Is Hollywood-Rose Hill safe?
Columbia, South Carolina · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Hollywood-Rose Hill as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Hollywood-Rose Hill
“Go. Hollywood-Rose Hill is one of Columbia's most charming, affluent, and peaceful historic neighborhoods. Visitors and residents alike will find a safe, welcoming environment shaded by mature trees, with minimal safety concerns beyond occasional opportunistic vehicle break-ins common to city fringe areas.”
About the area
Hollywood-Rose Hill is an early 20th-century historic residential neighborhood situated directly south of Five Points and the University of South Carolina. It features quiet, tree-lined streets, distinct architectural styles ranging from Spanish Colonial to Craftsman bungalows, and a strong sense of community pride.
- Historic / Tree-Lined
- Quiet Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Architectural Charm
Walking and biking in Hollywood-Rose Hill
Walk score: 62/100 · Bike score: 68/100
Streets are low-traffic and very bikeable, connecting easily via side streets to the University of South Carolina campus and the Rocky Branch Greenway.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are exceptionally low compared to the Columbia citywide average.
- High household median incomes and high homeownership rates foster well-maintained properties.
- Direct pedestrian and cycling proximity to dining and retail in Five Points and Rosewood.
- Active neighborhood association and close-knit community surveillance.
Cons
- Periodic opportunistic property crimes such as unlocked car break-ins.
- Proximity to high-density student areas means occasional late-night foot traffic spillover.
- Lacks commercial businesses within the neighborhood interior, requiring travel to boundaries for dining or shopping.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is virtually nonexistent inside the residential core, though unhoused individuals may occasionally be seen along the commercial corridors of nearby Five Points and Rosewood Drive.
What Hollywood-Rose Hill is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with joggers, dog walkers, and commuters heading out under heavy tree cover.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe with light local traffic and occasional neighborhood strolls.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and pleasant as residents return home, offering very safe conditions for evening walks.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally very tranquil and safe, though standard caution regarding dark side streets is advised due to sparse streetlights.
Transit, parking and getting around
The COMET bus system serves the perimeter along Rosewood Drive and Saluda Avenue (such as Route 401 and 701), though most interior streets are purely residential and car-dependent.
Free and ample on-street parking is readily available throughout the neighborhood, with no metered zones within the residential streets.
Things to do in Hollywood-Rose Hill
- Take a self-guided architectural walking tour through the neighborhood's designated historic district.
- Relax or have a picnic under the canopy at the Hollywood-Rose Hill Memorial Park.
- Walk to the adjacent Five Points entertainment and dining district for shopping and local fare.
Local favorites
- Drip Coffee · Coffee Shop · 4.7★ (1100)Renowned local specialty coffeehouse located just on the northern border in Five Points serving artisanal pour-overs.
- Publico Kitchen & Tap · Latin-Asian Fusion · 4.5★ (1850)Popular eatery bordering the neighborhood offering creative tacos, craft beers, and a lively patio.
- Saluda's · Southern Fine Dining · 4.6★ (920)Refined Southern cuisine with an upscale, historic ambiance overlooking the nearby Five Points fountain.
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.