Is Dixie Farms safe?
Tampa, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Dixie Farms as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Dixie Farms
“Go with care. Dixie Farms is a quiet, primarily residential working-class pocket in East Tampa, but it borders commercial corridors with elevated rates of property theft and opportunistic crime. Visitors have few reasons to explore the interior streets aside from passing through or visiting nearby local attractions, and standard urban safety precautions should be observed after dark.”
Local news coverage in East Tampa frequently focuses on pedestrian safety initiatives along Hillsborough Avenue and localized property crime reduction efforts.
About the area
Dixie Farms is a modest, low-density neighborhood in East Tampa characterized by single-family ranch homes, mature oak trees, and proximity to major commercial avenues. While predominantly a quiet residential community, it sits close to busy thoroughfares like East Hillsborough Avenue that experience higher traffic and incident rates.
- Quiet Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Working-Class
- Suburban Fringe
Walking and biking in Dixie Farms
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 44/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse on interior roads, and no bike-share stations exist; connecting to the Tampa Riverwalk or regional trails requires transport by car.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rate within interior residential streets compared to surrounding urban corridors
- Close highway access to I-4 and I-275 for quick commuting across Tampa
- Affordable single-family housing stock with mature suburban tree canopy
Cons
- Above-average rates of vehicle break-ins and property crimes near peripheral commercial strips
- Lower-than-average median household income and pockets of older, unmaintained properties
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure with sporadic sidewalks and minimal street lighting
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential blocks, though individuals experiencing homelessness and panhandling can be observed along major commercial intersections like Hillsborough Avenue.
What Dixie Farms is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents commute to work, with quiet neighborhood streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Relatively sleepy residential atmosphere, though arterial roads see heavy commercial traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential feel, but dimly lit streets suggest keeping to well-traveled routes.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Isolation and limited lighting make foot travel ill-advised; stay alert and park in well-lit areas.
Transit, parking and getting around
Hillsborough Area Regional Transit (HART) provides local bus service along perimeter routes such as Route 6 and Route 34 on Hillsborough Avenue; there is no rail or BRT connection nearby.
Free and ample private driveway and street parking is available throughout the residential neighborhood; commercial plazas offer free surface parking lots.
Things to do in Dixie Farms
- Explore the lush botanical gardens and boardwalks at nearby Eureka Springs Conservation Park
- Sample classic Tampa Cuban sandwiches and deviled crabs at nearby historic eateries
- Take a short drive to the Florida State Fairgrounds or MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre for events
Local favorites
- Brocato's Sandwich Shop · Deli / Cuban Restaurant · 4.5★ (3200)Famous landmark counter serving massive Cuban sandwiches, stuffed potatoes, and deviled crabs.
- Eureka Springs Park · Botanical Garden & Park · 4.6★ (1150)Peaceful botanical oasis featuring rare tropical plants, springs, and shaded walking boardwalks.
- Mama's Southern Soul Food · Southern Restaurant · 4.3★ (1850)Down-home neighborhood staple dishing out hearty portions of fried chicken, oxtails, and mac and cheese.
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.