Is Five Points safe?
Asheville, North Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Five Points as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Five Points
“Go. Five Points is a charming, historic residential enclave bordering Downtown Asheville and UNC Asheville, making it very safe and inviting for visitors. Standard vigilance against opportunistic vehicle break-ins along commercial edges like Broadway and Merrimon is sufficient.”
About the area
Five Points is a leafy, historic neighborhood characterized by 1920s Craftsman bungalows, neighborhood cafes, and quiet residential streets. It sits immediately north of Downtown Asheville, providing a calm buffer zone with easy access to urban amenities.
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Craftsman Enclave
- Quiet Residential
- Greenway Access
Walking and biking in Five Points
Walk score: 72/100 · Bike score: 68/100
The neighborhood features direct on-ramp access to the Reed Creek Greenway, a dedicated multi-use trail connecting south toward downtown and north to UNCA.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rate compared to Asheville citywide averages
- High rates of owner occupancy, strong median income, and well-maintained historic housing stock
- Direct neighborhood connection to the paved Reed Creek Greenway
Cons
- Periodic property crime and vehicle prowls along periphery commercial corridors
- Fast-moving vehicle traffic and narrow pedestrian crossings along Broadway and Merrimon
- Sparse street lighting along some interior residential blocks after dark
Homelessness: Homelessness is rare on the interior residential streets, though unhoused individuals and occasional panhandling can be observed along the commercial edges of Broadway and Merrimon Avenue.
What Five Points is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and pleasant, with joggers along the greenway and neighbors walking dogs to local coffee spots.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe with light foot traffic, visitors browsing local eateries, and easy navigation.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and neighborhood-focused as local diners fill up, remaining very safe for evening strolls.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic and quiet; while generally safe, dim residential lighting warrants basic situational awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
Asheville Rides Transit (ART) operates routes N1, N2, and N3 along Merrimon Avenue and Broadway Street, offering direct 5-minute rides into the Downtown ART Station.
Free on-street parking is widely available on residential streets, and businesses along the main avenues typically provide dedicated private surface lots.
Things to do in Five Points
- Walk or cycle along the shaded Reed Creek Greenway toward the Botanical Gardens at Asheville
- Browse local vintage shops and indie retail along the Broadway corridor
- Enjoy outdoor patio coffee and breakfast in a restored historic cottage setting
Local favorites
- Liberty House Coffee and Cafe · Cafe · 4.7★ (850)Airy neighborhood gathering spot serving scratch-made fare and specialty coffee with an expansive garden patio.
- Five Points Restaurant · Diner · 4.4★ (1250)Long-running, no-frills neighborhood staple dishing up classic Southern breakfast plates and comfort food.
- Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. · Brewpub / Pizzeria · 4.6★ (3600)Beloved local institution just up Merrimon featuring craft brews, specialty pizza, and a retro movie theater.
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.