Is Highlawn safe?
Huntington, West Virginia · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Highlawn as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Highlawn
“Go with care. Highlawn is an established, working-class neighborhood bordered by major medical facilities and the Ohio River that is generally quiet during the day. Visitors should exercise typical awareness regarding property crime and avoid poorly lit side streets after dark.”
City-backed brownfield redevelopment initiatives have continued to clean up former industrial parcels in Highlawn for community use and light commercial expansion.
About the area
Highlawn is a historic residential and light industrial neighborhood situated in eastern Huntington, immediately adjacent to St. Mary's Medical Center. Laid out in a classic flat grid, it features modest mid-century and craftsman homes, local diners, and proximity to the Ohio River waterfront.
- Working-Class
- Residential Grid
- Near Medical Center
- Quiet Daytime
Walking and biking in Highlawn
Walk score: 58/100 · Bike score: 62/100
Highlawn connects directly to sections of the Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH), which provides designated bike and pedestrian routes across Huntington; there is no formal city bike-share system.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Immediate access to top-tier healthcare services at St. Mary's Medical Center
- Close proximity to Marshall University and downtown Huntington amenities
- Lower violent crime compared to western Huntington neighborhoods
- Flat, walkable street grid with ample street parking
Cons
- Elevated rates of petty property theft and vehicle break-ins
- Pockets of housing vacancy, aging housing stock, and blight along industrial edges
- Poverty rates in the census tract exceed state and national averages
- Limited active nightlife or pedestrian-oriented retail within the neighborhood itself
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low to moderate, mainly observed along commercial thoroughfares like 3rd Avenue or near the medical campus rather than deep inside the residential blocks.
What Highlawn is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with hospital shift workers, local commuters, and dog walkers along residential avenues.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and generally uneventful, with standard residential and light commercial traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet as businesses close, though visitors should stick to well-lit main corridors like 3rd and 5th Avenues.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Noticeably quiet and deserted, with increased risk for opportunistic theft, loitering, and property crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
Tri-State Transit Authority (TSTA) serves Highlawn via routes along 3rd Avenue and 5th Avenue with regular connections to downtown Huntington and Marshall University. There is no rail or BRT system in the city.
Street parking is free, abundant, and rarely competitive throughout the residential grid. St. Mary's Medical Center features dedicated parking garages and surface lots for visitors and patients.
Things to do in Highlawn
- Stroll or jog along neighborhood connections to the Paul Ambrose Trail for Health (PATH)
- Watch the river traffic and freight boats navigate the Ohio River
- Explore local culinary staples and old-school bakeries along the 3rd Avenue corridor
Local favorites
- Midway Drive-In · American Restaurant · 4.6★ (850)Historic retro drive-in famous for classic Huntington-style slaw dogs, root beer, and curb service.
- Central City Cafe (Highlawn-area dining) · Diner · 4.4★ (420)Down-home staple offering generous breakfast plates and comfort food favorites.
- Paula Vega Cakes · Bakery · 4.8★ (230)Charming local bakery nearby offering custom cakes, specialty cupcakes, and pastries.
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.