Is Fairburn Mays safe?

Atlanta, Georgia · safety score updated nightly

46out of 100

Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.

VibeLoco rates Fairburn Mays as “Caution”.

Gogo's take on Fairburn Mays

“Skip unless you are visiting residents or attending an event at the local high school. Fairburn Mays is an auto-centric residential community with limited pedestrian appeal and elevated crime rates along its arterial corridors. Visitors seeking dining, arts, or walkability should look elsewhere in Atlanta.”

Atlanta Police continue targeted enforcement initiatives around the MLK Jr. Drive and Fairburn Road corridors due to intermittent gun violence and commercial robberies.

About the area

Fairburn Mays is a Southwest Atlanta neighborhood primarily composed of mid-century single-family homes, apartment complexes, and neighborhood schools like Benjamin E. Mays High School. Bisected by Fairburn Road and adjacent to I-20, the area is largely car-dependent with commercial activity concentrated in small strip malls.

Car-Dependent
Residential
Suburban Feel

Walking and biking in Fairburn Mays

Walk score: 34/100 · Bike score: 26/100

There are no protected bike lanes in the neighborhood; however, the paved Lionel Hampton PATH Trail connects about a mile north near Westview and Beecher Hills.

Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice

Pros

Quiet residential side streets with mature tree canopy
Ample and convenient free surface parking at local businesses
Direct road access to Interstate 20 and surrounding SW Atlanta areas

Cons

Elevated rates of violent and property crime along major thoroughfares
Gaps in sidewalk infrastructure and poor pedestrian street lighting
Lack of tourist attractions, cafes, or walkable retail districts

Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential streets, but occasional unhoused individuals and panhandling can be observed around bus stops and strip malls along Fairburn Road.

What Fairburn Mays is like at each time of day

Morning · 5a – 11a: Mornings are relatively calm with school-zone traffic and commuters heading toward I-20, making residential walks fairly straightforward.
Afternoon · 11a – 5p: Afternoons see steady vehicle traffic and lingering groups around strip mall parking lots and bus shelters.
Evening · 5p – 10p: Pedestrian safety declines after sunset as major roadways have intermittent lighting and sparse foot traffic.
Late night · 10p – 5a: Walking late at night is not recommended due to limited visibility and heightened safety risks around commercial intersections.

Transit, parking and getting around

The nearest MARTA rail connection is the H.E. Holmes Station roughly 2 miles north, reached primarily via MARTA Bus Route 73 running along Fairburn Road.

Parking is simple and free, with plentiful open surface spaces in retail plazas and easy curbside parking along residential side streets.

Things to do in Fairburn Mays

Catch a high school sports matchup at the Benjamin E. Mays High School athletic stadium
Take a short trip north to walk or jog the Lionel Hampton PATH Trail segment
Sample local quick-bite staples at strip centers along Fairburn Road and MLK Jr. Drive

Local favorites

A-Town Wings · Casual Eatery
A popular neighborhood staple serving classic Atlanta-style lemon pepper wings, fried fish, and quick combos.
American Deli · Fast Casual
A reliable local spot for seasoned hot wings, cheesesteaks, and gyro sandwiches.
JJ Fish & Chicken · Seafood & Fast Food
No-frills quick-service restaurant offering fried catfish, chicken tenders, and crinkle-cut fries.

Scores blend recent reported crime levels, area poverty and walk/bike access, refreshed nightly. They are a guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.