Is Great Northwest safe?
San Antonio, Texas · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Great Northwest as “Go, stay aware”.
What makes up this score?Recent news
Gogo's take on Great Northwest
“Go. Great Northwest is an established, predominantly middle-class residential suburb in northwest San Antonio with low violent crime rates. Visitors will find a peaceful neighborhood setting, though standard precautions against vehicle break-ins are still recommended.”
About the area
Great Northwest is one of San Antonio's largest master-planned residential communities, developed mostly between the late 1970s and 1990s. It features tree-lined suburban streets, community parks, and strip malls along its perimeter corridors like Tezel and Grissom Roads. While largely residential with little dedicated tourism, it offers an authentic, safe slice of suburban Alamo City life.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Great Northwest
Walk score: 34/100 · Bike score: 39/100
There are no city bike-share stations in the area, but the extensive Leon Creek Greenway multi-use trail system is reachable roughly 2 miles east via arterial connector roads.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates remain significantly below the San Antonio citywide average
- High rate of owner-occupied single-family homes with an active community association
- Solid middle-income economic base with low poverty and stable household demographics
- Pleasant residential streets suitable for quiet daytime and evening walks
Cons
- Suburban property crimes such as vehicle burglaries and catalytic converter thefts occur periodically
- Heavy arterial traffic and high speeds on perimeter roads like Tezel and Grissom Roads
- Almost completely car-dependent with minimal walkable retail inside the neighborhood core
Homelessness: Homelessness is not a notable presence within the residential streets of Great Northwest. Occasional panhandling occurs at major intersections along Loop 410 or Grissom Road retail corridors, but visible encampments are rare.
What Great Northwest is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with dog walkers, joggers, and parents commuting along quiet residential cul-de-sacs.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe throughout the residential subdivisions, with typical suburban school and shopping traffic along main thoroughfares.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential atmosphere where residents walk pets and gather in driveways with negligible safety concerns.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and low-traffic; safe overall, but standard suburban vigilance is wise regarding parked car security.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by VIA Metropolitan Transit, primarily via bus routes 610 and 616 along Grissom and Tezel Roads. There is no passenger rail or BRT service in this part of San Antonio.
Parking is exceptionally easy and universally free, with wide suburban streets for curb parking and ample surface lots at all neighborhood shopping centers.
Things to do in Great Northwest
- Walk or jog along the quiet neighborhood greenbelt paths and around Emerald Valley Park
- Sample diverse strip-mall dining along the Grissom Road culinary corridor
- Access the nearby Leon Creek Greenway trail system just a short drive to the east
Local favorites
- French Sandwiches · Vietnamese Restaurant · 4.7★ (1250)Long-running local staple known for crusty banh mi, French dips, and homemade cream puffs.
- Tommy's Restaurant · Tex-Mex Restaurant · 4.4★ (1820)Beloved neighborhood spot serving hearty breakfast tacos, carne guisada, and traditional Mexican plates.
- Pho Kim Long · Vietnamese Restaurant · 4.4★ (940)Casual eatery serving fragrant pho noodle soups, vermicelli bowls, and spring rolls.
Neighborhoods near Great Northwest
Common questions about Great Northwest
Is Great Northwest safe to walk at night?
Mostly, on the busier, well-lit streets. Avoid empty side streets late at night.
Is Great Northwest a good place to live?
On safety, Great Northwest scores 76/100 — about average for the metro — most residents get by with normal city awareness.
How walkable is Great Northwest?
Walk score 34/100 and bike score 39/100. Most trips need a car.
Which areas near Great Northwest are safer?
Stonegate Hill (85) score higher nearby.
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