Is Hillandale safe?
Garner, North Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Hillandale as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Hillandale
“Go. Hillandale is an established, quiet suburban neighborhood in Garner that offers a safe and peaceful environment for visitors and residents alike. While it lacks commercial tourist hotspots within its residential streets, violent crime is low and standard suburban awareness is all that is required.”
About the area
Hillandale is a mature, wooded residential enclave located just north of downtown Garner and south of Raleigh. It features modest mid-century single-family homes, leafy lots, and easy proximity to local parks and town amenities along Garner Road and US-70.
- Quiet Residential
- Suburban / Wooded
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Hillandale
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 34/100
There are no bike-share stations in the immediate vicinity; however, cyclists can connect via town roads to nearby segments of the Garner Greenway system.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than nearby urban cores in the Raleigh metro
- High rate of owner-occupied housing fostering neighborhood stability and well-tended yards
- Quiet residential streets with low through-traffic, ideal for daytime strolls
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property theft such as unlocked vehicle break-ins along commuter corridors
- Lack of dedicated sidewalks and modern street lighting on several interior residential streets
- Very car-dependent with almost no commercial dining or retail directly inside the subdivision
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent within Hillandale's residential streets, though occasional individuals may be seen along the commercial corridors of US-70.
What Hillandale is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and serene with neighborhood residents walking dogs and low residential traffic.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe with occasional school buses and delivery trucks navigating the leafy streets.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet atmosphere as residents return home; walking is generally safe though visibility decreases at dusk.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and deserted with minimal activity; safety remains generally fine, but lack of streetlights requires extra caution.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is managed by GoRaleigh (Route 20/Route 40X nearby on main thoroughfares); there is no direct rail or BRT station within walking distance.
Parking is exceptionally easy with ample private driveways and unrestricted, free residential street parking throughout the neighborhood.
Things to do in Hillandale
- Stroll or play pickleball and tennis at nearby Garner Area Recreation Center and Garner Magnet High athletic fields
- Walk the forested trails and enjoy the playground at Garner Recreational Park nearby
- Explore local history exhibits and community events at the Garner Historic Depot on Main Street
Local favorites
- Angie's Restaurant · Southern Diner · 4.6★ (2100)A beloved local staple nearby serving classic Southern comfort breakfasts, biscuits, and daily meat-and-three specials.
- Full Bloom Coffee Roasters · Coffee Shop · 4.7★ (520)Charming downtown Garner gathering spot roasting specialty coffee beans and serving craft beverages and pastries.
- Alexander's Mediterranean Cuisine · Mediterranean Restaurant · 4.5★ (680)Family-run local restaurant offering gyro platters, kebabs, and Greek favorites in a relaxed setting.
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.