrian travel across main intersections hazardous
- Heavy car dependency makes navigating between commercial plazas inconvenient without a vehicle
Homelessness: Homelessness is minimal in residential enclaves, though occasional panhandling is visible near major commercial intersections along US Highway 19 and SR-580.
What Countryside is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with morning joggers, dog walkers, and golfers throughout residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy commercial traffic around US-19 and State Road 580, remaining very safe for shoppers and commuters.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Plazas and restaurants remain bustling with families and diners with minimal safety concerns.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet and dark in residential subdivisions; parking areas along commercial strips thin out and feel calm, though vigilance is advised in unlit lots.
Transit, parking and getting around
Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) provides public transit, with routes 19, 62, and 78 serving the Countryside Mall transit hub. There is no rail transit in the area.
Parking is abundant and universally free across large commercial shopping lots and residential driveways, with almost no metered street parking.
Things to do in Countryside
- Ice skate indoors or shop at the retail hub of Countryside Mall
- Play a round of golf or tennis at Countryside Country Club
- Walk the scenic lake trails and relax under shaded pavilions at nearby Lake Chautauqua Park
Local favorites
- Grillsmith - Countryside · New American Restaurant · 4.4★ (1850)Polished neighborhood grill serving craft cocktails, steaks, and modern American fare.
- Countryside Mall · Shopping Mall · 4.3★ (11200)Enclosed regional mall featuring popular retail brands, dining options, and an indoor ice rink.
- Rumba Island Bar & Grill · Caribbean Restaurant · 4.5★ (4600)Lively tropical eatery nearby serving fresh seafood, tiki drinks, and Caribbean barbecue.
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.