Is Emory University & Druid Hills safe?
Unincorporated DeKalb, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Emory University & Druid Hills as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Emory University & Druid Hills
“Go. Emory University and Druid Hills comprise one of the safest, most affluent, and most scenic parts of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Violent crime is exceedingly rare, and security is reinforced around the clock by dedicated university and hospital police forces.”
Campus safety bulletins periodically alert residents to opportunistic vehicle break-ins in hospital parking decks and stolen unattended electronics in study areas.
About the area
Anchor to Emory University and the CDC headquarters, Druid Hills is a historic, park-like enclave designed by Frederick Law Olmsted featuring stately architecture and lush green spaces. Visitors will find university cultural institutions, scenic walking preserves, and charming dining nodes in Emory Village and Emory Point.
- Collegiate / Academic
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Affluent
- Peaceful & Safe
Walking and biking in Emory University & Druid Hills
Walk score: 58/100 · Bike score: 52/100
Bike lanes are present on major campus thoroughfares, and the area links to the South Peachtree Creek PATH trail connecting through Mason Mill Park.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Exceptionally low violent crime rate bolstered by active 24/7 Emory Police patrols and hospital security.
- High median household incomes well over $140,000 with exceptionally high owner-occupancy and property values in Druid Hills.
- Dense network of well-maintained sidewalks, emergency call boxes, and pedestrian paths on and around campus.
- Tranquil, heavily forested residential neighborhoods with virtually no violent street crime.
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes, including bicycle theft and smash-and-grab thefts from parked vehicles.
- Congested vehicular traffic along Clifton and North Decatur Roads during medical campus shift changes.
- Strict residential parking enforcement makes visiting residential streets inconvenient without a permit.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is very low in Druid Hills and on campus. Unhoused individuals are only occasionally seen waiting near MARTA bus stops along Clifton Road or around public hospital waiting areas, and there are no encampments.
What Emory University & Druid Hills is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Vibrant and calm with medical professionals, students, and morning runners moving along leafy streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active and pleasant around campus quads and dining areas, feeling completely safe for pedestrians.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Relaxed and welcoming with patio diners at Emory Village and students studying across well-lit paths.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet with minimal activity; campus areas remain well patrolled, while residential roads become very dark and desolate.
Transit, parking and getting around
MARTA bus routes 6 and 19 connect directly to Inman Park/Reynoldstown and Decatur rail stations, while the free Emory Cliff shuttle provides extensive campus and neighborhood circulation.
Residential street parking is restricted by neighborhood permit, but paid parking is widely available in university decks (such as Fishburne and Oxford) and commercial garages at Emory Point for $2 to $12.
Things to do in Emory University & Druid Hills
- Tour classical antiquities and international art exhibits at the Michael C. Carlos Museum.
- Walk or jog the tranquil wooded trails around the historic mill ruins in Lullwater Preserve.
- Dine and browse collegiate shops around the roundabout in historic Emory Village.
Local favorites
- The General Muir · Deli / New American · 4.5★ (3450)Acclaimed modern Jewish deli and restaurant serving house-cured pastrami, bagels, and refined dinners.
- Falafel King · Middle Eastern Restaurant · 4.5★ (680)Long-running Emory Village staple known for fresh falafel pita wraps, shawarma, and sushi.
- Wagaya - Emory Point · Japanese Restaurant · 4.6★ (1150)Popular eatery offering authentic ramen, sushi rolls, and an adjoining Japanese specialty market.
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.