Is Highland Lakes safe?
Ojus, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Highland Lakes as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Highland Lakes
“Go. Highland Lakes is a peaceful, affluent residential community in northeast Miami-Dade with very low violent crime and a strong neighborhood feel. While it offers minimal commercial attractions within its gated and residential borders, it is an exceptionally safe and quiet enclave adjacent to Aventura.”
About the area
Highland Lakes is a scenic, lake-centered suburban neighborhood in Ojus just west of Aventura, characterized by single-family homes, manicured lawns, and community synagogues. The area has a prominent Orthodox Jewish community and draws residents seeking quiet residential living within minutes of major South Florida shopping and beaches.
- Suburban Enclave
- Family-Friendly
- Lakeside
- Quiet / Peaceful
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Highland Lakes
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 49/100
While internal residential streets are calm and safe for casual cycling, dedicated bike infrastructure and municipal bike-share programs like Citi Bike are absent within the neighborhood.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are exceptionally low compared to the Miami-Dade County baseline.
- High homeownership rates and stable median household incomes exceeding $90,000.
- Quiet, low-traffic residential streets with lake views and neighborhood watch presence.
- Immediate proximity to top-tier healthcare, dining, and shopping in neighboring Aventura.
Cons
- Strictly residential interior with virtually no commercial dining or retail directly inside the enclave.
- Car dependency is very high for accessing everyday goods and services.
- Occasional opportunistic property theft or vehicle burglaries typical of suburban South Florida.
- Heavier traffic and congestion on bordering corridors like Miami Gardens Drive and West Dixie Highway.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent within the residential streets of Highland Lakes. Minor, isolated panhandling occasionally occurs at major arterial intersections like Biscayne Boulevard and Miami Gardens Drive to the east.
What Highland Lakes is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and bright with residents out jogging, walking dogs, and commuting.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with standard residential activity and very low pedestrian foot traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Tranquil and safe as families walk the neighborhood streets and cul-de-sacs.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and silent with minimal street activity; general safety remains high.
Transit, parking and getting around
Miami-Dade Transit operates bus routes along peripheral arterials like Miami Gardens Drive (Route 99) and US-1, but interior residential transit is minimal. The nearest rail option is the Brightline Aventura Station, roughly 2 miles east.
Parking is ample and free throughout the neighborhood, primarily utilizing private driveways and unrestricted residential curbside spots. Commercial parking lots along exterior corridors offer abundant complimentary parking.
Things to do in Highland Lakes
- Stroll or jog around the scenic perimeter paths near Highland Lake and North Lake.
- Visit the nearby Highland Oaks Park for tennis courts, walking paths, and green space.
- Enjoy world-class shopping and dining just five minutes east at the Aventura Mall complex.
Local favorites
- MoKafe · Kosher Cafe / Bakery · 4.6★ (320)Popular local cafe offering kosher pastries, specialty coffees, and light lunch fare near the neighborhood border.
- Asada Modern Grill · Kosher Steakhouse · 4.5★ (480)Upscale kosher grill serving steaks, artisanal burgers, and cocktails in an elegant dining room.
- Kosher Kingdom · Supermarket & Deli · 4.3★ (850)Well-established local supermarket with a full-service deli, prepared foods, and specialty grocery items.
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.