Is Hillcrest safe?
Jacksonville, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Hillcrest as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Hillcrest
“Go with care. While Hillcrest is primarily a modest, working-class residential neighborhood, it experiences elevated property crime and occasional spillover issues along its commercial borders. Visitors sticking to daylight visits or driving directly to local destinations will have little trouble if standard precautions are taken.”
Local Westside news frequently reports on periodic vehicle break-ins, property theft, and traffic safety initiatives along the surrounding Normandy Boulevard corridor.
About the area
Hillcrest is an established Westside Jacksonville neighborhood characterized by mid-century single-family ranch homes and light commercial corridors. It borders busy thoroughfares like Normandy Boulevard and Cassat Avenue, providing straightforward access to Downtown Jacksonville and Murray Hill.
- Working-Class
- Mid-Century Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet Residential
Walking and biking in Hillcrest
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 46/100
Dedicated cycling infrastructure is virtually absent within Hillcrest, and riding along high-speed perimeter roads like Cassat Avenue is hazardous.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Lower violent crime rates compared to Jacksonville's central urban core and northern districts
- Pockets of high homeownership providing community stability in the residential interior
- Quick vehicular access to Interstate 10, Downtown, and the bustling Murray Hill arts district
Cons
- Elevated rates of property crime including opportunistic auto burglaries and theft
- Lower median household income and sporadic municipal infrastructure maintenance such as broken or missing sidewalks
- Spillover commercial activity and lingering safety concerns along peripheral arterial corridors after dark
Homelessness: Homelessness is rare within the residential subdivisions, but visible unhoused individuals and panhandling can occasionally be observed along bus stops on Normandy Boulevard.
What Hillcrest is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm as residents depart for work, feeling safe for casual walks through interior streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Remains quiet in the residential blocks while commercial borders see moderate retail and vehicular activity.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly at dusk, and heightened situational awareness is advised around commercial parking lots.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are dimly lit and mostly deserted; walking alone at night is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) runs bus routes including Route 16 along nearby Normandy Boulevard and Route 31 on Cassat Avenue, providing connections to the downtown Rosa Parks Transit Station.
Parking is straightforward and free, with ample space on residential street curbs and large surface lots available in all shopping centers.
Things to do in Hillcrest
- Enjoy sports fields and recreational open space at nearby Ray Greene Park
- Sample authentic Latin bakeries and international groceries along the adjacent Normandy Boulevard strip
- Take a short drive eastward to explore the vibrant independent shops, taprooms, and murals of neighboring Murray Hill
Local favorites
- Shut Up & Eat · Diner · 4.5★ (820)Quirky, retro-themed eatery serving hearty traditional breakfasts, burgers, and comfort food classics.
- Stan's Sandwich Shop · Sandwich Shop · 4.6★ (430)Longtime neighborhood counter-service deli known for generous portions, classic cold cuts, and hot subs.
- El Castillo Taqueria · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (750)Authentic, casual taqueria connected to a Latin grocery store offering fresh street tacos and tortas.
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.