Is Five Points (Cleveland) safe?
Cleveland, Ohio · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Five Points (Cleveland) as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on Five Points (Cleveland)
“Go with care. Five Points is an urban East Side intersection that experiences significantly elevated rates of violent crime, property crime, and commercial vacancy compared to national and suburban averages. Casual visitors have limited dedicated attractions here and should exercise high situational awareness, ideally visiting during daylight hours only.”
Cleveland Division of Police has maintained focused patrols around the St. Clair and East 152nd corridor following recurring community concerns over gun violence and retail theft.
About the area
Five Points is a historic commercial junction in Cleveland's Collinwood neighborhood centered around the intersection of St. Clair Avenue, East 152nd Street, and Ivanhoe Road. The surrounding area consists of dense, aging single-family and multi-family homes alongside local convenience storefronts, auto shops, and community institutions.
- Urban Hub
- Working-Class
- High Caution
- Transit-Connected
Walking and biking in Five Points (Cleveland)
Walk score: 68/100 · Bike score: 48/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse around the Five Points junction with no local bike-share stations, though residential side streets offer connectivity northward toward the Lakefront Bikeway and Waterloo Arts District.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Rich neighborhood history with active community stabilization work by the Greater Collinwood Development Corporation
- Direct and frequent public transit access into Downtown Cleveland via GCRTA bus lines
- Home to authentic, long-standing local food staples and independent convenience businesses
Cons
- Elevated rates of violent crime, including aggravated assaults and gun-related incidents
- High poverty rate exceeding 35% and widespread residential and commercial vacancy
- Property crime risks including frequent vehicle break-ins and package theft
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately low compared to downtown Cleveland, though occasional panhandling is visible near major bus stops, gas stations, and commercial corner stores.
What Five Points (Cleveland) is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Mornings are generally quiet as residents commute and local services open, making it manageable with normal situational awareness.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Pedestrian and bus traffic pick up along commercial strips; visitors should stay aware of loitering around convenience storefronts.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- As businesses close, street activity declines and the risk of opportunistic property crime or robbery rises.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking is strongly discouraged late at night due to limited street lighting, deserted commercial corridors, and elevated violent crime risks.
Transit, parking and getting around
Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (GCRTA) heavily services the intersection with direct bus lines including the #1 (St. Clair) and #7 (Monticello); the nearest Red Line rail station is the Windermere Rapid Station roughly 2.5 miles south in East Cleveland.
Free on-street parking is generally easy to find along commercial strips and residential side streets, but drivers should strictly avoid leaving any valuables visible inside vehicles.
Things to do in Five Points (Cleveland)
- Pick up classic Cleveland comfort food and barbecue from long-standing neighborhood takeout spots
- Browse community resources and local history displays at the Cleveland Public Library Collinwood Branch
- Connect to the nearby Waterloo Arts District located just one mile north for galleries and live music
Local favorites
- B&M Bar-B-Que · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.1★ (360)Historic, no-frills neighborhood staple serving generous portions of ribs, soul food sides, and classic Polish boys.
- Kim's Wings · Chicken Wings Restaurant · 4.2★ (470)Popular East Side takeout counter known for crispy whole wings, soul food dinners, and signature sauces.
- Cleveland Public Library - Collinwood Branch · Public Library · 4.6★ (125)Community hub offering free internet access, youth programming, and neighborhood historical resources.
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.
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