Is East Margate safe?
Margate, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates East Margate as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on East Margate
“Go. East Margate is a typical, predominantly quiet South Florida suburb with modest residential pockets and commercial strips. While standard situational awareness is advised along the major thoroughfares like State Road 7 and Atlantic Boulevard, violent crime is low and visits to local parks and eateries are generally trouble-free.”
About the area
East Margate is an established residential and commercial community situated in northern Broward County between Coral Springs and Pompano Beach. It features a mix of single-family homes, modest condo complexes, and strip retail centers serving a diverse, working-class and retiree population. Visitors primarily come for neighborhood dining, golf facilities, and local municipal parks.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Diverse
- Quiet Residential
Walking and biking in East Margate
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 56/100
There are no municipal bike-share kiosks in the area; cyclists mostly share standard road shoulders or sidewalk paths, though the C-14 Canal linear trail provides nearby off-street riding.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower rate of violent crime compared to broader Broward County averages
- Established, stable residential communities with active neighborhood watch presences
- Abundant shopping centers, grocery stores, and essential services within minutes
- High rates of vehicle access and close proximity to the Florida Turnpike
Cons
- Pockets of opportunistic property crime and vehicle break-ins in commercial parking lots
- Heavy vehicle traffic and frequent collisions along State Road 7 and Atlantic Boulevard
- Aging infrastructure and limited pedestrian connectivity outside of subdivisions
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low within the interior residential streets, though occasional panhandling occurs near major commercial intersections along State Road 7 and Atlantic Boulevard.
What East Margate is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm, with retirees walking dogs, commuters heading out, and low safety risk in residential areas.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active with local traffic, school pick-ups, and strip-mall shopping; safe and straightforward to navigate.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet in the neighborhoods with moderate activity around restaurants and shopping centers, remaining largely safe.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are deserted and dimly lit in older subdivisions; stick to well-lit areas and lock parked vehicles.
Transit, parking and getting around
Broward County Transit (BCT) provides bus service through East Margate, primarily via Route 18 (along US 441/SR 7) and Route 42 (along Atlantic Blvd). The nearest Tri-Rail commuter train station is Pompano Beach Station, roughly 4 to 5 miles east.
Parking is overwhelmingly free, abundant, and straightforward across large surface shopping plaza lots and residential driveways.
Things to do in East Margate
- Play a round of golf at the nearby Oriole Golf Club
- Spend an afternoon outdoors with athletic courts and walking paths at Firefighters Park
- Explore local Caribbean and Latin American bakeries and markets along Atlantic Boulevard
Local favorites
- La Bamba Mexican & Spanish Restaurant · Mexican / Spanish Restaurant · 4.5★ (1650)A popular South Florida staple serving hearty Mexican and Spanish dishes in a festive setting.
- Oriole Golf Club · Golf Course · 4.1★ (480)A semi-private, playable 18-hole championship golf course nestled amid local residential communities.
- El Balcon De Las Americas · Colombian Restaurant · 4.4★ (920)Casual neighborhood favorite offering authentic Colombian cuisine and fresh fruit juices.
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.