Is East Arlington safe?
Jacksonville, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates East Arlington as “Go”.
Gogo's take on East Arlington
“Go. East Arlington is a calm, established residential suburb that is significantly safer and more affluent than older parts of central Arlington. Visitors will find plenty of conveniences, family-friendly parks, and proximity to the Intracoastal Waterway with minimal safety concerns.”
Recent local reporting largely covers occasional vehicle burglaries and routine traffic collisions along high-speed corridors like Atlantic Boulevard and Monument Road.
About the area
East Arlington is an expansive, car-oriented suburban district in Jacksonville situated between the St. Johns River tributaries and the Intracoastal Waterway. It is characterized by master-planned single-family neighborhoods, strip malls along Monument Road and Atlantic Boulevard, and easy access to coastal recreation.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Family-Friendly
- Residential
Walking and biking in East Arlington
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 34/100
There are no public bike-share programs, and cycling is mostly limited to neighborhood interior streets due to the lack of protected bike lanes along major thoroughfares.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to Duval County averages and western Arlington
- Above-average median household incomes and stable rates of homeownership
- Close proximity to quiet nature preserves and waterfront recreation like Fort Caroline and Spanish Pond
Cons
- Car break-ins and petty retail theft occasionally occur in commercial shopping center lots
- Completely car-dependent layout with fast-moving multi-lane arterials
- Pockets of aging apartment complexes closer to the Regency border experience higher service calls
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within East Arlington's residential tracts, though occasional panhandling is seen near high-traffic intersections along Atlantic Boulevard and near I-295 ramps.
What East Arlington is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with school traffic, joggers, and commuters heading toward I-295.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active around strip malls and commercial plazas, feeling very safe for shoppers and visitors.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet in residential subdivisions with typical dinner traffic concentrated along Atlantic Boulevard.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Calm and generally safe, though commercial parking lots empty out and poorly lit residential roads require standard awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) operates local bus routes like Route 10 (Atlantic) and Route 18 across major arterials, but service intervals are long and there is no direct rail or BRT connection.
Parking is exceptionally easy and universally free throughout the area, featuring ample surface lots at all shopping plazas and residential driveways.
Things to do in East Arlington
- Hike scenic marshland trails at the nearby Theodore Roosevelt Area and Fort Caroline National Memorial
- Play a round of golf or practice your swing at Blue Sky Golf Club
- Explore nature paths and wetlands along the Intracoastal marsh boardwalks
Local favorites
- Q-Cup Boba Tea · Bubble Tea & Cafe · 4.6★ (840)Popular local shop serving specialty boba teas, smoothies, and Vietnamese banh mi.
- Blue Sky Golf Club · Golf Club & Driving Range · 4.1★ (570)Public golf facility offering an 18-hole course, lit driving range, and a full restaurant and bar.
- Arun's Indian Kitchen · Indian Restaurant · 4.7★ (460)Casual, strip-mall eatery known for robust portions of classic curries, naan, and tandoori dishes.
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.