Is Hills Park safe?
Atlanta, Georgia · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Hills Park as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Hills Park
“Go. Hills Park is a quiet, rapidly developing residential pocket on Atlanta's Upper Westside that offers a safe and peaceful home base. As with much of urban Atlanta, basic vigilance regarding vehicle security is recommended, especially near active industrial edges.”
About the area
Hills Park is a historic residential enclave transformed by modern townhomes and single-family renovations, situated directly adjacent to Atlanta's bustling Upper Westside industrial and entertainment corridor. Visitors find leafy, quiet neighborhood streets flanked by active rail yards, craft breweries, and trendy retail districts. It offers a relaxed local atmosphere while keeping visitors minutes away from West Midtown attractions.
- Quiet Residential
- Industrial Edge
- Gentrifying
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Hills Park
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 48/100
Bike lanes are limited within Hills Park itself, but the neighborhood is close to ongoing Upper Westside BeltLine and PATH multi-use trail expansions. Shared micromobility scooters are occasionally available along main arterials.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to central and southern Atlanta neighborhoods
- Strong influx of private investment, rising household incomes, and modern housing developments
- Peaceful, tight-knit residential ambiance with minimal through-traffic on interior streets
Cons
- Isolated pocket bordered by heavy industrial zones and rail yards, resulting in truck traffic on perimeter roads
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes such as vehicle break-ins and parcel theft
- Limited street lighting and sparse pedestrian infrastructure along exterior thoroughfares
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior residential blocks of Hills Park, though individuals or temporary camps are occasionally observed along adjacent wooded rail buffers and major highway underpasses.
What Hills Park is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm with locals walking dogs and joggers taking advantage of low-traffic residential streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet interior streets with moderate delivery and industrial truck traffic along perimeter corridors like Marietta Boulevard.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Pleasant and neighborhood-focused, with patrons gathering at local breweries and returning home from work.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and deserted; while not inherently dangerous, walking alone on perimeter industrial roads is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
MARTA operates local bus Route 12 along Marietta Boulevard NW, providing direct connection to the Midtown MARTA rail station roughly four miles southeast. There are no heavy rail stations within walking distance.
Free on-street parking is generally abundant and straightforward on residential streets, and nearby commercial venues and breweries offer free dedicated surface lots.
Things to do in Hills Park
- Grab a fresh craft pint and relax on the expansive dog-friendly patio at Scofflaw Brewing Co.
- Unwind or play tennis in the community greenspace at Hills Park on Gun Club Road
- Take a short walk or drive to The Works complex for artisan food stalls and boutique shopping
Local favorites
- Scofflaw Brewing Co. · Brewery · 4.6★ (1420)Pioneering Westside craft brewery known for bold IPAs, seltzers, and a lively neighborhood patio.
- The Woodall · American Restaurant · 4.5★ (560)Upscale neighborhood eatery serving contemporary American cuisine and craft cocktails in a chic repurposed warehouse.
- Bold Monk Brewing Co. · Brewpub · 4.6★ (1180)Sprawling Belgian-inspired brewery featuring a bookstore, beer garden, and elevated pub dining.
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.