Is Lake Forest Hills safe?
Jacksonville, Florida · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Lake Forest Hills as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Lake Forest Hills
“Go with care. Lake Forest Hills is an established mid-century residential enclave in Northwest Jacksonville, but visitors should remain vigilant as surrounding arterial corridors experience elevated property and violent crime rates. Daytime visits are generally manageable, but nighttime exploration on foot is not recommended.”
Local reporting from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office frequently highlights neighborhood-level initiatives and patrols addressing recurring property crime and sporadic violent incidents across the broader Northwest Jacksonville corridor.
About the area
Lake Forest Hills is a quiet, leafy mid-century suburb situated in Northwest Jacksonville near the Ribault River. Characterized by modest single-family ranch homes and mature trees, it is primarily residential with commercial activity concentrated along nearby thoroughfares like Lem Turner Road and Edgewood Avenue.
- Residential Enclave
- Car-Dependent
- Mid-Century
- Quiet Streets
Walking and biking in Lake Forest Hills
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 34/100
Dedicated bike lanes are rare on local streets, and there are no direct connections to major regional greenways or public bike-share stations.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Primarily owner-occupied residential streets that are quieter than adjacent commercial strips
- Established mid-century housing stock with large, tree-canopied lots
- Convenient access to Interstate 95 and nearby Ribault River waterways
Cons
- Property crime and vehicle break-in rates above the national average
- Pockets of lower household income and deferred property maintenance nearby
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure with sparse sidewalks and low street lighting on residential blocks
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal on interior residential streets, but occasional individuals and panhandling can be observed along the nearby commercial intersections of Lem Turner Road and Edgewood Avenue.
What Lake Forest Hills is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and calm with light neighborhood traffic as residents commute to work.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally quiet on residential streets, though activity and traffic pick up along Lem Turner Road.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Street visibility drops quickly; walking around after dusk is less advisable without personal transportation.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Quiet residential stillness interspersed with occasional vehicular traffic; visitors should avoid walking alone late at night.
Transit, parking and getting around
Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) operates bus routes along Lem Turner Road and Edgewood Avenue (including Routes 21 and 22), providing connections to the downtown JRTC hub. There is no rail transit service in the area.
Parking is completely free and widely available via private driveways and ample street parking on residential roads, with no paid meters or parking decks.
Things to do in Lake Forest Hills
- Enjoy outdoor recreation and sports facilities at nearby Lonnie C. Miller Sr. Regional Park
- Explore the waterfront and nature trails along the Ribault River Preserve
- Browse local shopping and discount retail along the adjacent Lem Turner Road corridor
Local favorites
- Trent's Seafood · Seafood Restaurant · 4.3★ (480)A popular local spot nearby serving fried fish, shrimp baskets, and hearty Southern sides.
- Shut Up & Eat · Southern Restaurant · 4.4★ (610)Casual neighborhood eatery known for generous portions of homestyle soul food and breakfast.
- Holley's Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.2★ (320)Longstanding local institution dishing out ribs, pulled pork, and signature mustard-based barbecue sauce.
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.